Thank You, George W. Bush

Mr. President, I know a lot of folks have been hard on you for every little thing lately. I just wanted to take this moment to say thank you. Thank you for making some very fundamental changes in my life which have made me a much different man then I was back in 2001.

Prior to your coming into office, I was a very careless man. Yes, I took time to read up on politicians prior to elections and tried to make the best decision about who to vote for based on what they’ve done in the past, not solely on their party affiliation. That means I voted for some Republicans in my past. I was even rooting for McCain to win the nomination instead of you. But now, I know that John McCain could have never changed me in the ways you have. Now it will be a long time before I vote for a Republican, because I realize through my not paying close enough attention, I let you and your party take over my country. I promise sir, I will NEVER let that happen again. NEVER. You’ve given me a new sense of vigilance that I will never let go of. I will always search out every last bit of information on a political candidate, because to not do so, means a repeat of the last 5 years. Thank you, Mr. President. I even canceled both of my newspaper subscriptions so I could use that money to become a monthly sustaining member of the DNC so that the Democratic Party could be strong enough to stand up to ideologues like you and keep them out of office in the future. Before you, I never donated money to any political campaign.

Allow me to elaborate on the changes you’ve made in my life. I’ve lived on my own for 16 years now. In those years, I used to be so careless about everything. When I wanted to drive, I just drove. I could always just put another 10 bucks in the tank, and get almost a full tank of gas. My wife and I used to just get in the car and take road trips for fun and to see new places. This year, we had to cancel our labor day road trip, because we couldn’t afford the gas. If we had gone, we wouldn’t have had any extra cash to enjoy ourselves, so we just stayed home. Now, we try to plan any of our trips so we aren’t making any unnecessary trips and saving gas. I’ve learned to keep my vehicles tuned, and the tires rotated and properly inflated, can’t waste a single mile per gallon now. Thanks to you sir, I’ve even started reading up on Bio-Diesel and Hybrid technologies. Thanks to you, I know that I need to do these things just to survive, but thankfully, those things are also good for the environment. Without you making things so tough, I’d have never known that.

In the past, I if my house got cold, I’d just turn on the heat until I felt comfortable. Heck, I could afford it, why should I be chilly? Even in the dead of winter, the gas bill was only 100 bucks at most. Now, my heating company is charging the highest rate that they have ever charged for natural gas. Thanks to you sir, I did my homework and learned about great ideas to avoid using heat in my home. Just the last few nights, it was in the high 30s and the low 40s and I can count the times my furnace turned on on one hand. Back in the old days, like 3 years ago, I would have turned on the heat to a nice 70-72 degrees, somewhere around there. Now, I’ve put a digital thermostat in and installed a 92% efficient gas furnace. I even installed a full house humidifier to make the house feel warmer than it really was. I have a new tower space heater that I carry from the living room to the bedroom. Anything I can think of to keep my furnace use to a minimum. If you hadn’t been so out of touch with the common man and made things so expensive, I’d have never known how to conserve all this energy. Before you came into my life, I never knew what a British Thermal Unit was or how much it should cost. Now I know the closing price for not only oil, but also natural gas. I also know the Dow Jones Industrial average. These are things I never cared about before. You sir have opened my eyes to a whole new world and for that, I thank you.

All of these things may seem trivial, but each one stacked on the other has forced me to re-evaluate every little aspect of my life. Those changes will make me a better man in the future and for that, I swear, I will never forget you George W. Bush.

:applause:

WTG! :patriot:

We can all feel stronger by now. Just wish my stomach were strong enough to listen to the chimp without getting sick.

By convincing myself that it is vitally important to keep abreast of all the things this imposter of a President is up to. I still have my bouts tho' and I know to keep a sack handy. There'll be a big ass party at Madokie's when these criminals go down.

:yourock:

Kicked and nominated!

I do believe you speak for thousands upon thousands.

Bravo!

:hi:

Kicked/Nominated!

:bounce:

I'm honored to send this to the "greatest". :applause:

Isn't it amazing the things this man has taught us?

I never donated to anyone or got nearly as involved before King * came along. Now I'm paying atention every day.

left out too. Thanks everyone.

the secret service will probably be after you.

already are...

knew that Dubya was a shriveled waste of a nut sack and wasn't afraid to say it, they'd really have their hands full.

for another way to look at life, a positive spin!!!!

