George W. Bush Is No Bill Clinton

CNSNews.com ^ | July 24, 2002 | Linda Chavez

[Stand Watch Listen]

Have we become so cynical that we now suspect the worst of anyone who occupies the Oval Office, but are willing to give them a pass so long as we think they're doing their job well? One could certainly draw this conclusion based on a recent New York Times/CBS News poll on President Bush's business dealings and his presidency.

A majority of those polled said they believed that President Bush is hiding something (48 percent) or lying (9 percent) about the circumstances of his sale of Harken Energy stock options when he was a director of the company more than a decade ago. But they still give him high marks as president, with 70 percent approving overall. The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz described the phenomenon as Bush's being "Clintonized." If so, it's a shame.

"Remember when big majorities in the polls would say that Bill Clinton was lying about Lewinsky, had lousy ethics and couldn't be trusted. And then his approval rating would somehow top 60 percent," writes Kurtz.

The same thing is going on now, says Kurtz, with the public giving President Bush a pass. "They may not like the MBA president's coziness with business, and the dumping of the Harken stock may smell funny to them. But they believe Bush is a decent man who has done a terrific job in the war on terrorism."

Liberals would love to turn George W. Bush into Bill Clinton. It's part of the "everybody does it," moral relativity defense.

I'm sorry; I'm not buying it. If Bush engaged in "insider trading" when he was on the Harken board, then he doesn't deserve to be president. But I don't for one minute believe he did anything of the sort. And there has never been any evidence to suggest he did.

So what is it that "smells funny," in Kurtz's words? Bush cashed in more than $800,000 in stock options in order to become a part owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team in 1990. Shortly after he cashed out his options, the company released quarterly earnings that showed big losses in the company, so the stock price predictably fell. But it didn't stay down-it rebounded and went even higher than the price at which Bush sold his stock. Had he held onto his options a while longer, he'd have made more money.

The Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC) investigated Bush's stock sale at the time and said there was no evidence that insider information influenced his decision. And it's hard to imagine otherwise. Any corporate director knows that his or her actions in buying or selling company stock are going to be carefully scrutinized. The SEC and outside investor watchdog groups carefully monitor such activity, looking for evidence that insiders might be trying to profit unfairly.

Because George W. Bush's father was in the White House at the time, he was even more likely to be targeted for careful scrutiny.

It's disheartening to believe that so many Americans have so little faith in their leaders. Sure, some executives act unethically, and hurt their investors and their employees. And some politicians are scoundrels. However, they generally get caught --eventually.

But if we begin to believe that everybody bends the rules, or breaks them, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I think everybody around me lies, steals and cheats, I'm more likely to do it as well. That's the danger in the growing cynicism among the public.

Our system -- both political and economic -- is built on trust. When we stopping trusting one another, and especially when we stop believing those who occupy positions of trust, the system begins to fall apart. In some sense that is what's happening on Wall Street right now. It's a dangerous trend.

You'd think the American public would know by now that George W. Bush is no Bill Clinton. He doesn't need a pass on his "private" dealings with Harken Energy. Americans need to start trusting our presidents again.

Creators Syndicate, Inc.

[HEY4QDEMS]

Thanks for the math lesson, I never knew there was such a thing as a 48% majority.

[cardinal4]

You'd think the American public would know by now that George W. Bush is no Bill Clinton.

You cant compare another human to Xlinton; try a reptile or some bottom feeding insect.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

WHAT OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF IS NOT DOING NOW

Your Opinion/Questions Miscellaneous Keywords: DUBYA VERSUS SCUMBAG

Source: dfu
Published: 9-16-01 Author: dfu

Posted on 09/16/2001 19:42:28 PDT by doug from upland
It is finally refreshing to have a real Commander in Chief, one the troops can respect. You can rest assured, that this Commander in Chief is not doing the following:

1 - He is not on an unsecured phone at 2:00 AM having phone sex with a government employee about the age of his daughter.

2 - He is not meeting with White House counsel to arrange a task list and 72 taxpayer-funded attorneys to cover up his crimes.


3 - He is not assaulting a woman in the Oval Office who has come begging for a job as her life is falling apart.

4 - He is not making a deal with a bastard traitor from a technology company who will give him 900K so that he does not get indicted by John Ashcroft.


5 - He is not planning on how and where to dump the body of a boyhood friend.

6 - He is not constantly running to his sink.

7 - He is not putting pressure on people to commit perjury.


8 - He is not having his attorney prepare an argument that, as Commander in Chief, he is on active duty and cannot be sued because of the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1941.

9 - He is not ignoring the pleas of Rangers in a firefight who are about to be killed and have their bodies dragged through the streets.


10 - He is not planning to bomb an aspirin factory because a cow is getting set to testify about him.

11 - He is not having his henchmen kill a cat and threaten the lives of the children of a witness.

12 - He is not playing cigar games while world leaders wait in the Rose Garden.


13 - He is not convincing his personal secretary to perjure herself.


14 - He is not writing a letter of deceit to a survivor of the Bataan Death March.


15 - He is not sexually assaulting a woman he just met at a pub.


16 - He is not pointing his finger at us and lying.

17 - He is not having his wife appear with perky Katie Couric to create a fantasy about a vast conspiracy out to get him.


18 - He is not helping his wife hide documents on the third floor reading room in the White House.

19 - He is not playing games with a young government employee in the Oval Office and staining the Great Seal.


