# There are so many Bush Bashings, I hesitate to add more . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 18, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705 "2007-02-18T14:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/1 "2007-02-18T14:06:50Z")
… but my impotent and ineffectual rage needs an outlet and I can’t think of a better place to vent impotent and ineffectual rage then here in the Pit. And, on a twist to all the current Bush Bashings, this isn’t about the Middle East. In his unrelenting efforts to ruin our country from both within and without, Bush has added to his collection of inappropriate and just plain stupid nominees to public office. First it was his good friend and fellow idiot [Harriet Miers for Supreme Court,](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/03/AR2005100300252.html) followed by, in no particular order: [The guy who thinks birth control is demeaning to women for Office of Population Affairs.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/17/AR2006111700766.html) [A thief for circuit court judge.](http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/sidney_blumenthal/2006/03/the_fall_of_bushs_race_man.html) [A guy who wants to abolish the Department of Energy to head the Department of Energy.](http://www.knowthecandidates.org/ktc/BushGang/spencerabrahamexpose.htm) [A guy who anally raped his wife as head of FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee.](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050530/mcgarvey/2) Today’s outrage? [A guy who opposes product safety as the guy to run the Consumer Product Safety Commission.](http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/02/cpsc_appointment.html) We are a strong country and will survive The Worst President Ever, I’m sure of it. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/2 "2007-02-18T14:22:00Z")
[Quote=Bigggirl] We are a strong country and will survive The Worst President Ever, I’m sure of it. [/Quote] Well, except for all those little girls who were foolish enough to ask for Spontaneous Combustion Barbie for Christmas, that is… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/3 "2007-02-18T14:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] A guy who opposes product safety as the guy to run the Consumer Product Safety Commission. [/QUOTE] First, kudos for bashing something that at least, if true, would have been bashworthy. Unfortunately, you left out some key words. The guy opposes _aggressive_ product safety _regulation_. I understand what that means because I feel the same way: I do not oppose product safety, but I do oppose aggressive product safety regulation. I realize there will be nitpickers who will call this nitpicking, but you’re not one of them. (I hope.) There’s a great big difference in there. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/4 "2007-02-18T14:40:49Z")
Inappropriate appointments are hardly specific to Bush. I’ve seen every president I can remember accused of the same, Republican and Democrat alike. These weasely appointees always manage to slip into the system somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/5 "2007-02-18T14:52:19Z")
"Is it true that a long time ago, firemen used to put out fires and not burn books? " _Fahrenheit 451_(1966) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/6 "2007-02-18T15:10:19Z")
Nice list **Biggirl**. I thought the President’s wholesale [implementation](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070118.html) of Political [Commissars](http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070203/OPINION02/702030339/-1/OPINION) for the regulatory agencies last month was a slick method of getting more incompetents into the driver’s seat too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/7 "2007-02-18T16:53:17Z")
“Bush said she would bring a distinctive perspective to the high court while strictly interpreting the Constitution and not legislating from the bench.” Suuuuuuuuuure she won’t. I guess when right-wing judges make rulings they are interpreting the Constitution fairly and equitably, but when a left-leaning one makes a decision that’s “legislating from the bench.” :rolleyes: Guess what Mr. President? The Dems have control of Congress now. Good luck ramrodding her through the confirmation hearings (I hope, if the Demos have any sort of spine left). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/8 "2007-02-18T20:46:19Z")
> [@](#): > > First, kudos for bashing something that at least, if true, would have been bashworthy. Unfortunately, you left out some key words. The guy opposes aggressive product safety regulation. I understand what that means because I feel the same way: I do not oppose product safety, but I do oppose aggressive product safety regulation. I realize there will be nitpickers who will call this nitpicking, but you’re not one of them. (I hope.) There’s a great big difference in there. There are arguably other means to achieve product safety. But aggressive regulation is one of them and Baroody is being named to head the agency in charge of that. Either he’s planning on abandoning his principles or he’s planning on not doing the job he’s being hired for. Neither possibility is a strong recommendation for the man’s character. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/9 "2007-02-18T20:58:39Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] There are arguably other means to achieve product safety. But aggressive regulation is one of them and Baroody is being named to head the agency in charge of that. Either he’s planning on abandoning his principles or he’s planning on not doing the job he’s being hired for. Neither possibility is a strong recommendation for the man’s character. [/QUOTE] Well, that is a point well taken. In terms of his personal honor, he should decline the job. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/10 "2007-02-18T21:07:26Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Well, that is a point well taken. In terms of his personal honor, he should decline the job. [/QUOTE] Political appointment? ‘Personal honor’? Bwahhhaaaahhaaaaa!!! I’ve not heard of those two concepts being linked for many a year. OK, I’m done snarking now. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/11 "2007-02-18T21:39:11Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] There are arguably other means to achieve product safety. But aggressive regulation is one of them and Baroody is being named to head the agency in charge of that. Either he’s planning on abandoning his principles or he’s planning on not doing the job he’s being hired for. Neither possibility is a strong recommendation for the man’s character. [/QUOTE] Can we have a cite that this bureau is supposed to regulate “aggressively”, as opposed to, say, intelligently? Aggressive does not necessarily equate to good. Nominating an industry insider like this does cause my radio to start beeping, but without any knowledge about this guy and his own beliefs, it’s hard to say how good or bad his appointment will be. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/12 "2007-02-18T22:02:39Z")