And thank you for your excellent post.

I know there are a lot of things I too can thank him for. 5 years ago I was actually apolitical, and oh, that ignorance was blissful. I can no longer afford to be that way, thanks to the pResident, and yes, I too have learned so many things I never thought I'd learn. I love reading, and my reading list has become so much longer, I was an independent who didn't often vote, now I'm a registered Democrat, just so I count - in their numbers, in the primaries, etc. (although I've never voted repuke in my life, anyway).

I've learned not to believe what the media tells me, I've learned far more than I ever wanted to know about corruption, deceit and dishonesty, but it should serve me well in the future. There are so many things I've learned that I probably couldn't remember, since it's been so long now that my eyes have been opened, but most of all, I've learned to LEARN and to watch, and to educate myself on so many things, because I can't afford not to. I've also learned to become as active and vocal as I can, because each and every one of us HAS to, but not all of us do. I guess I can thank * for opening my eyes to what goes on in the world around me. I'm not sorry I had to open my eyes, but I AM sorry about the things that forced me to do it. The list of evils that began with the chimps selection, and that seems to grow longer with each day.

I'd like to thank Shrub and the pugs for making me realize just how much I love this country. I had gone through life thinking there weren't any big differences in what the 2 parties wanted for this country. I thought the only differences were how we were going to get there.
Then I saw what they were doing to Clinton and I started to pay more attention to what was going on.
By the time Shrub came along, I was paying attention. I cried when they appointed him. I said "OMG. He's going after Saddam. Oil prices will be out of control (big oil running the country), and that he would start WWIII."
I can't stand the way they've taken everything good about this country and perverted it.
The USA doesn't torture people! The USA defends nations, we don't invade them! The USA doesn't make people disappear! The USA stands for fair and speedy trials! The USA helps people who need help! The USA takes care of it's citizens, all of them! These are the things that make this a great country! Not what we are doing now!
God, I was so naive!

Send it into your paper and report back when they print it!!

Bravo!!!

ROFL

and even fewer details and that's me. Especially the first paragraph. These days I'd sooner cut off my right hand than vote for a Republican, even for dogcatcher.

And I'm a political junkie. I won't be caught unprepared again.

I'm voting straight Democrat until further notice. Thanks George Dumbya Bush and your band of chickenhawks.

I counted myself as "sorrowfully apathetic". I thought Bush sucked, but
I thought that in a democracy people got the leaders they deserved. I
was going to give the American people one more chance: If they didn't
vote Bush out, I was going to move to Canada.

That was before I knew about the crooked voting machines, before I knew
about Bush v. Gore, before I knew about all the warnings Bush ignored
before 9/11 (and what he did with the political capital 9/11 gave him),
before I recognized what the resurgent opium trade in Afghanistan means,
before I knew the 9/11 Commission report was a coverup, before I knew
about Sibel Edmonds and Indira Singh, before I learned who PNAC is, and
learned about PNAC's agenda of global domination.

I decided my country needed me right here. We have to fight them here
so we don't have to fight them over there.

if it wasn't for you, I would not get the opportunity to sell my house, buy a house in a location where housing is cheaper, we will be seeking work in that new location, making new friends/neighbors. Wow, what an exciting opportunity!

If only the price for gas and oil was not so high, we could have trudged along. Taxes in my area are sky rocketing... amazing!

Corrupt Government indeed...

It said, Voted Republican? Time to enlist!

awoken to the fact that a Democracy takes work by informed voters...yes, just think of all the things that * has taught us.

Though I may have liked what Clinton stood for and hated what the Righteous Wing was doing to him, I admit I never voted for him (or anyone else) during his term, having spent the '90's as one of those apathetic, apolitical, "throw out all the bums" non-voters.

But, like a lot of us, Selection 2000 changed that and opened a lot of eyes that previously could not view anything beyond their own daily lives.

Until Chimpy Mc Murderer's crowning, I had never thought about politics, participation and how others are affected by policies that might not cause me individual concern. I was one of those who payed no attention to how the then Gingrich Revolution was spelling the beginning of the long nightmare and death of democracy that would mark the new century's dawn.

