# Bush...whats he doing right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 29, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035 "2004-03-29T05:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/1 "2004-03-29T05:54:22Z")
Im gonna be honest here…I hate G.W. Bush. It seems everything he touches turns to a mess. Because Im worried that the American people may end up electing him again, can someone please let me know what he’s done thats good for this country…honestly? Ive been watching various polls and most indicate a generally good approval rating for this moron. Im gonna leave it at this before this turns into a Pit rant. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/2 "2004-03-29T06:10:48Z")
The tax cut was right. But the side effect of running the deficit to the moon is wrong, very wrong. So I guess it’s like the “right” gets center stage and the “wrong” is mumbled about and forgotten. I don’t hate Bush, I just think he the wrong guy for the job. He would be better suited as a CEO of a big company. That way he can focus on his personal agenda and everyone would benefit. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/3 "2004-03-29T06:17:38Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > I don’t hate Bush, I just think he the wrong guy for the job. He would be better suited as a CEO of a big company. That way he can focus on his personal agenda and everyone would benefit. Thats a good point. So let me rephrase…I hate GWB as our countries leader. I really wouldnt care if he ran some business into the ground. Running the country into the ground is a completely different monster. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/4 "2004-03-29T06:24:18Z")
But you beat me to it, so I’ll just ask a corrolary question. I suppose a Bushie might say the Prez has done the following. 1. Responded well to 9/11. 2. Successfully liberated Afganistan. 3. Successfully liberated Iraq. 4. Cut taxes and thereby stimulated the economy, etc. Has bush introduced any legislation to make the country different or better? The above four points are all I can think of that a supporter might propose as “good things.” I myself despise Bush for the following reasons: 1. Taken no action to solve the nation’s _real_ problems, such as a lack of healthcare for all, horrendous job market, increasing economic inequality, etc. 2. Undertaken a costly war based upon incredibly poor intelligence and thereafter defending it only flimsy and constantly shifting grounds (plus jokes! haw haw! no WMDs here! haw haw!). 3. Taken a faux free trade stance while going out of his way to prop up dying or obsolete industries (steel, sugar). Hey, help out the fired workers, not the industry CEOs. 4. Been a shame to our country because of his brazenly ignorant and illiterate rhetoric (“Bushisms”). 5. Enthusiastically continued the wasteful and immoral “War on Drugs.” 6. Generally been on the side of reactionary politics, if not outright fascism. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/5 "2004-03-29T06:27:19Z")
And yes, per another poster, 1. Run up a killer deficit that will have our country’s fiscal policy in the jakes for a decade or more. Not to mention generally merde-y money policy, etc. etc. 2. Ineptness in every conceivable category. The only reason Bush has a high approval rating is, I am sad to say, becuase of the rednecks who think he is on the side of Christendom. That is, for Culture War reasons. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/6 "2004-03-29T06:32:53Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > 1. Responded well to 9/11. > > 2. Successfully liberated Afganistan. > > 3. Successfully liberated Iraq. > > 4. Cut taxes and thereby stimulated the economy, etc. I realize I may be preaching to some sort of choir here, but, “Successfully liberated Iraq?” I dare anyone to make this claim…seriously…Bushies bring it on! ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/7 "2004-03-29T06:37:50Z")
> [@d1a1s1](#): > > I realize I may be preaching to some sort of choir here, but, “Successfully liberated Iraq?” I dare anyone to make this claim…seriously…Bushies bring it on! Saddam isn’t there any more. One could say that’s enough to count as "Liberated’. I’m not a Bushie, but I’ll give him the fact that he war was handled very well. It’s the occupation which is being handled badly. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/8 "2004-03-29T06:39:13Z")
His new space proposal for NASA is the best thing to happen to the cause of space since Apollo. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/9 "2004-03-29T06:39:14Z")
Oh by the way Bushites, Im active duty Navy so spare me the military pay raise rationale, its not worth a dime. This goes for any “hes done so much for the military” points as well. I think there have been some good intentions focusing on the military but only to make up for a poorly run campaigns overseas. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/10 "2004-03-29T06:42:55Z")
> [@HPL](#): > > I’m not a Bushie, but I’ll give him the fact that he war was handled very well. It’s the occupation which is being handled badly. Your right. But only because we have THE most powerful military in the world. You would be hard pressed to botch a war with a country like Iraq. Occupation is part of the war! BTW, Please dont forget this war is just about completely unjustified. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/11 "2004-03-29T06:45:14Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > His new space proposal for NASA is the best thing to happen to the cause of space since Apollo. Worthless rhetoric. He doesn’t mean it, whereas Kennedy did and people acted upon his vision. And it’s not as though Bush ever had an original idea–about space exploration or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/12 "2004-03-29T06:46:43Z")
