Reminder of How Bad the Bush Years Were

The George W. Bush presidency had a net LOSS in private sector jobs (about -500k). The jobs that were created during his 2 terms came from the public sector. Most of these jobs went to the formation of the giant opaque Homeland Security apparatus. Government jobs. DHS, a Republican idea, is proof that if you take a bunch of failed organizations and put them all together, they will metastasize. Aren't Republicans supposed to be against those kind of things? President Obama on the other hand has CUT government jobs since taking office by 700k, reduced the deficit by 2/3, & is on pace to create a net total of 13 million private sector jobs by the end of his 2nd term. And he's done it all in the aftermath of the greatest economic collapse since the Great Depression. #georgebush #jebbush #fuckbush #barackobama #obama #privatesector #publicsector #conservative #conservatives #republican #republicans #GOP #liberal #liberals #progressive #democrat #democrats #libertarian #libertarians #teaparty #politics #capitalism #occupy #taxtherich #socialism #workingclass #middleclass #uniteblue #thenewdeal

A photo posted by The New Deal (@the_new_deal_) on Apr 22, 2015 at 10:03am PDT

These numbers should remind you of what a disaster the presidency of George W. Bush was for America. Bush had 9/11, the poor response to Hurricane Katrina , and the econimic crash all happen on his watch. Yet Republicans would have you believe that the Obama years are somehow worse.

Write a Caption: President Bush & King Abdullah

The conservative blogosphere and Fox News would lose their collective shit if President Barack Obama took a photo like this with the King of a Middle East country.

Quote of the Day

"He's avoiding the handcuffs."

Reed Brody, attorney for the Human Rights Watch, on President George W. Bush cancelling his visit to Switzerland.

Bush was scheduled to speak to at a Jewish charity event. Criminal complaints about Bush's use of waterboarding were lodged in Geneva. Under the Geneva Conventions laws, waterboarding is considered torture. Bush has admitted in interviews and his book Decision Points that he approved the use of waterboarding on detainees.

Detainee Manadel al-Jamadi was tortured to death at Abu Ghraib. Jamadi was hung from his wrists for several hours and beaten. Jamadi's death was ruled a homicide by the U.S. military pathologist.

There is a documented of a Navy dog phyically attacking a detainee in Abu Ghraib on Dec. 12, 2003. The dog bit the detainee.

There has been no proof provided by conservatives that torture provided intelligence. Defense Sec. Leon Panetta informed Sen. John McCain that none of the intelligence used to find Osama bin Laden came from torture.

From a short period of time President Bush has went from the most power man on the planet to a fugitive from international law. Amazing.

Update: Litbrit pointed out to me that the story is from February of 2011.

Republicans Base Health Care Strictly on Politics

Further proof that Republicans base their votes on politics and not policy. The Money Follows the Person was proposed and signed into the law by President George W. Bush. The grants provided by Money Follows the Person is part of Medicaid. The grants helps keep the elderly and the disabled out of assisted living homes. Republicans in the Florida legislature voted it down because Money Follows the Person has been merged into Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

It was generally, a party-line vote, but Republican senators J.D. Alexander and Joe Negron broke ranks and supported the request. Alexander hesitated before his vote, saying he hoped his colleagues would "vote their conscience." The votes from Negron and Alexander meant the Senate favored the request, but House members gave it a thumbs-down, so the measure failed.

The Money Follows the Person grant was created in 2005 under President George W. Bush to keep elderly and disabled people out of nursing homes by providing home health aides and other services. The grants save states money because Medicaid usually pays if clients stay in nursing homes.

But the program is now part of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and authorizing the spending would "go against" a "policy" promulgated by House Speaker Dean Cannon to not implement any part of the legislation federal health care law, said Cannon spokeswoman Katie Betta.

Rep. Denise Grimsley repeated the Republican talking point of about turning down "duplicative" services.

"I realize they're federal dollars, but they're taxpayer dollars," Grimsley said.

Did Grimley just came to the realization that the government is funded by tax dollars? As far as "duplicative" services, Florida has made cuts to Medicaid. Now Florida is turning down federal funding. Florida is in the bottom half of states for receiving federal money. Florida gets back $0.97 for every dollar sent the federal government. Compare that to New Mexico getting $2.03 for every $1.00 sent. I classic example of how badly Florida manages health care is Gov. Jeb Bush made Kidcare go broke by turning down federal funding and neglect.

