Okay Messenger: Let's take another look at this.
CLINTON YEARS
peace: - not really when you consider Bosnia, Kosovo, Sudan, and of course his missile in Bin Laden's back yard. Then continued air raids into Iraq. Peace?
booming stock market: Started in the Reagan years with lower taxes, stopped in Bush Sr. years with Democrat Tax increase, and then resumed again when GOP takes control of Congress in 1994. The economy was already getting weak before the 2000 election, but these extreme events recently have greatly hurt. Not caused by Bush.
cheap gas: A function of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Etc. When they raise prices and/or cut production, the west feels it. Gas prices are not determined by American Presidents.
The recent raise in gas prices is the result of OPEC increases back in November. It takes about 6 months for inventory backlog to catch up with the consumer market. And I understand that OPEC is going to keep oil prices under control, so we should see prices stay stable or reduce.
low interest rates: Interest rates are not a function of American President. Other wise, I would love to credit Ronald Reagan for bringing mortgage interest rates down from the 12% to 16% rate of the Carter years. Interest rates are a function of investment, specificly, foreign investors who have flooded the USA with capital because the Pacific Rim nations have been havaing serious economic trouble that erodes capital. The Fed Reserve rates don't really affect mortgage rates that much, as they are mostly governing overnight bank rates, and business loan prime rates. Greenspan was a GOP appointee maintained by Clinton.
BUSH 8 MONTHS:
crashing stock market: Foreign investors are pulling their money out because of fears of war, started by maniacs, and not by Bush.
highest gas prices in history: In addition to the above explanation, I need to add that gas prices are about where they should be. In the late 1950s, you could by a house for about $9,000. Gas was about 9 cents/gal. Today the average house is between $180,000 and $250,000 depending of region. At the same rate of inflation, gas should be between $1.80 and $2,50. In the Chicago metro area it is $1.82. About on target. So, adjusted for inflation, gas prices are "not" at historical levels.
threshold of World War III: Bullshit No one in their right mind fears this. This is a quazi military-police action backed by most all civilized nations. Again, Bush is not responsible for this. It could have happened on Clinton's watch.
low interest rates (just wait): Interest rates continue to drop, and should remain stable.
Your final comment, "If Bush is such a damn genius, and if he has such smart people around him then why the above?"
The problem is not George Bush, but events not in his control. My above explainations help show this. Too many Americans have the false notion that American Presidents are the main cause and effect for the country. As I tried to show in earlier posts gone by, it is the Congress that mainly affects us, and the last time I checked, the GOP dominated things during Clinton years, and we did not have any serious problems during Bush 8 months until the Senate shifted to Democrat control. But even this connection is not totally relevant. The problems have been there a long time, and came to a head last Tuesday.
Too many Americans need a good civics class to understand how the government works, and to stop placing so much weight on a single office.
You noted, "How do you come up with such blind thinking? You might compare it to the Reagan lovers who say he was the greatest president. I remember more farmers losing their land than at any time in American history not to mention the interest rates and other measures that plunged the country into debt that has yet to be paid."
Reagan influenced a very conservative, though still Democrat controlled Congress, to lowert taxes. They did, but they did not lower spending. So the increased revenues from a booming economy went right back into big Democrat spending - a Congress that became more Liberal in subsequent elections. The debt was the decision of Congress. Reagan failed to veto this, but went along with Congress while he had a war of words.
Reagan's greatness was the restoration of a certain character to the Presidency that was missing since Kennedy's time. He was great at foreign policy, especially in working with the Soviets who started thawing out from communism. He had the right ideas and implimented what he could. His failure was in relaxing his vigilance, and allowing spending without a bigger fight. But, ultimately Congress is the responsible body in this, especially the House of Representatives which controls the money.
ou conlcuded: "Everyone has a right to an opinion. My opinion is Bush is a twit. As far as the future is concerned, be afraid, very afraid."
You make my point perfectly. You actually endorse fear, and you allege things about Bush that are not rational or in line with how government works, and you do not provide any evidence of Bush being a Twit. Pure unsubstantiated claims.
Look, if anyone can provide clear evidence, absent the rhetoric, of Bush being a Twit, or unqualified, or poorly educated, etc. then I will be more than willing to admit error. Amazing