A true patriot who loved his country would not have run for president.....

[kentuck]

under the circumstances that George W Bush did. He knew he had not won in 2000. He knew how divisive the nation was because of that election. He didn't give a damn! For the good of the nation, he should have stepped aside, like LBJ in '68, and permitted someone else to run for his Party's nomination. But, division was part of his political strategy. That was the way he could "win". And "winning" to him meant he got more votes than his opponent. It didn't matter how he got the votes. Hell, he could steal them!

It showed the measure of the man. He is without principle and does not love his country. He is an unprincipled politician, in the worst sense of the word. A true patriot would have put his country first. He would not have continued to divide the nation. That was the decision that George W Bush made. He deserves no good will.

[douglasjkruse]

1. A true patriot would have volunteered for active duty...

I think you can derive the type of American George Bush is by looking at the decisions he made regarding Vietnam. Instead of being a man and patriot, he uses his dad's connections to go to the Air National Guard (part-time).

[fugue]

2. To be honest, using his dad's connections didn't bother me so much

Millions of young men all over America were using any connections they had to get out of that war. Yes, I know that John Kerry didn't, but Bill Clinton did, and I wouldn't condemn him for it either.

What I do condemn Bush for is not performing the service he promised in good faith. He had gotten out of combat duty. The least he could do is show his appreciation by doing an honest job in his TANG duty. He didn't.

I also condemn him for the slurs on John Kerry's service. If he had sent a clear message through the ranks of his party that Kerry's service record was not to be commented on, the Swift Boat people would never have aired a commercial. O'Neil's book wouldn't have gotten the press it did (may not even have been published).

I don't blame Bush for avoiding Vietnam to the best of his ability. I do blame him for not honoring those who did go by not performing the service he was assigned instead and then disparaging their service.

[Liberal Christian]

3. Military service during wartime is NOT the only indicator of patriotism

After every draft lottery during Vietnam, it was possible to hear the sighs of relief of all the young, patriotic men who drew high numbers and would probably not be drafted. That all of them didn't rush to join the military is not an indicator of their lack of patriotism.

We paint this "did serve/didn't serve = patriot/non-patriot" line too harshly, with way too much nostalgia, sentiment and revisionist history.

Does this let W off the hook? Absolutely not. The fact that he did enlist in the TANG and appears not to have fulfilled his obligation to the letter is and has been highly problematic.

Jeanny

[bluedeminredstate]

4. Patriots don't let their brothers

steal elections. And true patriots don't accept such treason (Powell, are you listening?). Forget running again - he's a criminal from 2000 and should have been arrested.
And you can throw 5 of the Supremes in there with him.

[Pithy Cherub]

5. And use religion as a compelling reason/weapon

to 'vote' for him. Couple that with his lack of a moral conscience and being supremely unconcious of his own failings he's just an All-American US cheerleading failure!

[Ksec]

6. Lack of character

Allowing others to take the blame for him is as low charactered as they come

[Blue Dog Dem]

7. Where are you from, I am in far western KY - n/t

n/t

[newyawker99]

11. Hi Blue Dog Dem!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kentuck]

12. from the mountains...

SE KY... Welcome ! :)

[dennis4868]

8. if he was a true patriot.....

he would never have taken office in 2000 knowing that he was selected and not ELECTED!

[Lisa]

9. the presidency is a toy to him ...

A bauble which would give him bragging rights over his dad, and also allow him to be disrespectful and get away with it. In his meetings with foreign leaders and the press, Bush invariably makes smart-alecky comments which he knows they cannot respond to without incurring his wrath -- or sounding unprofessional. He likes using his power to intimidate ... and yes, to hurt others. His idea of fun is to get back at people for some real or imagined slight.

I suppose he's managed to convince himself that by helping his rich buddies, he's doing a public service. He's kind of suggestible that way, because he has a sense ... if not a full-grown conscience ... that what he is doing is wrong and will catch up with him. That's why he needs to believe that somebody (Daddy, or Dick, or the "God" who he claims to converse with) is approving of him. See how eagerly he seized upon the "protecting Americans" rationale for the Iraq War, then switched just as eagerly to "spreading democracy". Any excuse will do, as long as it sounds like the grown-ups have okayed it.

Imagine how people like Al Gore and John Kerry would feel about being President. (In fact, I would not be surprised if many DUers, in that situation, would say it was an honor and a privilege -- and that they are thrilled to be able to help people.)

Compare this to Bush's reaction when he toured the White House. (He DOES "think with his gut", it appears. Not that I'm angry at him for liking his grub, but for pete's sake that should not be his main goal in life -- not if he's president!)

"Riffing after the election about his upcoming presidency, Bush can't get beyond his genuine fascination with the White House mess hall: "The dessert menu is unbelievable ... esterday at the Blair House we had this, I'm not even sure, coffee ice cream surrounded by this unbelievable meringue, beautiful meringue." And Bruni informs us that well into his first year in office Bush is "still raving about ... little red button in the private dining room off the Oval Office that he could use to summon the butler." "


http://www.salon.com/books/review/2002/03/04/bruni/

[Malva Zebrina]

10. I think he is getting less of the good will than he thinks he deserves

not only in this country but worldwide. But that lack of good will, will do nothing to remove him. He is here for four more years and will stay here in power by lies,secrecy, obfuscation, propaganda and deceit and fascism, over and over. The only thing that would remove him would be a scandal of the most immense proportions that we have never seen before--one that the media will find impossible to deny.