Do these Republicans even realize they voted against a George W. Bush proposal? Considering how willfully ignorant these people are on policy, I doubt it.

Obama White House Announcement Live Blogging

Obama is suppose to major a major national security announcement at 10:45 tonight. There is a rumor that Osama bin Laden is dead. CNN brought Wolf Blitzer in on a Sunday night to cover the story. Something is up.

Keith Urbahn, Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's former Chief of Staff, tweeted this.

So I'm told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Hot damn.

Urbahn did a follow tweet saying it could be a rumor.

This is big. David Corn tweeted this.

Daily Beast is running story that Osama bin Laden is dead.

MSNBC: Pres. will speak about a "grave, serious CIA operations overseas."

Marc Ambinder has good sources in the White House.

Two senior administration officials say that the President will announce that Osama Bin Laden is dead.

This is good news if it is true. I be more than happy to see the bastard dead.

Talking Points Memo confirms bin Laden is dead. Meanwhile, Obama has still not made a statement.

Blast from the Past President Bush telling White House press corp he doesn't spend much time worrying about bin Laden.



Showtime: Obama comes on an hour late. Obama say bin Laden is dead.

Obama says he told CIA director Leon Panetta that killing or capturing Osama bin Laden is priority number 1.

Bin Laden was killed in a gun fight with CIA paramilitary forces.

Bin Laden killed in Pakistan.

Obama: "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims."

Obama striking the proper serious tone and didn't use fear-mongering against Muslims. Republican presidential candidates must be shitting themselves.

I great moment from Obama's speech.

"Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth and power, but because of who we are."

Rubio Still Dumb

I am not surprised when Marco Rubio says dumb things. The man is not smart. For instance: Rubio has never opened a history book.

America is pretty much the only military power in human history that has not used his power to conquer land and grow it's territory.

Military power was used to take land from the Mexicans and Indians. The fact that a United States Senator is unaware of this is disturbing.

Rubio supports drilling off the coast of Florida. The Daily News editorial board was shocked to learn that Rubio was unaware the Air Force was against offshore drilling because of military exercises.

But he was unaware of military officials’ concern about expanded drilling, which complicates the issue here on the Emerald Coast. In June, the commander of Eglin Air Force Base’s Air Armament Center told our editorial board that more drilling in water ranges that are used for training will, “at some point,” have an impact on national defense.

Mr. Rubio said he would have to research the matter.


The Miami resident also seemed unfamiliar with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s recent shutdown of amberjack fishing, which has riled folks in Destin. The most he could muster was a one-size-fits-all observation that federal officials were “overreaching.”

Read more »

Jay-Z on Bush & Kayne West

Jay-Z puts George W. Bush's reaction to be criticized by Kayne West for the response to hurricane Katrina into context.

"I 100% agreed with the comments that he made, because again... it felt like it was being done to black people. Like all you saw on the news was black people with help signs... and then you have this picture of the commander in chief, who we all rely on, just flying by... Just the fact that [George W. Bush] thinks that the worst thing that happened to him is Kanye saying something about him… That alone shows you where his mind is."

Bush called West's accusation that Bush is racist the "low" point of his presidency. It is sad when Taylor Swift handles being dissed by West with more maturity than Bush. This man needs to grow up.

I Have No Faith in Faith-Based Initiatives

President Barack Obama courageously panders to Christian conservatives who will never vote for him.

Speaking with Barbara Walters, Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama also described how they involve their daughters in daily prayer.

"Michelle and I have not only benefited from our prayer life, but I think the girls have too," the president told Walters. "We say grace before we eat dinner every night. We take turns."

"[I]n the end, we always say we hope we live long and strong," the first lady said.

"Long and strong. And that we give back."

The Bush administration used the Faith-based Initiative to promote their false Christian values. Evangelical David Kuo worked in setting up the Bush administration's faith-based program. Kuo remembers Karl Rove giving the very unchristian commandment, "Just get me a fucking faith based thing. Got it?

It is actually hard to find out what Obama's Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships has actually accomplished. The faith-based agenda died because of the Bush administration's own neglect.

Obama signed an executive order the guidelines the Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It is hard to find what positive results have come from Obama's faith-based efforts.

