# For the Bushistas. Tell me how good things are. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118 "2003-08-19T03:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [August 19, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/21 "2003-08-19T07:03:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Not if Bush cancels the election!!! Or steals it again like last time!!! I think your message would have been a little better if you had included a couple more exclamation marks. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/22 "2003-08-19T10:53:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tigsnort \* > \*\*I wonder why this is > > Perhaps another thread. \*\* Er, because many of their most regular customers are off on vacation. With their wives and kids, apparently. Sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/23 "2003-08-19T12:09:29Z")
If you are looking for a President to make life easier or better, I think we have a bit of insight into your psyche **Reeder**. Your life, and everyone else’s, is your for the making or breaking. Constantly looking to place every ill at the feet of GW shows an inability to accept personal responsibility or an unhealthy obsession with the current administration. In your case I fear both. I would also like some cites for your assertions in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/24 "2003-08-19T12:32:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Leaper \* > \*\*I have to be honest, **Reeder** : I’m a liberal, but I can think of a dozen different ways I could have written that OP that would have gotten actual, serious answers, rather than understandably annoyed snipes. > > \*\* Me, too. For one thing **Reeder** , drop the _Bushista_ and _Apologista_ terms. They trip you right out of the gate, IMO. To me, it says your mind is closed and debate is futile. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/25 "2003-08-19T12:49:32Z")
I will try to find the articles mentioning it… but the little economic growth the US is showing now is a jobless recovery as the article put it. Has to do a bit with greater efficiency and not with more jobs coming… ``` Even if some sectors of the US economy do pick up... some seemed doomed to probems: Airlines, Tourism and Commerce to some extent. ``` I doubt the economy estimates for the future are as rosy as some have predicted. Bushonomics have yet to prove any real gain. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/26 "2003-08-19T13:09:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Even if some sectors of the US economy do pick up… some seemed doomed to probems: Airlines, Tourism and Commerce to some extent. Just pointing out here that I don’t get what you are driving at. Airline traffic has been down worldwide since Sept. 11, 2001. Are you trying to say that the Bush administration is somehow responsible for this decline? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/27 "2003-08-19T13:21:22Z")
Why do you suppose President Bush’s approval rates remain high, given the dismal state of affairs you describe? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/28 "2003-08-19T13:50:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Bricker_ > **Why do you suppose President Bush’s approval rates remain high, given the dismal state of affairs you describe?** Well “high” would be relative, **Bricker**. Refer to **RedFury** ’s post above: > [@](#): > > Bush’s approval rating also has dropped, with 52 percent saying they approve of what he has done as president, a 12-percentage point decline in less than three months and the lowest number yet recorded by the polls since he took office in January 2001. The general feeling that America is headed “in the right direction” has taken a hit recently as well You say “remain high”, the polls say “lowest ever”. How would you explain that? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/29 "2003-08-19T13:58:45Z")
Perhaps, to be more clear, I should have said, “above one-half of those polled” rather than simply “high.” My point was that if the picture is as dismal as painted by the OP, and the fault lies with the President, it’s difficult to imagine why more than half of those polled approve of the way he’s handling his job. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/30 "2003-08-19T14:08:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*…You say “remain high”, the polls say “lowest ever”. How would you explain that? \*\* One thing has nothing to do with the other. GW is doing [pretty good](http://www.pollkatz.homestead.com/files/gallupcharts1.gif), poll-wise, compared to our recent presidents. If things were a fraction as dire as **Reeder** and Co. want us to believe, shouldn’t GW’s ratings be the ‘lowest ever’, _when compared to other presidents_? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/31 "2003-08-19T14:15:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*You are a partisan pessimist, among other things. Short of giving you sacks of money, you will never be convinced of the things you ask. \*\* **Brutus** , let’s talk some more about that money. I’m open to being convinced. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/32 "2003-08-19T14:29:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*One thing has nothing to do with the other. GW is doing [pretty good](http://www.pollkatz.homestead.com/files/gallupcharts1.gif), poll-wise, compared to our recent presidents. If things were a fraction as dire as **Reeder** and Co. want us to believe, shouldn’t GW’s ratings be the ‘lowest ever’, _when compared to other presidents_? \*\* but the blue line is heading nicely down ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/33 "2003-08-19T14:30:31Z")
sorry, make that purple (must be color blind) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Mariachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71c47a/32.png) [@El\_Mariachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Mariachi)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/34 "2003-08-19T16:06:38Z")
The paint industry sucks ass. I fear for my job daily. By the way I’m in the rust belt. As far as Cleveland is concerned- even if the economy picks up… it won’t help us overall in the long run unless other companies decide to put their base of operations here. In the meantime, people will just move to other cities. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/35 "2003-08-19T16:28:25Z")
Well, I refinanced my house! I also received a check for $800. Surely these are good things. I’ve kept pretty busy providing mental health services. He increased tarriffs on steel, which was putatively good for the local economy. On the other hand, Bush dealt a serious blow to research that suggests a possible cure for my son’s disease (diabetes) with his decision on stem cell research. Budget deficits are also serious threats to funding for mental health research, which will also impinge upon my future career activities. In seriousness, I cannot think of anything that Bush has done that has led to an improvement in the functioning of this country. I do think that one has to be particuarly partisan to suggest that they are pleased with what Bush has done. It is unfortunate that this thread started the way it did, because I would have an honest interest in hearing what people actually believe has been good about what Bush has done. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/36 "2003-08-19T17:24:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > \*\*Just pointing out here that I don’t get what you are driving at. Airline traffic has been down worldwide since Sept. 11, 2001. Are you trying to say that the Bush administration is somehow responsible for this decline? \*\* Well in other countries they arent asking for as many security measures and making as many restrictions to travellers as the US is… so Bush=US Govt. is responsible for a good PART of the bad situation of US carriers. Connection Flights that usually would pass thru the US will now go thru Panama and other countries due to the VISA requirments now enforced. A good number of tourists from other countries are having a hard time getting a VISA and many others dont even bother trying. That all adds up to less economic activity and Latin American businesses moving to more friendly areas. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/37 "2003-08-19T18:42:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Convince me things are good. We still have far superior living conditions compared to 95% of the rest of the world. Now convince me that things are BAD. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/38 "2003-08-19T20:12:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*A survey of 55 leading economists has the median estimate for economic growth next year pegged at 3.6%. That’s a good growth rate, the highest since 9/11. \*\* No offense, Sam, but that’s just an estimate. We shouldn’t count our chicks until they hatch. There have been plenty of optimistic economic estimates over the past couple of years that haven’t been borne out. The current growth rate is still pretty anemic. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_Mexico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@Roger\_Mexico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_Mexico)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/39 "2003-08-19T20:19:28Z")
The correct term is Busheviks, not Bushistas. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118/40 "2003-08-19T20:21:04Z")
And just for the record, I can’t think of any improvements that have happened under Bush, and I can think of multiple things that have gotten worse under his administration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-bushistas-tell-me-how-good-things-are/196118.md?page=3)