A small hijack – as active duty Navy, are you actually allowed to start threads like this? Isn’t it insubordination or something? I’m totally clueless, it is just a matter of curiosity. **edwino** , new dad… ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/13 "2004-03-29T06:51:14Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > His new space proposal for NASA is the best thing to happen to the cause of space since Apollo. OK…Sounds good. Explain where the money will come from? What already underfunded program can we suck this money from? Oh wait…I know, lets add it to the GIANT defecit! Really, space program is not on my list of concerns right now and shouldnt be on the top of anyones list right now for that matter…except maybe NASA. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/14 "2004-03-29T07:02:13Z")
> [@edwino](#): > > A small hijack – as active duty Navy, are you actually allowed to start threads like this? Isn’t it insubordination or something? I’m totally clueless, it is just a matter of curiosity. > > **edwino** , new dad… Great question. Ive retyped the response three times now. I realize that as a member of the armed forces I am to accept and carry out all orders of my superiors (within reason). I abide by all of these rules well. They may own my body but they dont own my mind. I will do my best to support the orders of my superiors…doesnt say anywhere I have to agree with them. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/15 "2004-03-29T07:17:44Z")
> [@d1a1s1](#): > > Your right. But only because we have THE most powerful military in the world. But… but… but… but Bill Clinton totally destroyed America’s military might! Why, Bush himself said during the 2000 campaign, if America’s armed forces were asked if they were ready for active duty, two whole divisions would respond, “No, sir.” Oh, wait, turns out [Bush was lying](http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/04/gwbush.military/) about _that,_ too. Never mind. In any event, if you want a list of things Bush has done right, just tune in to Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, or any of the usual right-wing eco chamber media outlets. They’ll give you an entire laundry list of why George W. Bush is the greatest thing for mankind since the invention of writing – they’d also be dead wrong, but the list will be there. And I’ve always said the best job for Bush would be a greeter at Wal-Mart – that’d let him spin his folksy charm all day long, without any dangers arising from his incompetence in all other areas. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/16 "2004-03-29T07:50:08Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > In any event, if you want a list of things Bush has done right, just tune in to Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, or any of the usual right-wing eco chamber media outlets. > > And I’ve always said the best job for Bush would be a greeter at Wal-Mart – that’d let him spin his folksy charm all day long, without any dangers arising from his incompetence in all other areas. I’m in Japan and thus cannot tune (nor would I if I could), but what in fact are they saying that he’s done right? Beyond the general “He’s good for American pride” or whatever, what actual legislation of his, or executive orders, or policies do they say are working well? In the last four years, it seems like all it’s been is Terror, War, and Flag-waving. I’m not really a fan of any of the three. Also, as 9/11 happened on Bush’s watch, regardless of his degree of responsibility for that (there are other threads about that!), I would say that a TRULY responsible chief executive would finish up his term and take responsibility for same by NOT running. But that’s not how politics works in the US. Oh, and I think you’ve got Bush’s level assesed quite correctly. He can hand pennies to the children and ask, “Would you like a tax cut with that, son?” ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/17 "2004-03-29T15:18:01Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > His new space proposal for NASA is the best thing to happen to the cause of space since Apollo. We can also substitute Houston for NASA. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/18 "2004-03-29T15:21:44Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > His new space proposal for NASA is the best thing to happen to the cause of space since Apollo. But he didn’t fund it. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/19 "2004-03-29T15:33:56Z")
> [@d1a1s1](#): > > OK…Sounds good. Explain where the money will come from? What already underfunded program can we suck this money from? Oh wait…I know, lets add it to the GIANT defecit! Really, space program is not on my list of concerns right now and shouldnt be on the top of anyones list right now for that matter…except maybe NASA. How about we blow away Social Security? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035/20 "2004-03-29T15:39:10Z")
> [@d1a1s1](#): > > I realize I may be preaching to some sort of choir here, but, “Successfully liberated Iraq?” I dare anyone to make this claim…seriously…Bushies bring it on! Interesting that you didn’t focus on Afghanistan. At least on a realative basis, I think one could argue that Iraq is more “liberated” than Afghanistan is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-whats-he-doing-right/237035.md?page=2)