During the 2008 election, Obama said that religious institutions must end discriminatory hiring practices, in order to get federal money. Obama backed off that vow after getting elected. What seems to be clear is Obama, like Bush, wants to please religious voters. The bigger story is there is an no tangible benefit from using federal money for faith-based policies. There are no great faith-based success stories the government can point to. The media should report that the Bush and Obama faith-based initiative are the federal government's version of the emperor with no clothes.

Most Newsworthy Story of the Day

Kayne West and George W. Bush have forgiven each other. Unfortunateley, for both men America hasn't forgiven them.

Quote of the Day

"I probably won’t even vote for the guy. I had to endorse him. But I’d have endorsed Obama if they’d asked me."

George W. Bush, in a 2008 conversation with Gordon Brown on his feelings about John McCain.

Is there anyone in either party that likes McCain?

Bush Admits to Ordering Torture

The Washington Post reports former President George W. Bush admits to ordering the waterboarding of Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

In a memoir due out Tuesday, Bush makes clear that he personally approved the use of that coercive technique against alleged Sept. 11 plotter Khalid Sheik Mohammed, an admission the human rights experts say could one day have legal consequences for him.

In his book, titled "Decision Points," Bush recounts being asked by the CIA whether it could proceed with waterboarding Mohammed, who Bush said was suspected of knowing about still-pending terrorist plots against the United States. Bush writes that his reply was "Damn right" and states that he would make the same decision again to save lives, according to a someone close to Bush who has read the book.

Bush previously had acknowledged endorsing what he described as the CIA's "enhanced" interrogation techniques - a term meant to encompass irregular, coercive methods - after Justice Department officials and other top aides assured him they were legal. "I was a big supporter of waterboarding," Vice President Richard B. Cheney acknowledged in a television interview in February.

"Damn right" Bush ordered torture. Bush wasn't so cavalier about this fact when he was in the White House. Bush gave Katie Couric an alternative version of reality.

"I've said to the people that we don't torture, and we don't."

Except when Bush tortures people.

The United States is violating the Geneva Conventions it is legally obligated to comply with. The CIA destroyed 92 videotapes to hide evidence of torture. The Bush administration was scared of getting prosecuted. Bush can now brag about torture because President Barack Obama has vowed to to prosecute anyone involved with waterboarding. Bush is legally in the clear and knows it.

Quote of the Day

"I miss being pampered; I miss Air Force One; I miss being commander in chief of an awesome group of (people.)"

George W. Bush, during a University of Texas at Tyler's Distinguished Lecture Series.

Bush also said, "I’m having the time of my life not being your president." Bush doesn't miss the actual work aspects of the job. Just the perks. For all my progressive bitching, I take Obama over Bush anyday.



To answer the question on the billboard - hell no.

Civics Lesson For Conservatives

At a California Tea Party rally, Duncan Hunter Jr. was asked would he support stripping U.S. citizenship from children whose parents came into America illegally. Hunter answered with an enthusiastic yes.

HUNTER: I would have to say yes. We simply cannot afford what we are doing right now. California is going under. How much in debt are we? Twenty billion dollars? And we're not being mean, we are saying it takes more than just walking across the border to become an American citizen. It's what's in our soul.

Actually Congressman, you are being mean. There is nothing nice sounding about deporting children. Hunter was someone able to peer into the souls of all these children and say they are not American. The last Republican that peered to a soul was President George W. Bush. The former President said he looked into Vladimir Putin's soul and found him "trustworthy."

BUSH: I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country.

Repealing the U.S. citizenship of brown-skinned babies his the latest conservative rallying cry. These conservatives that profess to love the Constitution should take the time to read it. We already know John Boehner and Sarah Palin haven't read the Constitution.

14th Amendment:

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State where they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge or immunities of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within itsjurisdiction the equal protection of the law.

The Founding Fathers made clear any person born in the United States is a citizen. I am tired of conservatives that say they love the Constitution; only to make rediculous statements, such as Alberto Gonzales's misinformation that the Constitution does not guarantee Habeas Corpus. A simple reading of the Constitution will inform the literate that habeas corpus can only be suspended during a time of war or for public safety. The Republican establishment and the conservative movement has created deficits, denied civil rights to gays, and supported stripping protections in the Constitution. This is why the Republican Party and teabaggers should be ridiculed every time they utter the words "less government and more freedom."

Write A Caption: Dubya

Some captions just write themselves.

Anonymous Wyoming, Minn. Wyoming, Minn. businessmen paid to have this unintentionally hysterical billboard of George W. Bush.

Worst Argument Against Health Care Reform Ever.

