I beieve we have lost a historic opportunity to be a force a for good in

[CoffeeAnnan]

the world after the Soviet Union collapsed;Clinton moved us forward in that direction with his enlightened world view.With the ascendancy of Bush and his all encompassing ignorance reinforced by his arrogance, we have set back the cause of peace and prosperity for many generations to come.For a coward, he is quick to brandish his power over others.For an ignorant buffoon, he is so sure of himself when he is hurtling fast toward disaster.His total lack of concern for others' suffering has probably alienated much of humanity against this nation. He may well be the first horseman of the apocalypse for us.

[The Traveler]

1. Bush is a bully

That's all. No need to complicate this to understand it. Arrogant, blustery, and ever eager to use others to do his fighting for him.

[tmooses]

2. You're absolutely right, CoffeAnnan....

Bush has recklessly squandered the universal goodwill that was directed to us after 9/11. But what was even more criminal and tragic is the use of the tragedy of 9/11 to further the political agenda of the neocons and the corporate elite. This is the most dangerous president that I remember... and I lived through Nixon! We are also at one of those rare historical crossroads, though, that people will look back on in the future. We can dedicate ourselves to work for change and save the country we love from these greedy tyrants.

[CoffeeAnnan]

3. As the most prosperous and most powerful nation that has ever

existed on this planet, our mission should be to extend the benefits of the good life to all of the people on this planet.That single act will not merely erase the stain that Bush has brought on us but will ensure that there will be peace for many millennia.

[On the Road]

4. Bush Sr and Clinton Both Failed Miserably with Russia

The Russians were looking to us for advice. It was a pivotal moment for the entire country. The Russians were looking to us for leadership and advice. We could have helped move the country gradually toward a stable socialist-capitalist society with elections and rights. A lot of the structure existed under the Soviets; it had simply been misused.

John Kenneth Galbraith recommended immediately deregulating all consumer industries but keeping natural resources under the control of the state, at least temporarily. It was a good recommendation.

Instead, the US sent the neoliberals who recommended complete selloff of state assets. The apparatchiks were only too happy to oblige, and along with Western corporations gobbled up oil and gas reserves and timber rights for pennies on the dollar, becoming billionaires in the process.

And we all know how well democracy works in a country dominated by the rich. Everything since has been completely predictable. And no one cares.

This is an area where Clinton knew better but did not use his political capital. Maybe he couldn't' maybe he just didn't feel stronly enough. But every former Soviet nations is paying as a result.

[ladybugg33]

10. But the rush to make Russia an unprepared capitalist nation began under

Reagan who would not embrace Gorbechev but pushed the US toward the drunken Yeltsin. Reagan and his Republican co-harts really failed in this area. They were much to eager to "end communism" in a state ill-prepared to embrace capitalism so soon. Gorbechev tried to warn Reagn and the US about this but as usual, our arrogance and greed would not allow us to entertain critical thinking and human nature. We are doing much the same thing in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[On the Road]

15. I Didn't Know About Reagan and Yeltsin

I just knew that Reagan was out of office for a year or two before the coup that led to Yeltsin's taking over.

[Selatius]

5. Bush may have done critical damage.

I doubt our European allies will ever see the US in exactly the same light ever again. On the surface, we're still allies, but Bush has exposed a very noticeable rift that won't be fixed overnight. He showed them that European interests may not be the same as American interests. I predict the EU will simply try and become more independent of the US and try to assert itself as far as defending its own interests in the next 50 years.

[FlemingsGhost]

6. I disagree.

"We the People" are the heart and soul of this nation. Not our corrupt elected officials. And it's never too late to do the right thing.

And seeing as you brought him up:

"There is nothing wrong with the U.S., that cannot be addressed with what is right about the U.S."

--Pres. William Jefferson Clinton.

(And knock it off with that "Apocalypse" crap. It's embarassing ...)

[CoffeeAnnan]

11. In a normal world I certainly would have agreed with President

Clinton whom I admire greatly.But even so astute a man as he has underestimated the evil that has been wrought by Bush.When I spoke about apocalypse, I was specifically referring to Bush's efforts to build bunker buster nuclear weapons on the heels of his feigned horror at Saddam Hussein's intent to build WMD's.This single act is going to cause a mad rush toward proliferation of nuclear weapons brought on most likely by a reliable Bush ally, Musharraf of Pakistan.

[FlemingsGhost]

12. More "what ifs," "yes, buts" and idle speculation ...

So much fear ... which in the end, is simply illusions created by our minds.

Seeing as you have your crystal ball out, Coffee, are the Sox gonna win the Series?

Relax.

[CoffeeAnnan]

13. Tell the Iraqi mothers and children that their suffering and deaths

are idle speculation.Tell that also to our soldiers and their families.And cut your crap about ordering people what to think and say.You are done.

[FlemingsGhost]

14. That is neither here nor there.

I am addressing the hand-wringing over what has not happened.

Namely, the content of your first post.

============================================
on edit: This is the gem, I'm referring to:

" ... we have set back the cause of peace and prosperity for many generations to come."

(Bullshit. Now, I'm "done," Coffee. Good luck.)

[noamnety]

7. The best thing we could do at this point

is clean up our act environmentally so we aren't poisoning the rest of the world, and if we convert to clean renewable energy sources, that will curb the blood for oil reputation we have. That's not a cure-all, but I think it's a necessary step to diplomacy. Nobody can (or should) take our goodwill seriously if we're in denial about things like global warming.

[Dem_Loyalist]

8. * is white, a male, a rethug and from texass

What more needs to be said? What a sad state of affairs to have someone like the chimp following a great man like William Jefferson Clinton. I'm so embarrassed to be an american at times like this.

[FlemingsGhost]

9. How about saying something of substance.

Or are sweeping generalizations the best you can do?

[Dem_Loyalist]

16. How about were in a stupid useless war

We've turned our back on long time allies. Our economy is in the toilet. Job loss is at a record high. Corporate america is even more out of touch with workers like me and doesn't seem to even care about it. Is that specific enough?

[mr_du04]

17. me too

after 8 years of peace and prospeity we get this monkey that either allowed 1000's to get killed, or was behind it all in the first place.

[Dem_Loyalist]

18. I've read about the LIHOP & MIHOP theories

and as much as I dislike conservatives I have a hard time thinking even them letting something like that happen or even worse, making it happen.

But would I be totally surprised if it was to turn out they did know....no I wouldn't be.

[mr_du04]

20. well perhaps your normal run of the mill conservative

may not be capable of this but, evil bastards like chimpy and cheney they would do anything for power.

[G_j]

19. with all the 'forune' America enjoys, it is our duty

to be a force for good in the world.
DK is right when he says we need to be teaching and exploring nonviolent solutions in the world. We have some major Karma to turn around. I hope we (as a nation) can wake up in time.