Political Punch

Bon Vivant

Regarding your comparison Bush vs Carter. During the four Carter years the misery index averaged 16.3 with a high 22 and low 12.6.

During seven Bush years average is
8.0 with High 9.8 and low of 5.7.

The Dow stood at 950 when Carter inaugurated and was at 950 four years later when he left office.

Dow at 10,600 start of Bush term and stands at 12,550 after seven hard years.

Carter gave Panama Canal to the Panamanian cleptocracy. One of whom still resides in a florida jail.

Carter abandoned the Shah of Iran and supported the Islamic revolution there.
We know where this has led us.

Carter supported the rise of the communist dominated Sandanistas in Nicaragua.

Carter showed strength and resolve in in facing the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan by boycotting the Olympics.

Carter laid his blessing on the 1998 election of Senor Chavez.

Now I know Bush has lots of warts but get real.

All of you guys tearing into Scott, calling him an opportunist out to make a quick buck, you guys are using the most convenient tool to delude yourselves. Yes, he will make some money out of this book, no doubt. But think about how hard this is for him. He is going to be shunned by most everyone he ever associated with. He is being trashed by the same people he called friends. And it's not like Democrats are suddenly going to embrace him and he knows that. He bears some responsibility for this mess as the chief spokesperson and that right there is his reason for doing this. At some point, you have to reconcile yourself to the truth and I respect Scott for coming clean. To not do so would be to deny your understanding of right and wrong, something most Bushies have long abandoned. Should he have done this sooner or voiced his concerns to the administration? Sure. But you know he wouldn't have lasted at all in this administration if he objected in the slightest. Bush and Co. don't brook dissent. They freeze you out. It's now become obvious that there have been some well meaning administration people who hoped that perhaps by staying inside, they could make a difference. I think Colin Powell believed that. But what we're finding is that when you deal with a president who is so cut off from reality, who deludes himself so completely, whether you speak up in a meeting or through a scathing book after you leave, you still won't get through. That's the real tragedy here, no matter what anyone says Bush and Co. are committed to their version of history. It will take so long to undo the damage of Bush and his toxic approach to governance. In this election year, we need to be a looking for a president who will listen to all the facts, won't be constantly looking to promote his or her party's goals over his/her nation's and will ultimately lead with integrity and vision. Sadly, we have gone almost eight years with a man who has done everything he can to strive in the opposite direction.

And all the rats are leaving the sinking ship...235 more days/5640 hours left. Finally an end to the worst nightmare this country has ever had in 232 years. Just wait until they all start writing their books..Dana Perino said this morning that Bush never reads ex-employee books..What she meant was Bush NEVER READS ANYTHING..He has his coloring books and crayons.

Ryan,

I am curious as to why you believe President Carter was worse then President Bush? Let’s compare a couple points 1) Economy: Carter, recession, high oil prices, inflation. Bush: recession, high(er) oil prices, inflation worries from fed, housing crash. 2) Foreign policy 1) Carter: Iranian hostage crisis, failed rescue attempt. Bush: 9/11 (I consider this foreign because was perpetrated by foreign nationals), Iraq war. 3) Domestic Carter: to make government more responsive to national disasters he created FEMA. Bush: mishandling of the worst natural disaster in US history. Put man who’s previous job was commissioner of International Arabian Horse Association in charge of FEMA (many blame this choice for FEMA’s ineffective handling of the Katrina disaster.)

This list is by no mean extensive but I think it is a good jumping off point to keep the conversation in the right direction. Namely, the position President Bush can look forward to in history.

I agree with McLellan's assessment of the run-up to the war, response to Katrina, etc. I really dislike Bush, and felt that the case was not strong enough to go to war, and that his administration is smug, overly defensive, and focused on achieving political control rather than on results.

However, I feel that we will be able to withdraw from Iraq more quickly if McCain's plan is followed rather than a swift drawdown, or whatever Obama suggests in a given week. Success (which I measure as a relatively stable Iraq that can defend itself and remain generally aligned with the US-I envision a Turkey or even an Egypt, despite the shortcomings of those nations) does seem to be within reach...

These comments about Bush from an insider make me even more supportive of McCain, who should have been elected president in 2000. I have voted for Democrats all my life, but would have voted for McCain over Gore or Kerry.

Funny thing is, McCain used to be the republican Democrats liked...now, the Hitler-mustache paint once so liberally applied to Bush's upper lip is being stirred as we speak...elections seem to change feelings pretty drastically.

I think McCain is actually quite different from Bush if one reads what his positions are and does not bark "McSame," "McLame," "McBush," "McInsane," until all critical thought stops.

Believe me, he is far from perfect, but no candidate is. Except Obama, to many.