I also never really cared for history before Bush, thinking very little about this country's past. But over the last 5 years I have become more fascinated with subjects like our founding, the American Revolution, WWII (when conflict was just and noble), civil rights, etc. And having seen all the higher purpose our nation once stood for, it saddened me further to see how far we've fallen and only forced me to pay even closer attention.

In short, I have a lot to be thankful for Bush too. I now vote, participate in democracy and dissent, donate and join progressive causes (every though I'm less better off capital-wise thanks to Bush), talk to others about politics more and every single day seek out news through alternative media sources like DU and others.

In many ways in the last 5 years I have become more worldly, wiser, independently and open-minded, thoughtful of others and in conclusion, an all-around better person.

For that, George W. Bush has my up most gratitude.

:kick:

The only hope I ever had when the current cabal took office is that Bush would be like a vaccine for America: bad enough to outrage people and force much-needed system changes, but not bad enough to cripple us permanently. So your response feels like hope to me.

But I still don't know: how bad does Bush need to get before your actively vigilant response is normal in America? And beyond that, how much outrage is needed to translate our responses into system changes?

So what to do? It occurs to me that I haven't seen any press releases on the Every Vote Counts / Voter Act since the beginning of the year. Perhaps it's time to help out that cause again, because I feel that the fixed machines are currently the master lock against public participation in our country's future.

Living in New Hampshire I have always heated with oil, but my oil company just filled about 175 gallons which came out to about $475 (!!!) dollars. Up here, 175 gallons (in a 275 tank) will barely get you through a month.

Instead, we ordered 3 cords of seasoned wood (at a very high historical price for wood - $225/cord) but it's still relatively affordable - a winter's worth of heating for 6 weeks worth of oil.

So, thank you, George - stacking and moving 3 cords of wood is very healthy. And I'll be happy to get up at 4 a.m. and let the dogs out while I reload the wood stove.

f.u.

:kick:

Dad Bush, that is. He's the one that made me start to pay attention to our government and what part I can have in how it works - or doesn't, as is the case now.

Like "skid marks" on one's shorts, Georgie and the Dub-club are a smear of shame on the history of a once proud nation. We, the people, can change that by thinking LESS of OURSELVES and more about the big picture.

Frankly, I never felt like I COULD play a part in the mechanics of our nation until this medium that I'm posting to came up to speed. It's afforded me a real sense of community beyond the neighbors and town I share turf with. (Which BTW, is a blood red part of a blue state)And Dippity Dub's dubious doings have provided incentive to embrace this medium with desperate gusto.

Indeed, Dub HAS helped to forge a sense of determination amongst thinking folks that might not have developed with a GOP leader of lesser repugnance.
I confess, I was supportive when he led the charge (from a comfy distance, of course) into Afghanistan. But the "Iraqle" (Iraq debacle) was and is unforgiveable.
That and the pseudo "born-again" facade used to dupe the faithful into allegiance. Those two hoaxes are crimes against the heart and soul of this country. Those two swindlings are what's bringing the magnifying glass of suspicion to bear on the gang of thieves that are the membership of the Dub Club.

In the near future, anyway.

http://www.unitednuclear.com

Check out their hydrogen vehicle conversion section, bottom of the second column of links on the left.

As soon as they're available to the general public, I'm buying one for sure. Free fuel that's not gasoline? Sign me up!

MojoXN

In the past, I have primarilly been a loyal Democrat, but there have been occassions when I've drifted off the reservation if seduced by an individual candidate regardeles off party tag. That all changed for me after the Clinton impeachment. No more. I've taken a solemn pledge to myself to not even once more vote republican. "From where the sun now stands, I will vote republican no more forever".

too worry about such things. They continue to waste and over consume and go about their greedy little useless lives just as they always have done. While you and I and millions like us are forced to change our ways, they have become richer and greedier and more over indulgent then ever. Bet they aren't losing one minute of sleep over the millions of Americans who are worse off because they just needed that tax cut. Bet don't cancel their road trips or luxurious vacations. They don't worry about such trivial things as how to put food on their families. I don't thank George W. Bush for one GD thing! Him and the rest of the Greedy bastards in this Country can go Cheney themselves!

