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Forum Post: I get it. Nobody voted for Bush, twice.

Posted 12 years ago on Jan. 3, 2012, 4:35 p.m. EST by brightonsage (4494)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

And, they didn't vote for the folks in Congress that voted for his policies 95% of the time. They didn't vote for the folks who voted for two wars that were “off budget.” And, they didn't vote for the folks who voted for the “”repeal and replacement” of the Glass-Steagall Act with the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act which was passed in the Senate 90–8 (one not voting) and in the House: 362–57 (15 not voting). The legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999. And they didn't vote for the folks who voted for the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, signed by U.S. president Bill Clinton on December 21, 2000.

And of course, they didn't support the Bush White House, in February 2004, working through the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) which officially preempted national banks from state laws regulating mortgage credit, including state anti-predatory lending laws. (This was far broader than the 1996 regulatory preemption by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) applied to federally chartered S&Ls). The Bush White House claimed that banks should “only be subject to federal laws regulating mortgage credit.” Of course the states which did prevent these predatory practices have seen much lower foreclosure rates.

But, I get it. It was nobody's fault and even though it all fell apart before Bush could leave office, it is Obama's fault, because … we want it to be Obama's fault. Sure I noticed that a bunch of Democrats, supported them, too. And they voted for two wars. Do I blame them too? Sure.

Did I oppose these missteps when they occurred. Yes, I did. But, unless you did, as well, you should fess up and admit you supported the policies that got us into this mess before you start criticizing this movement, and telling us how wrong we are for trying to fix it. The 1% are fighting regulation and consumer protection just as hard now as they did then.

42 Comments

42 Comments


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[-] 3 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

And no, I do not bear the shame of ever having voted for a Texan . . .

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

That gets you extra credit right there.

[-] 3 points by francismjenkins (3713) 12 years ago

I was in Iraq during the Bush-Kerry election, and for the record, my buddies and I couldn't believe the fucktardation of the American people.

[-] 1 points by opensociety4us (914) from Norwalk, CT 12 years ago

thank you for your service and i'll bet you and your buddies still can't believe the fucktardation of the American people.

[-] 1 points by francismjenkins (3713) 12 years ago

Indeed, you'd think after he hijacked the Presidency the first go around, Americans would have been shocked enough to overwhelmingly vote him out of office, but of course he made sure we were in perpetual wars, to keep our animal spirits alive, and take the focus off of his corruption (perhaps the most corrupt President in our history).

[-] 1 points by gnomunny (6819) from St Louis, MO 12 years ago

You assume there was no fraud in the 2000 election. You have too much faith in the election system. It's becoming fairly common knowledge that both the 2000 election AND the 2004 election were as crooked as any election in recent history.

[-] 1 points by francismjenkins (3713) 12 years ago

I'm almost positive there was fraud in the 2000 election, but I was otherwise occupied during the 2004 election (deployed in Iraq). I certainly wouldn't find it hard to believe there was fraud, but I don't view Kerry as someone the establishment would have been very concerned about (unlike Gore).

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[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

There was about 1% truth in that campaign and about 99% BS. Nobody wanted to deal with the important issues.

[-] 2 points by ronimacarroni (1089) 12 years ago

I think Bush got elected the second time because the majority of people didn't vote and the ones who did were scared of terrorists and the fact that Kerry mentioned doing a draft. The rest voted for Bush because they were getting rich off the housing bubble and just wanted less taxes and didn't care about anything else.

[-] 2 points by Mooks (1985) 12 years ago

17 million more people voted in 2004 than in 2000. Bush had an approval rating of about 49.4% at the time of the election, and that translated into 50.7% of the vote to Kerry's 48.3%. For comparison, Obama's current approval rating is 46%.

[-] 1 points by gosso920 (-24) 12 years ago

Don't confuse roni with the inconvenient truth of facts. His mind is already made up.

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

I guess that is why many wouldn't admit it.

[-] 2 points by zymergy (236) 12 years ago

You, Brightonsage, make a strong point that we, the voters, are negligent by maintaining in office representatives who vote against our best interests. Perhaps we do this because we have other reasons for liking our representatives, but if your spouse gave all of your money to somebody else, and abandoned your bed, wouldn't it be time to consider a divorce?

