POLITICS!! yay! the age old subject that is sure to inflame passions.
should i don my flame-resistant suit? sure!
Taxes:
To correct an issue, kerry wants to raise taxes FOR THE RICH, and CUT them for the middle class.
While bush? cutting taxes is a solution for everything.
want to cool down a hot economy? cut taxes.
want to heat up a cold economy? cut taxes.
want to deal with a surplus? cut taxes.
want to deal with a budget deficit? cut taxes.
Bush hasn't flip floped at all, he has been persistent in his behavior, despite giving different reasons for it, even if the new reasons contradict his previous ones. (eerily similar to his behavior with Iraq).
Please note that the majority of his tax cuts have been mainly for the rich, and the tax cuts that have been for the middle class have more than been made up by the higher state and local taxes because of bankrupt state governments. (which is almost every state)
I don't actually know kerry's position on 'homeland security'. But I do know that NOTHING was changed with the formation of that department. Its just throwing every 'domestic security' groups under one umbrella. Note that this reorganization will cost these groups time and focus that they need for other matters. Also note that Bush originally opposed the formation of this department. It isn't a pro on his side because of that.
Bush:
Terrorism cons:
-- is currently accused of ignoring terrorism threats before 9/11
-- he was scheduled to read to students on 9/11. He was apparently informed of the first attack before stepping in the classroom. He did nothing, and continued with the photo-op. He was later informed of the second plane hitting the WTC. He continued the photo-op, sitting and reading to kids for another twenty minutes. Note that only the president could authorize fighter jets to be flown to protect domestic skies. He willingly chose to IGNORE the threat and was not available to deal with it. This alone is the most chilling statement against Bush. While he may or may not have prevented the second tower from being hit, he did not deal with the problem AT ALL. This was his real test of being against terrorism. He failed. period. want to argue? some links and info...
article summarizing Bush's day
flash video showing events.. alarmist, but gets events correct.
What chills me now is that he is currently stating that 'if i knew that planes would attack, i would have done something'. He knew that day. He had the opportunity to do something that day. He didn't.
- was MIA as a leader during rest of 9/11, flying all over the US for 'security reasons', was not present to calm nation that day. Guilani was the guy people actually looked at as a leader that day.
-- initially refused to allow a panel on 9/11.
-- initially refused to allow public statements by members of his cabinet on 9/11
-- refuses to publicly testify on 9//11
- Deployed army groups AWAY from bin laden in favor of finding Saddam and WMD. dropped ball AWAY from terror, and in favor of invading a nation.
Allowed Al queda time to regroup, and attack AGAIN. (in spain, remember?)
-- passed laws violating civil rights for 'security reasons', breaking most of the bill of rights in the process. (free speech, requirement for warrants, right to due process, to public trials, to trial by jury... thats 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th) please note that I'm referring to the "PATRIOT" act, which applies to americans, not the 'enemies' imprisoned in cuba, which is a different issue.
- Caused one of the largest series of protests worldwide against invading Iraq, and alienated almost every nation with his insistence on an Iraq invasion, nation that previously were strongly supportive of the US due to 9/11.
-- scrapped plans for occupation of iraq. Had no plans in place when they went in. Allowed riots to occur, left many without power or water for many months. Rebuked the UN when they wanted to come in to restore order. Set a date for 'transfer of power', but recently admitted he has no clue who they will transfer power to.
- Iraq contracts scandals with a corporation that formerly employed the VP. (note that cheney gets a 'severance check' equal to his VP salary from this company every year. )
-- stated 'bring it on' towards opposition in iraq. hundreds of americans have died since this statement.
Economic cons:
-- refused to interfere with energy problems in california, problems that left CA. billions in the hole, without power, and stemmed in part from power manipulations from energy corps like enron. Please note that california has enormous economic influence in america, and they were thrown to the wolves.
-- met in secret with top officials from energy corporations including enron to set his energy policy. did not meet with any others (ie, environmentalists, consumer groups). refuses to make information of these meetings public.
-- Passed several 'unfounded mandates' that required states to pay for new federal rules. (like 'no child left behind', increased terrorism security, etc)
To repeat, the states are bankrupt. this has made it worse.
-- passed tax cuts previously mentioned. Caused government to go from slight surplus to the WORST deficit its ever been in. (adding programs and refusing to pay for them does that)
missing a lot, but theres problems with SEC head, unwillingness to go after corporate corruption, closeness with corrupt businessmen (enron), rejection of advice from economic advisors against tax cuts (greenspan, treasury people), refusal to provide cost estimates for military actions, and... should I go on?
oh.. bush praise? It is known as the kiss of death for any program. He has quite often proposed something, or praised something, and then cut funding. Americorps, 'no child left behind', voting reforms, and NASA are a few examples. I don't know anything about funding for ADA, but i wouldn't be surprised that the same thing is the case.
I think I've ranted too long, but a quick summary here. Bush has done A LOT wrong, and caused a lot of problems. there are many people who simply want 'anybody but Bush'. Kerry might have his problems, but the problem with Bush is much larger.