McClellan at least had the integrity to come forth and admit what most Americans already knew about Bush his GOP. I'm not surprised at all to hear about this Bush, Cheney , Rove GOP corruption that has screwed over this nation for the last 7 years. Also...it will come as no surprise that the White House?s only response to the book will be to take cheap shots that accuse McClellan of being disgruntled or disingenuous. Since they have no moral compass or integrity to stand on...and since the record of Republican corruption and treachery against the USA these last 7 years speaks for itself...they really do not have a leg to stand on in their defense against the content in McClellan's book. If Dana Perino and others loyal only to the Bush Crime Family the Republican Party had any sense, they would simply keep their mouths shut and quit accusing McClellan of being a disgruntled person. The more you complain about McClellan?s book, the more obvious you make your own sins against the USA.

McCain is toast.

I'm 21 years old and I will never, ever vote for a Republican for the rest of my life! My generation will bury the GOP so we never have an administration as evil and vile as Bush's again! YES WE CAN!

To Concerned: Stop whining. If you Republicans are so concerned about "self government" then you shouldn't have acted so arrogantly and obnoxiously un-democratic when you were in the majority. Your party consistently ignored and belittled the rest of us and acted against the wishes of the majority time after time. Now you have the audacity to whine about the righteous fury directed at you people? Don't make me laugh. You're lucky we're not stringing you all up from the nearest lamp posts!

Concerned - sounds good. When do we get started?

Republicans are the worst people in America. They should all be stripped of the right to vote, rounded up and forced to live in the hell they created in Iraq. The rest of us can confiscate and sell off their property to pay for their failed war. Their incompetence trashed our economy - so they should pay the price for it.

Jacknyc - your assement of McClellan's character is probably correct, but even still, what does that say about Bush that he would hire someone with such a casual disregard for the truth to be his SPOKESMAN????

Didn't any of you liberal facists watch Karl Rove last night on Fox News (Fair and balanced news!)? As Karl pointed out, his office in the West Wing was located about twenty feet from the office of Scooter Libby and they would see/meet each other almost on a daily basis, be at a White House committee meeting, staff meeting, coordinating the Vice Presidents schedule or the Presidents travel plans. I am sure this became even more acute after 9/11 as the President and Vice president were often kept apart for national security reasons (yeah some of us still care deeply about our nations security. "Secret meetings" give me a break. These guys saw earch other at the water cooler daily! And if you remeber your favorite leftie T.V. show, even the liberal President Bartlett often kept his Press Secretary in the dark, as did JFK, LBJ, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Is surprising to anyone that this guy would be kept out of the loop? Karl Rove answered the charges clearly and concisely. Scottie was a mid level player who was hardly the right arm of this President or his senior advisors. Now, sadly to say, he is unlikely to ever be invited to future gatherings of White House alum. Selling your soul becuase your pissed at the President for not endorsing Mommy when she ran for Gov. of Texas is no way to behave Scottie. If he sells 50,000 copies, he will be lucky. GOD Bless President Bush. GOD bless Fox News.

Bush did more damage to this country than Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin combined. I'm a REAL Republican and I'm afraid to tell all the Fox-News deluded neocon synchophants that Bush is the WORST PRESIDENT EVER. I pray that John McCain can finally restore decency, truth and dignity to the White House. If he can't, than I fear that it will be the end of the party that Reagan built.

There are NO innocent nations!

I think that McCellen will be lost to history, but the Bush admin will probably be on par with Harry Truman, 50 years from now.

McClellen is all about McClellen. Who knows what is true when dealing with an opportunist looking only to leverage his experience and feather his nest going forward. He will tell his story whatever way is the most saleable to the most lucrative audience. Look for him to try hard for a cable deal or a column.

Congress should do the right thing and proceed with impeachment, then moving to criminal prosecution, serving a subpoena on McClellan to testify (of course he'd end up a grease spot). A day late and a dollar short, I know, but a precedence needs to be set for future POTUS. The suggestion that the ICC should prosecute should not be considered, for the sake of our sovereignty. While I agree with the libs on this subject of holding this president accountable, we all need to keep in mind the dangers of such a proposition.

Where's the news here?! The guy was the spokesman for a politician.I knew he was lying when I saw his lips moving.

Blind obedience to a president who has not only declared war on innocent nations, but has also fought hard against our own rights and freedom as embodied in the US Constitution is unpatriotic and foolish. Bush's acts are, at a minimum, impeachable offenses, and highly likely to be criminally treasonous as well. Glad to hear Scott has finally (and conveniently) grown a conscious, but one question remains-- were was all this heartfelt angst prior to the illegal invasion of Iraq? "The lady doth protest too much, methinks".