Megan McArdle rants on BloggingHeads Tv that health care reform will kill people. McArdle gives the libertarian argument that health care reform will kill the competion for innovative new drugs. Mark Schmitt literally laughs at her argument.

Obama's health care plan does not kill private pharmacuitical companies. McArdle fails to understand market is created by demand. There will always be sick and terminally ill patients. The demand for current and new drugs is there during economic prosperous and weak times. The pharmacuitical industry couldn't have a better market. Medicine is not a luxury item. People need it to live.

The Bush administration hindered choice and competition. President Bush refused to allow cheaper drugs to come from Canada. Senator Orrin Hatch explain if we import drugs the terrorist wins.

Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, said, ''If this proposal becomes law, we are just placing our country in the hands of foreign terrorists who could easily get hold of various prescription drug products and spread desolation and disease.''

That is a silly argument. The FDA can screen the drugs. No one is arguing to have unsafe drugs enter the country. It is amazing Republicans are arguing against free trade and competition. Not so amazing considering what pharmacuitical companies spent contributing to the Republican Party during the 2004 and 2006 campaign cycles. Conservative ideology for free markets takes a backseat to lobbyists.

I'm not suprised McArdle would argue against health care reform. She defended accused murderer Scott Roeder and professed her crush on Bobby Jindal. There is no reason to expect McArdle to make a rationale argument. What I don't understand is why anyone would pay her to blog?

Bush Dumped GM Problem On Obama

Dick Cheney parses his words carefully. What is clear was the Bush admistration knew General Motors was in financial trouble. Rather than act, President George W. Bush decided to have the Obama team deal with GM.

“These are big issues and [Bush] wouldn't be there through the process of managing it, but in effect, would have sort of pulled the plug on GM,” Cheney said, adding that he and Bush wanted to allow Obama’s team to “decide what they wanted to do.”

The Decider decided he wanted to punt. A true profile in courage.

White House Backtracking on Torture Prosecution

President Barack Obama has left the door open to prosecution of Bush administration lawyers involved in making torture policy.

"With respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the Attorney General within the parameters of various laws, and I don't want to prejudge that. I think that there are a host of very complicated issues involved there."

Asked about his opinion of a congressional investigation into the matter, Obama refrained from taking a position -- but maintained that such an investigation should be bipartisan if it happens. "As a general deal, I think that we should be looking forward and not backwards. I do worry about this getting so politicized that we cannot function effectively, and it hampers our ability to carry out critical national security operations."

That is different than Rahn Emanuel's previous statement.

Asked Sunday on ABC's "This Week" about the fate of those officials, Emanuel said the president believes they "should not be prosecuted either and that's not the place that we go."

The release of the memos was going to create pressure on Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to prosecute. Obama was asked in the Oval Office if Bush lawyers could be prosecuted. "I don’t want to prejudge that," Obama answered.

Obama repeatly stressed C.I.A. operatives will not be prosecuted. The President went to the Langley headquarters to personally deliver that message.

The White House press corp is curious about why the Obama administration backtracked on previous statements about criminal prosecutions against Bush officials. Press Sec. Robert Gibbs does his best to spin.



Kevin Drum makes a strong argument that Office of Legal Counsel attorney can not be prosecuted without charges leading to George W. Bush. Drum sees Obama eventually ruling prosecution is impossible. My take is this is take on momentum of it's own. Bush supporters are fewer than the people that dislkie him. That doesn't mean Bush, Dick Cheney, or Donald Rumsfeld will be prosecuted. George Tenet is another story. Some people were born to fall on the sword.

Anwar Richardson School of Economics Award: Rush Limbaugh

The Anwar Richardson School of Economics Award is named after the Tampa Tribune sports writer. Richardson boldly predicted Brett Farve coming to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers "It's actually gonna pump some money into this economy. Especially, in the Tampa Bay economy." Farve never came and several economic stuidies have shown sport franchises have zero economic impact on the community. Tampa area residents are still paying for the construction of Raymond James Stadium.

New York Gov. David Paterson is facing a budget deficit. Paterson plans to address the problem by raising the tax rate of income earners making $500,000 to 8.97%. Naturally, this has angered part-time New York resident Rush Limbaugh.

“When I am there working I pay whatever, you know, my rate is based on income for that day in New York,” Limbaugh said. “And I try to go as little as possible. If it weren't for hurricanes down here (his regular studio in Florida), I would never go up there.

