Well, the Bush bashing is going to start sooner or later on this subject, so I figured I'd get it started now, so it can be finished sooner.

So Pres. Bush gets sworn in for his second term...have at him. :doh: :rolling:

Yeah, because we need YET ANOTHER post devoted solely to George Bush.

Please.

A great, big waste of topic space, if you ask me.

Oh joy. :rolleyes: Kitrax, you just couldn't resist, could you? (bleh)

What kinda surprises me is that there doesnt seem to be all that much of demonstrations and protests. IIRC there were quite a lot on his last coronation. Have all the USaians accepted Bush II as their sovereign now?

On the contrary -- there was quite a bit of protest. Reports came in of some of the crowds charging the barricades at 14th St., during the parade, getting a face full of teargas or pepper spray for their efforts. There were also times when the motorcade had to speed up to get past the rows of protesters. I saw some of them presenting their backs to the motorcade, holding up small black and white signs over the backs of their heads, stating "Liar".

AoDA Masochism Rule #1: :doh: :doh: + :bang: :bang: = :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

So Pres. Bush gets sworn in for his second term...have at him. Ooh! Ooh! I'll bite! Can I play?

Ok! Ok! Here's mine!

Bush Starts New Term, Seeks End to Tyranny (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20050120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inaugural_rdp)

End to Tyranny? That's easy! All he has to do is retire!

[snare drum!]brata TA![/snare drum!]

Thank you! Thank you! I'll be here all week. Be sure to tip your waitress on the way out!

Nice, ArtE.

The voters have spoken, and you have to accept that. It doesn't mean you have to be happy about it, but there is little else that can be done without resorting to lawlessness. Same story in Australia, although at least John Howard's government isn't capable of the same level of action as Dubya Inc., and federal Labor is even more of a shambles than the US Democrats (and the Aussie ones, for that matter).

Making sure that the administration is held accountable will require the other members of Congress and the Senate to force the Republicans to answer difficult questions. IMHO, the hardest part of this will be convincing the Democrats to do so. The shock of 9/11 should have worn off by now for policy-makers - especially given the results of the invasion of Iraq and the WMD "intelligence". A majority of the people clearly do not want these questions answered badly enough, but I would like to think that there are enough intact spinal columns somewhere in Congress to press the issue.

I'm not sure about the impeachment process, but considering the fact that Nixon and Clinton both got impeached for lying with non-fatal consequences, the recent end to the search for WMDs should prompt a few more questions, given that it was the principal reason cited for the Iraq war. It will probably go nowhere and be defeated by a party-line vote, but it's worth a look.

Happy, Kitrax?

I don't see how Bush being sworn in is such a big deal. Bush being voted in was the big event, this is just a 'congratulations' to whoever wins the election in my opinion.

It's only a big deal if you're bitter, and incapable of moving on :p

Well the only thing I found special about him swearing in for a 2nd term that you could actually buy tickets to the event. 50-300 dollars per ticket if I don't remember it all wrong. Why take the boy to a baseball match when you could just take him to see Bush swear his oath! :D

No protests of any scale have been reported here and our commie slanted leftist media would probably have jumped on it. I have seen some articles but that has been about smaller protests, nothing big. However, whether you like him or not he did win quite comfortable this time around and there was not the controversy which surrounded the last election so trying to disturb the coronation seems rather pointless and unescessary.

... well, that was sort of predictable for everyone who followed the news the last months methinks ... ;) :p

As Jon Stewart noted on the Daily Show, 49% of us were swearing too. (I trust that's a true figure.)

Actually I like Bush, I voted for him...and if he could run for 3 terms, I'd probably vote for him again. And personally I really don't like all this 'Bush Bashing'...I just kenw it was going to happen. The Non-USA SPers here just can't wait to jump down the poor guy's throat and slander my country...and now there is even an entire forum dedicated to house all the Bush/USA bashing. :grr: :bang:

I have only two things left to say:

#1: If you're a non-USA SPer, and you hate Bush/USA, just be glad you don't live in the USA...so you have no real say on him/my country...unless your country was recently liberated by the USA.

#2: If you are an American SPer, and you hate Bush, then by all means, move to another country! Mexico and Canada could use the extra population, and that'll give the 50% + of the US population who DID vote for him a little more room to strech...and less traffic. :rolleyes: :rolling:

Kitrax,
you have a peculiar perception of how to deal with of dissent and the function of public discussion in a democratic republic.

