Why would anyone want to vote for George W. Bush for president? I
have racked my brain to come up with even one reason to allow him
four more years to mislead and mismanage this nation. Consider the
possible Bush arguments and my counterpoint.
Bush argument: The economy is strong.
My response: Wrong. Bush will be the first president since Herbert
Hoover to preside over a net loss of jobs during his time in office.
Bush argument: The war is going well in Iraq.
My response: No. More than a thousand United States soldiers have
died in Iraq in a war that the president misled the public about. A
recent CIA report indicates a strong possibility of continued unrest
and even civil war.
Bush argument: The President is a straight shooter who keeps his
word.
My response: On what? As a candidate he promised there would be no
"nation building" yet he has turned around and built nations in
Afghanistan and Iraq. He promised a second vote at the United Nations
on going to war against Iraq but backpedaled on that. He originally
opposed the creation of a Homeland Security Department then turned
around and supported it. And so on. He flip-flops far more than Sen.
Kerry.
Bush argument: The tax cuts have helped everyone.
My response: Not really. The tax cuts have mostly gone to help the
wealthy, leaving crumbs for everyone else. Also, the budget deficit
has risen sharply during Bush's time in office because of these tax
cuts. Future generations will have to pay for them.
Bush argument: Bush has restored honor and dignity to the White
House.
My response: Where is it? His White House "outed" a CIA operative
because her husband wrote a report that Bush had lied when he said
that Iraq had purchased uranium from Nigeria. His vice president
continues to falsely state that Iraq was connected to the attacks of
Sept. 11. And he has appointed more convicted criminals to his
administration than any previous U.S. president.
Bush argument: We need to stand by our leader who defended us
after the attacks of Sept. 11.
My response: Bush and the United States received an outpouring of
goodwill from most nations around the world after the terrorist
attacks. Where did that goodwill go? After Bush decided to invade
Iraq, a nation that posed no threat to the U.S., most nations opposed
us and formed a negative impression of both the president and the
nation.
Bush argument: George Bush has made the world safer from
terrorists.
My response: That's not true. In the first eight months of 2003,