20 - He is not arranging to give a crazed stalker a top secret clearance and brand new job at the Pentagon.


21 - He is not negotiating on a phone with a member of the House Appropriations Committee about money for troops while he is being serviced by a young woman under his desk.


22 - He is not inviting the Russian Mafia or Chinese arms dealers as honored guests to the White House.


Yes, ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in eight years we have a real Commander in Chief.

We have a Commander in Chief who does not loathe those who fight for this nation.

We have a Commander in Chief who has the respect of the troops. This Commander in Chief will be working to protect and defend this great nation, not protect his and his wife's ample posterior from being indicted and thrown into the slammer.

My Uncle Lyle who landed at Omaha and fought to Berlin still has termendous hate for Clinto's dis-respect for the things Clinton did in office. Perhaps we can take a clue from my Uncle long vision as Clinton is measured in the history books.


God Bless this Commander in Chief

[DB]

I completely agree.

[Hari_Seldon]

"I never knew there was such a thing as a 48% majority."

Read it again...48% plus 9%...

[ilgipper]

strange....this is the first I've heard that the Harkin stock quickly rebounded after the sale and initial fall in price. This should be the standard response on every interview, speech, etc by anyone in the Republican party. The GOP is so poor at delivering their message, it really pisses me off.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Do a search on FR, there are a number of articles that set forth the specifics of the Harken trading. Just rounding out the numbers....Bush sold his stock at $4.00/share...three months later the stock sold for $2.00/sh and then 4-5 months after that, Harken was at $8.00/sh.

I agree, The Republicans do a very poor job at getting out any type of message and responding to the Dems statements/lies/spin. They also lack an adequate messenger to get it out to the American electorate.

[KansasGirl]

Good article and very true.

[BlackRazor]

"Do a search on FR, there are a number of articles that set forth the specifics of the Harken trading. Just rounding out the numbers....Bush sold his stock at $4.00/share...three months later the stock sold for $2.00/sh and then 4-5 months after that, Harken was at $8.00/sh."

Harken shares bottomed out around $1.25, but what has not been frequently reported is that they still traded above $3 right after the poor financial information was made public. In other words, even if Bush had used insider information to dump the shares early (and there's no evidence to suggest he did), he wouldn't really have gained that much. Had he waited until the earnings numbers had gone public and then sold, he still would have pocketed about $700,000.

[palo verde]

it is senseless to compare Bush with clinton
Bush may or may not be making sound decisions
(depending on one's point of view)
but his character is gold
clinton is a gangster,
an astute poster said ''clinton makes Al Capone look like an amateur''
Love, Palo

[Psalm 73]

"I agree, The Republicans do a very poor job at getting out any type of message and responding to the Dems statements/lies/spin..."

But why, why, WHY?
I mean, they're not stupid, they know what they SHOULD do, why the heck don't they do it?
Even before George "Turn-the-other-cheek/I'll not stoop to their level" Bush was elected, they let the Dems walk all over them. It's maddening.

[Sacajaweau]

God Bless President Bush and his family.

I'm so grateful to God that he is our President.

He may eventually be listed as one of the greatest presidents we have ever had.

It calms me when I see him and as I watch him walk hand and hand with his wife, I see the genuine love they have for each other.

His words may not be perfect but there is no doubt that he is a caring, loving man, a "peoples" president.

Sac

[Common Tator]

A majority of Americans think George Bush engaged in insider trading because if they had been in his position, they would have engaged in insider trading. People are not angry about Bush being accused of doing what they would have done if the rolls were reversed.

Most Americans were not angry with Bill Clinton for having sex with a young intern because most Americans would have had sex with a young intern if they had the same chance.

Bill Clinton was never the PROBLEM. He is just a symbol of the Problem! The PROBLEM is most Americans share CLINTON's morals!!!

[cubreporter]

Agree wholeheartedly. Last night we were looking at the Daily Dose of Dubya and there were two photos of our illustrious President with his hand on his wife's shoulder. He had turned around in one of the photos but there was his hand still on our First Lady's shoulder which shows his connection and love for this woman and her for him. Oh yes, President Bush is a genuine, good man. Those who attack him are jealous because he is clean. They just want to get anything they can on him. With Clinton it was easy cause Clinton made it easy. President Bush is DEFINITELY not Bill Clinton and I thank GOD for that!

[dead]

Thanks for the math lesson, I never knew there was such a thing as a 48% majority.

Next up, a reading comprehension lesson.

Read the sentence again:

A majority of those polled said they believed that President Bush is hiding something (48 percent) or lying (9 percent) about the circumstances of his sale…

[gunshy]

Americans need to start trusting our presidents again.

I would love to trust our president. Will you advise me as to when he has done something to gain my trust? Something, anything, like keeping a campaign promise, or not signing unconstitutional laws, or maybe not trying violate our rights every time we turn around or maybe just simply honoring the oath he took when he assumed office.

[eshu]

---

Bill of Rights Version 3.0 (thanks for your suggestions!)

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

(No longer relevant - see: Deconstructing the Second Amendment

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

(No longer relevant - see: War on the Constitution

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

(No longer relevant - see: Seizure Fever: The War on Property Rights

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

(No longer relevant - see: Is This man's case worth suspending the United States Constitution?

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

[Texbob]

After two terms of White Trash Scumbag Clinton, they expect the people to all of a sudden have morals enough to do something about political corruption?

[jimbo123]

Clinton stock a hot commodity (Return of the Sink Emperor)