Having been elected doesn't, or shouldn't, immunize against critique, or critical congressional oversight for that instance. In principle, I take it, you don't pay congress for being court claqeurs to nod and applaude to everything dear Leader sais. Quote variation:
"It is with pride that we see that one man is kept above all criticism – the President
(...)
The reason is that everyone feels and knows [that] he was always right and will always be right. The Patriotism of us all is anchored in the uncritical loyalty, in the devotion to the President that does not ask for the wherefore in the individual case…. We believe that the President s fulfilling a divine mission to the American destiny! This belief is beyond all challenge."Amen. I hope, seriously hope, that's not what you mean. That would be a strangely outdated mindset, proven wrong by history.

Does loving our country require unquestioning support for President Bush, as many of his most devoted followers insist (http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=81460), I too wonder ...

I resent Kitrax's comments.
The United States of America was founded on the principal that citizens have the right to protest. I have ancestors who fought for that right. I consider remarks such as Kitrax's to come from only an uneducated mentality. He has the right to his opinion and I have the right to mine. When we loose that right we cease to be the USA that was founded in 1776.

If you are an American SPer, and you hate Bush, then by all means, move to another country! Mexico and Canada could use the extra population, and that'll give the 50% + of the US population who DID vote for him a little more room to strech...and less traffic Yes, Kitrax has the right to feel that way and even to state it but he will not be suprised that 49% of us will object. I hope many of the 50% who voted for Bush will also protest statements such as Kitrax's.

Okay, fine. You aren't the same USA that was founded in 1776.

Frankly, it might be 49% of the USA swearing.. But worldwide, I'd guess at approximately 80%.

50% + of the US population who DID vote for him a little more room to strech Eh? I thought only about 60% of the elligible voters (not population) voted in the election full stop? And of those Bush got about half - ie 30% of the electorate?

If you are an American SPer, and you hate Bush, then by all means, move to another country! You don't think they should stay and voice their dissent whenever possible?

#2: If you are an American SPer, and you hate Bush, then by all means, move to another country! Mexico and Canada could use the extra population, and that'll give the 50% + of the US population who DID vote for him a little more room to strech...and less traffic.Dumbass.

..and now there is even an entire forum dedicated to house all the Bush/USA bashing.If you are an American SPer, and you are Kitrax, by all means move to another forum, and that'll give the 99% + of us who can actually think for ourselves a little less spam to read... and more bandwidth.

[ January 23, 2005, 15:57: Message edited by: ArtEChoke ]

I don't know how many times I've said this, criticism of decisions made by leadership just isn't the same thing as bashing the people as a whole. It just isn't. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the right to criticize your own leadership considered a key component of American freedom?

And btw, no name calling either ... :nono:

#1: If you're a non-USA SPer, and you hate Bush/USA, just be glad you don't live in the USA...so you have no real say on him/my country...unless your country was recently liberated by the USA. Nice to see how tolerant the "majority" can be!

I think you're missing the point, Kitrax. My continued commentary on Bush is not because I hate the US and Dubya, I just think they're detrimental to the US, bad for global peace and the global economy, extremely bad for the environment (although I will say the same of the Liberal/National Coalition in Australia), and most importantly, I think they're really bad news for the "American Way". The cornerstone of any democracy is the ability for people to assemble and be politically active, so long as they don't trample the rights of others. Sure, Kerry and the Democrats are hardly the Apostles, but at least they stand for values which could make a positive difference to the quality of life in America. Is it so hard to believe that I would like to see government more concerned with the welfare of its people than with oil, corporate interests and keeping itself in power by whatever methods are necessary?

Bush and Co. have incited the greatest popular dissent since Vietnam and Watergate, and have proven time after time to be incompetent, dishonest, regressive or inordinately self-interested. They've done some good things, I'm sure - I'll concede that point willingly, since I don't know the full story. The precedent they have set, though, is terrifying, and it will cost successive generations of Americans (and probably other Westerners) a heck of a lot more than they bargained for. In four years time, the US may well be suffering from higher violent and property crime rates, increased infant and maternal mortality rates, higher inflation, a massive current account deficit and greater religious and racial division as a result of the re-election of Bush. Call me crazy, but that's worth getting angry about.

If you want to give Australian policy a bit of stick, be my guest, Kitrax.

America should send everyone who voted for this idiot to China or Russia or Hades

let them all suck wind

Ox,

Been nice knowing you! :wave:

Start the countdown.

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
...

I'm still here.

''They'' havn't taken me out yet.

Tal has spoken to me though, seems my comments went to the line (perhaps over the line) in regards to insulting people.

I guess I should say that I disagree with Bush on just about everything he says, does, and stands for.

I guess I should say that I believe everyone who voted for Bush was wrong.

I am standing by. . .

[ January 25, 2005, 19:08: Message edited by: Ox ]