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

I am embarrassed to admit that I voted for Nixon. When it became obvious to me, at the beginning of Watergate, I started saying that he was behind the breaking and my father in law, called me a traitor.

[-] 1 points by JamesS89118 (646) from Las Vegas, NV 12 years ago

Ouch, that must have hurt a lot. My parents have always referenced a poll taken the day Nixon resigned, stating 27% of Americans did not believe Nixon was involved in Watergate. Hence the idiocy rate of Americans has been 27%.

:) Peace

[-] 2 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

And it seems to hang in there consistently at about that rate. The believe 9/11 came from Iraq, there were wmd's that somehow weren't found, Obama is a Muslim, he is a dominionist christian, he is a terrorist, death panels, going to take our guns (How do we know? Because he hasn't tried so we will be lulled into complacency) it goes on and on. I think it is always about 25-27% and I suppose it is mainly the same people.

[-] 1 points by zymergy (236) 12 years ago

I guess we are all somewhat traitors to our youth, fortunately.

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

There are a lot of wise words about how we change with age and many of them appear to be true.

[-] 2 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

It was nobody's fault

Can't we lynch that son of a bitch?

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

Sure, but the picture only shows the back of his head. As Pogo said, "We has met the enemy and he is (some of ) us.

[-] 2 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

oh dayum -

and I thought the FBI had a picture of at least half his face . . .

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

That wasn't his face, it was.....

the Phantom of the Opera..

[-] 2 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

o common - that weren't no phantom - I saw it. One of seven. Sitting on a bench, his face half hidden by the woman with him.

I saw it.

What I don't know and can't say is whether Richard Jewel saw it . . .

and since he's dead now we'll never know . . .

but I'm sure that's him

that's nobody . . . . I just know it

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

I still have his back pack, though. The sandwiches are getting stale.

But seriously, folks. I don't quite get the video you posted. Maybe it is because I am too old or couldn't understand (decypher) the lyrics?

[-] 2 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

there is a video here?

what?

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[-] 1 points by aahpat (1407) 12 years ago

It is all very plausible that no one ever voted for Bush or his Republican congress. It was a very bizarre time. I often get the feeling these days, looking back on it, that I have turned off the TV after a twilight Zone episode that lasted eight years. (;^>)

[-] 2 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

And there are still flashbacks that seem very weird. Some people acting out of character and it makes you wonder?

[-] 0 points by gosso920 (-24) 12 years ago

Ah, yes - the old "How did he win?? Nobody I know voted for him" chestnut.

[-] 0 points by justhefacts (1275) 12 years ago

In November of 1999, the Senate was split 55 (R) to 45 (D) and the House had 222 (R) and 210 (D) and 1(I). It appears the vast majority of Democrats voted right in line with Repubs. Who voted for those Dems? Had to be different people than the ones who voted for the Repubs!

And apparently you missed hearing that the Bush White House DID try to regulate Fannie and Freddie but the DEMOCRATS put a stop to it. Barney Frank (D) and Chris Dodd (D) were two politicians who halted the process and BOTH were personal benefactors of the financial industry.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/bush-administration-tried-reform-freddie-and-fannie-five-years-ago

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/sam-dealey/2008/09/10/barney-franks-fannie-and-freddie-muddle

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122290574391296381.html

Which is WHY things fell apart before Bush left office.

Barney Frank announced his retirement from office in 2011 just prior to the SEC announcing it is suing the former execs of Fannie and Freddie. Weird huh?

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

That;s a nice story and is part of the truth but there are very few clean hands in Washington and Bush, Greenspan, Gramm and many others on the R side are even dirtier than Frank and Dodd. We must clean up both parties and quickly. You know this is true, justthefacts. So we should be working together.

[-] 0 points by justhefacts (1275) 12 years ago

I agree.Until we HAVE cleaned up Washington, there is no way to be sure that any regulations changes will actually work, or work well enough.

[-] 1 points by brightonsage (4494) 12 years ago

Also don't repeal any for the same reason.

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[+] -6 points by believeingod (-72) 12 years ago

Much of what I see coming from OWS is the Anarcho-syndicalism solution, "proposed in somewhat differing implementations by both Chomsky, Fresco and other intellectuals". The so called great utopian dream of the social liberal anarchists of OWS. Two problems though. The disorder to implement it will potentially kill billions due to food shortages, and the leaderless vacuum it will create will probably be filled with something tyrannical per human nature.

