Bush Earned Our Hate

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Monday, February 2, 2004 | Harley Sorensen

[My2Cents]

I suppose Tancredo has endorsed your draft movement?

[weegee]

"Whatever happened to the Powell Doctrine, which insisted that we shouldn't go to war except as a last resort, that a clear risk to national security must exist..."

What threat did Bosnia pose? What threat did Somalia pose? What did he write about for 8 years while Bill and Hillary were co-presidents?

[Darlin']

In many ways I have more respect for Harley Sorensen's open hatred of President Bush than the thinly veiled version held by "principled", santimonious, "conservatives". Sorensen is at least up front about it.

[My2Cents]

The 70s were the Left's golden age -- they caused the defeat of the US in Southeast Asia; hounded a Republican President from office; brought us "malaise;" came close to destroying the American economy...The '70s were the Left's high-water mark in American politics.

[weegee]

I'd say trailing Kerry, Edwards, Dean, and Clark.

[My2Cents]

Only in SF would a moron like this have a regular job. Anywhere else in America, he'd be homeless.

[Scenic Sounds]

So we should pay for it and then hide it in a closet?

No, I guess not, but I'm not always happy when someone insists on showing me stuff that is repulsive. I mean, you know, we pay for national forests and the animals (and some of the people, probably) in those forests are doing all sorts of things that I don't necessarily want to see. ;-)

Maplethorpe, Karen Finlay, and others in the NEA bruhaha were already famous when they got their grants.

I have to confess that I don't (or at least didn't) know much about any of those folks and I probably would have remained surrounded by a blissful ignorance of their existence were it not for their detractors.

Let the private sector fund their trash. Do you have a problem with holding the artists who "create" on the public dime accountable to that same public?

If these freeloaders weren't getting NEA grants, it would have put that much more money out there (from the limited funds) for other arts programs.

Well, I agree that those who operate the program should be a bit more careful about the way in which they exercise their disretion when awarding grants.

More importantly, I just think that voters who wish to consider this funding proposal in selecting a president should understand that they are talking about 28 cents. I can't speak for everyone, you know, but it's not going to be the deal maker/breaker for me. ;-)

[KantianBurke]

Yeah, truth in advertising sure is important. I mean take Kerry. He's an out and out socialist whereas Dubya mouths off about taking care of the people's money when he's not spending it like a druken sailor. ;>

[weegee]

You're right. The Greenie Weenies and assorted socialist parties played no part in Al Gore losing Florida in 2000. We still would have seen George W. Bush elected (not).

Yes, if an election day candidate does not stand a viable chance at actually winning then he siphons votes from the top 2 contenders.

In Houston's mayor race we have a run off between the top 2 guys if no one gets more than 50% of the vote. There is no primary and no party affiliation (offically). The presidency carries no such run off (although I would like to see that change).

[Scenic Sounds]

I didn't mean to suggest that I condone the artworks that we both find offensive. I was also displeased when we lost astronauts, but I'm not prepared to suggest that our entire space program be scrapped to avoid another event that will displease me. And, so I just sort of accept that when the federal government spends in excess of one hundred million dollars on grants for art, there's gonna be some results there that displease me, too. I just hope that the folks at NEA are learning to be a bit more careful. LOL.

BTW, where does it say in the Constitution that the White House can have any Christmas ornaments? Or a Christmas tree? Or a White House? Or a gardener? ;-)

[Finalapproach29er]

Exactly! You nailed it! Lt.Columbo.

[Capt. Tom]

What threat did Bosnia pose? What threat did Somalia pose? What did he write about for 8 years while Bill and Hillary were co-presidents?

I am not a Powell fan. - Tom

[My2Cents]

There you go. Both come from the same end of the political cesspool, as far as I'm concerned.

[weegee]

The space program uses experimental and leading edge technology. The accomplishments are truly amazing and there is no such thing as a "routine" space flight.

Arts spending can use more discretion. Again, if a private financer would face a backlash over such works, the government board members who approve controversial works should at the very least be made to defend their decisions. We don't have to finance offensive work; such work should also be public domain since we paid for it. There are plenty of world famous photos in the National Archives because the photographers were paid by FDR's WPA. They carry no copyright. NASA's space photos carry no copyright.

See if (the late) Mapplethorpe would have been willing to give some shots to the government if every t-shirt vendor, postcard manufacturer, etc. could sell the image royalty free.

[weegee]

I put that bit it quotes since it came from the original article (and was in your citation). I wasn't meaning to take you to task over it.

I was calling out the author of the idiotorial for his hypocrisy.

[BigSkyFreeper]

[Scenic Sounds]

At all levels, I want government to be very careful about its spending. No exceptions!!!! ;-)

[Cautor]

Let's see, Dubya's so dumb he outsmarted that self-proclaimed genius in so many fields, aka Al Bore, aka the wooden boy, friend of the woodpecker. Oh please, Mr. Fox, don't throw me in that briar patch said GWB.

[Capt. Tom]

I wasn't meaning to take you to task over it.

I didn't take it that you were. I took it that you were pointing out the author's hypocricy who should have been asking where was the Powell Doctrine or a similar one was in the Clinton years. - Tom

[Stultis]

The point I hope to get to in this little essay is that those of us who dislike Bush did not simply get up one morning and decide we were going to hate him. He had to earn our antipathy.

In my experience (I live in a fairly liberal college town) this is b.s. I know a good half dozen Bush haters, and all but one were Bush haters from day one of his term (or before).