...I was a left-leaning moderate.

Then came the Clinton impeachment, two dubious elections, a war sold to the world under false pretenses, torture, massive budget deficits, and an all-out assault on individual rights.

Now, I'm a fire-breathing liberal.

Thanks, GOP. You've clarified the issues as no one else could have.

We sure can use some more fire-breathing liberals.

And, be sure to check out our Ohio forum; you'll like it here.

How old are you? If someone were your age now during the crash of 1929, how old would there voices be today. Just add 75 years.

They were 25 and had enjoyed five years of the roaring twenties, those voices are now a century old -- and no one listens to them, should they even remember, or be alive.

In another 75 years, your voice will become mute. You didn't read the history now, why should anyone in the future read the history?

Never again? You flatter yourself with self importance.

listen anyways right?

Self importance? Hardly. I just put into words the transformation that I went through. Sorry you think it was so pointless, guess I'll just go out and charge up my credit card and say to hell with it all.

Transformation done, expressed. What next? Barely survive?

Was there any way to reach you faster?

Will democracy last? Can it?

"Before you, I never donated money to any political campaign."

Me too. Now I donate to quite a few organizations and political causes.
My ACLU check is going out today.

America needs to wake up, and the b*sh crime family & friends is the alarm clock.

I am 24 years old and I've never had to worry about gas or my heating bill until now. Now that reality is setting in and I do have to save extra money to actually get to work, stay warm, etc it really pisses me off!! :grr: Thanks for writing this...it was fantastic!

This indeed, is a reason to thank him. My vote will never be wasted again.

Thank you for a great post....

If he hadn't stolen office, I never would have spent so many sleepless nights worrying about the future. I might have gone through my entire life without attending a single protest rally and I never would have had a opportunity to exchange peace signs with a group of 10 year old Palestinian kids.

After all, how could anyone eat after seeing pictures of that Iraqi girl with her foot blown off? Or the torture pictures from Abu Ghraib?

If George Bush had never become President, I would still live in America, would still be living way over my income (75% of my income went just for rent), would be even deeper in credit card debt and would probably have developed much more severe liver problems thanks to all the fast food and junk food that is basically unavoidable there.

Thanks to George Bush, I've managed to stick to diet and exercise program for almost two years because after the apocalypse I just know he has us hurdling towards, I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to be as physically fit as possible.

I never ate a single bean before George Bush became president, but I'm having chili tonight. And with each fart, I'll be thinking of you, George W. Bush.

:-)

in life away from all of us.

I hope you actually mailed it, with a copy to John McCain.

Before you came to office, I use to ignore and dare say tolerate right wing messages of exclusion and intolerance. I thought it was a display of freedom of speech. I now realize that the speech they wanted to exclude and were intolerant of was my own. I have taken to watching CSPAN, rather than the news. It is painful to see even our elected officials loose their freedom of speech too. In that sense, you have become a great uniter. Many of my friends that are now excluded from the national debates are united in our opposition now more than ever.
You have changed my reading and viewing habits. I use to watch evening news to keep up with current events. I foolishly believed that the press was the 4th estate of government. I have realized that you have 'paid' for the news and bought corrupt reporter that are not worthy of the title. If reporters did not 'go along', you personally and professionally humiliated and intimidated them in an effort to control the others in the White House press corp. I think you are not worthy to have Helen Thomas waste her ink on you exploits. She has dealt with far greater leaders than yourself and quite simply....you are not in her league.
Now that I no longer watch TV news or read papers, I get my news from the internet. I occasional check the news, but have discovered that the 'news' that is reported was actually what I read on the net a week earlier. I also have time to attend precinct meetings. I donate what would have been paper or cable money to my local Democratic Party.
The most serious change has been my belief in my citizenship. My husband and I feel that if our efforts are not successful, we will give up our citizenship. Now just even contemplating that is something I never imagined I would ever do.
Yes, you have made many positive changes in my life. Thank you.

You have brought me closer to God. I find myself on my knees in prayer more than ever. I discovered that many Christians do not support your actions. I am now in a church (actually I go to an Methodist Church, like you) and go every week-something I never did-even in the Nixon years.