Our Nation's people and our leaders "Revisiting our Constitution" might be a better place to start for the change needed. Intellectual pontificating by Godless men (ad nauseum) who claim an intellectual moral enlightenment, which exposes their lack of humility continue to lead the impressionable whose legitimate frustration is fed by a group victim mentality.

Creating a vacuum for tyranny will give all of us a lot more to worry about than crony capitalism which has nothing to do with the free market. Beware what you ask for....you may get more than you bargained for.....

[-] 4 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago
[+] -6 points by believeingod (-72) 12 years ago

it is a decent idea but inadequate.....a good idea not fully fleshed out to ascertain the unintended consequences.. if you take a corporations or even a small businesses due process away you are asking for an equally unjust precedent to begin that rivals crony capitalism which should never be mistaken for FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES based in ethics. By the way I am a conservative and not as you put it... repelican was it?

[-] 4 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

there is no such thing as a free market today - markets have costs.

In a truly free market, the minute a disaster strikes, some fool hordes water, and starts charging an arm and a leg just for a few drops - until people revolt and take it.

In a civil society such things are not allowed - hence our society has yet to attain civility.

If you haven't seen the movie Inside Job, I highly recommend it. It documents a concerted effort dating back decades by conservative repelicans to install conservative activist judges in support of a deregulated economy, to positions as high as the Supreme Court.

the repelican party is DONE

[+] -6 points by believeingod (-72) 12 years ago

hate to burst your bubble but obama has been so bad, even worse than bush "which amazes me" that "mark my words" mitt romney will be the next president.....the rebublicans will win both houses....

I saw Inside Job.....ok big deal......what about the ninth district court "among others" which is nothing but liberal even far left nut case activist judges.....Inside job tells one side only....i would recommend mark levine's liberty and tyranny and his new book ameritopia......

zengod, look for truth EVERYWHERE.....there is much to admire about both sides of the aisle and the alternatives....and much to beware.

[-] 3 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

hate to burst your bubble but obama has been so bad, even worse than bush

bwa hahahaha

hahaha

HAA hahaha!

  • waterboarding

  • Iraq has weapons of mass distruction

  • mission accomplished

  • we don't need to pay for the warS we can kick the can right on down the road

  • on Wall Street: they got a little drunk . . . .

hahahah

BWA hahaha

ha hahaha

[+] -5 points by believeingod (-72) 12 years ago

obama 6 trillion in debt in under 3 years which is more than bush in 8 years with two wars......obama care the worst thought out legislation ever.....a democrat majority in both houses for two years and a dem in the white house and no budget passed..... just a taste zendog. yeah bush was pretty bad...i agree but obama is more than just a bad prez....he is lazy, incompetent, inexperienced, and worse has no vision other than big papa government magically making it all better....what a joke .....geez your a drone.....

[+] -5 points by believeingod (-72) 12 years ago

zendog, take a chill pill or should i say a zen pill, and understand that you and your ilk offer nothing but ridicule with a destructive alternative "liberal anarchism" that is just as bad if not worse than crony corporatism practiced for decades by both parties....you alienate with jr high school barbs while trying to make what i would consider some legitimate points which PROFOUNDLY EXPOSES your immaturity....

reasonable men and women will compose themselves to find constitutional solutions to the problems that most of us want solved right or left....or we will self destruct under either crony capitalism which has diverted and perverted itself from free market capitalism or.... we will succumb to liberal anarchism which ultimately will create opportunities for tyranny.

zendog, you, like much of the right and left, have this insane need to be right even if your wrong....even when you make a legitimate point all your doing is alienating with a profound lack of humility......you and your ilk are just as lost as those you insult and alienate with taken out of context propaganda claiming it as the holy grail of truth....unfortunate...

i pity you

[-] 1 points by ZenDogTroll (13032) from South Burlington, VT 12 years ago

reasonable men and women will compose themselves to find constitutional solutions to the problems that most of us want solved right or left....or we will self destruct

reasonable men and women

where the fuck are they? Not in the repelican party - I watched the budget debate unfold.

if you aren't angry then either you are a partisan or you just aren't paying attentiion,

and I don't give a shit either way.