“So I'll tell you what I'm going to do,” Limbaugh continued. “I'm going to look for an alternative studio somewhere outside New York, perhaps Texas -- another no-income-tax state -- and I'm going to get the hell over there, when a hurricane starts coming our way, 'cause I told Mayor Bloomberg: I'll be the first to lead the way. “

I would be more sympathic if Limbaugh didn't own mansions in two states. Floridians are suffering from a lack of property tax relief. Limbaugh was able to save $25,000 on his property taxes. Limbaugh and other wealthy Palm Beach residents spend much of the year away from their Florida homes. For tax purposes, they are still homesteaded.

Limbaugh threw down the gauntlet. Limbaugh told the state of New York to "drop dead." He showed he really meant business by threatening to work less.

“When you raise taxes on an activity, you reduce that activity,” Limbaugh explained to his listeners. “People start doing that activity less. In this case: working. When you reduce taxes on an activity, then that activity increases. When you reduce taxes on income, people start working harder to earn more. Governor Paterson needs to cut taxes on people. He needs to spur investment. He needs to get people going and working. It's just the exact opposite. Governor Paterson is like most other liberal Democrats: zero-sum game. The economy is a pie. It never grows. Somebody gets their slice; somebody gets their slice.”

I wonder if Limbaugh knew he is reciting the Laffer Curve theory. Arthur Laffer believed less taxes would make people work more hours and bring in more tax revenue to the government. The reserse has proven to be true. The federal budget went from surplus to deficit under the Bush tax cuts. A Congressional Budget Office study found that the budget would have been balanced in 2005, if not for the Bush tax cuts. American workers are making less due to inflation and stagnant wages. George Clooney can afford to vacation with Cindy Crawford. Many Americans are forced to work more than one job.

MS. MORNIN: Okay, I'm a divorced, single [57 year-old] mother with three grown, adult children. I have one child, Robbie, who is mentally challenged, and I have two daughters.

THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic. First of all, you've got the hardest job in
America, being a single mom...

MS. MORNIN: I work three jobs and I feel like I contribute.

THE PRESIDENT: You work three jobs?

MS. MORNIN: Three jobs, yes.

THE PRESIDENT: Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that
you're doing that. (Applause.) Get any sleep? (Laughter.)

MS. MORNIN: Not much. Not much.

Bush thinks it is funny Ms. Moran has to support a special needs child by working three jobs. His economic policies hardly rewarded her hard work.

"[T]he “Laffer Curve” idea that tax cuts would actually increase revenues turned out to deserve the ridicule with which sober economists had greeted it in 1981." wrote Noble prize-winning economist James Tobin. Limbaugh citing the Laffer Curve earns him the Anwar Richardson School of Economics Award.

Marco Rubio: Economics 101

Marco Rubio makes his pitch on how to fix the economy.

Stop spending money we don’t have.
Stop wasting money on things that don’t grow the economy.
Pass tax cuts that will grow our economy and create jobs.

The problem with Republicans attacking Democrats on tax cuts is President Barack Obama's Making Work Pay tax cuts. The cuts work like this.

Lowest 20% - 12.2 percent

Second Lowest 20% - 16.1 percent

Middle 20% - 20.2 percent

Fourth 20% - 26.4 percent

Next 15% - 22.5 percent

Next 4% - 2.5 percent

Top 1 - 0.0 percent

Honestly, I don't expect Obama's cuts to suddenly create jobs. People are making less and more likely to hold on to their money. The Bush administration's policy of tax cuts created 3 million jobs. The Clinton years created 23 million jobs.

Mark Zandi is the Chief Economist and co-founder of Moody's Economy.com. Zandi's study "The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" found stimulus does a greater job of creating jobs than tax cuts.



Zandi's study finds the stimulus package will boost employment in construction by 11 percent. Manufacturing jobs will increase by 4 percent.

Conservatives scream about welfare. Food stamps put $1.73 back into the economy for every federal dollar spent. I'm with Rubio on wasteful spending. I do wish Rubio would take the time to learn economics. The short answer is you have to spend money to make money. Rubio's ideas to fix the economy won't work. Rubio had his chance as House Speaker to help reduce Florida's deficit and he failed.

Hat tip to Paul Rosenberg

Write A Caption

Obamacon Me allows you to take a photo and give it that special Obama/Change touch. Some things don't change. No matter how much photoshopping is done.