“Aggressive” and “intelligent” are pretty subjective words. Let’s just say that the role of this agency is to influence product safety via regulation. But what I said stands - if a person doesn’t believe in the mission of his agency, he shouldn’t be working there. If Mr Baroody believes there should be less regulatory control, then he should be continue in his current occupation of speaking to elected officials and trying to persuade them to reduce those regulatory controls. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/13 "2007-02-18T22:18:21Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] “Aggressive” and “intelligent” are pretty subjective words. Let’s just say that the role of this agency is to influence product safety via regulation. But what I said stands - if a person doesn’t believe in the mission of his agency, he shouldn’t be working there. If Mr Baroody believes there should be less regulatory control, then he should be continue in his current occupation of speaking to elected officials and trying to persuade them to reduce those regulatory controls. [/QUOTE] That makes no sense. Why does someone have to believe that regulation should be at or above the current level in order to take the job? Maybe he thinks there should be less, but still some, regulation-- a position that is probably in accord with Bush’s. Surely you aren’t going to suggest that reasonably people can’t disagree on the precise level of regulation that is best for the county. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/14 "2007-02-18T22:56:13Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] That makes no sense. Why does someone have to believe that regulation should be at or above the current level in order to take the job? Maybe he thinks there should be less, but still some, regulation-- a position that is probably in accord with Bush’s. Surely you aren’t going to suggest that reasonably people can’t disagree on the precise level of regulation that is best for the county. [/QUOTE] A reasonable view, taken in the isolation of this one case. But looking at it in the context of the other appointments cited above paints a more sinister picture. What’s that old saying: Once is happenstance; twice is coincidence; three times is enemy action? ---
**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:** [February 18, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/15 "2007-02-18T23:29:46Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] A reasonable view, taken in the isolation of this one case. But looking at it in the context of the other appointments cited above paints a more sinister picture. What’s that old saying: Once is happenstance; twice is coincidence; three times is enemy action? [/QUOTE] I already expressed some skepticism about this guy, so I don’t disagree with you. However, note what I was responding to. Ne\*\*mo was saying that the guy shouldn’t accept the job if he “believes there should be less regulatory control”. Like I said, that particular statement makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/16 "2007-02-18T23:50:59Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] I already expressed some skepticism about this guy, so I don’t disagree with you. However, note what I was responding to. Ne\*\*mo was saying that the guy shouldn’t accept the job if he “believes there should be less regulatory control”. Like I said, that particular statement makes no sense. [/QUOTE] You don’t see anything wrong with appointing the chief lobbyist for the NAM that actively fight’s regulations to the CPSC? Wouldn’t you call that a conflict of interest? That’d be like appointing the chief lobbyist for Exxon to head the EPA. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/17 "2007-02-19T00:38:25Z")
I’ll admit I don’t know the specifics of Baroody’s positions over the years. Maybe he’s been suggesting sutle changes in regulations - a new one’s needed here, an amendment’s needed there, a change in the wording of this one, maybe we should consider eliminating this particular one. But I have a very strong suspicion that his position has been “I never met a regulation I liked and they should all be abolished” - let’s call it aggressive deregulation. The role of the Consumer Product Safety Commision however is different - it is not their role to determine whether or not a regulation should exist; their role is to enforce the regulations that exist and to determine when they have been violated. And I don’t see how a person who’s opposed to the existence of these regulations can do that job and make these determinations. If I had a person who was totally opposed to the death penalty and who said he could never envision circumstances under which capital punishment is justified, I wouldn’t nominate that person to be a judge sitting on capital cases. What would I tell him? Pretend you believe something different than what you do when you’re making your decisions? Should I tell a devout Catholic surgeon to pretend he’s not a Catholic when he’s performing abortions? No, if somebody has moral principles that prevent them from doing a job, they shouldn’t be called upon to do that job. And that’s especially true if their intent is to place their moral principles above the duties of their job and to knowingly subvert their job. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/18 "2007-02-19T00:57:31Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] You don’t see anything wrong with appointing the chief lobbyist for the NAM that actively fight’s regulations to the CPSC? Wouldn’t you call that a conflict of interest? That’d be like appointing the chief lobbyist for Exxon to head the EPA. [/QUOTE] Capital idea! I’m sure Bush will get right on that. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/19 "2007-02-19T03:04:23Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] The role of the Consumer Product Safety Commision however is different - it is not their role to determine whether or not a regulation should exist… [/QUOTE] Actually, it is. From the FAQ page of their website (my emphasis): > [@](#): > > Q. What does CPSC do? > A. CPSC is an Independent Federal Regulatory Agency. CPSC works to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products. We do this by > > ``` > * developing voluntary standards with industry > * issuing and enforcing mandatory standards or banning consumer products if no feasible standard would adequately protect the public > * obtaining the recall of products or arranging for their repair > * conducting research on potential product hazards > * informing and educating consumers through the media, state and local governments, private organizations, and by responding to consumer inquiries > * for detailed information on what CPSC does, see our annual reports and strategic plan and performance reports in the reports section of our site. > > ``` From the [Legal Encyclopedia](http://www.answers.com/topic/consumer-product-safety-commission): > [@](#): > > The commission has primary responsibility for establishing mandatory product safety standards to reduce the unreasonable risk of injury to consumers from consumer products. In addition it has authority to ban hazardous consumer products. The Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq. [1972]) also authorizes the commission to conduct extensive research on consumer product standards, engage in broad consumer and industry information and education programs, and establish a comprehensive injury information clearinghouse. > [@Caridwen](#): > > You don’t see anything wrong with appointing the chief lobbyist for the NAM.. Did you read my first post where I said: > [@John Mace](#): > > Nominating an industry insider like this does cause my radio to start beeping… That was supposed to be “radar”, not “radio”. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705/20 "2007-02-19T03:36:07Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] That was supposed to be “radar”, not “radio”. [/QUOTE] Eh, I just thought you had a defective appliance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-so-many-bush-bashings-i-hesitate-to-add-more/392705.md?page=2)