The Coalition of the Swilling

Politics has gotten uglier, politicians more corrupt as their power has increased. The federal government no longer sees any bounds on their power and authority.

The only solution to the acrimony and corruption is to castrate the power of the federal government to its rightful level of unimportance.

I don't see what is going to castrate the fed's power, Skyler. After all they just discovered they can spend $700 billion nobody knew they had.

I voted no on almost all the money questions on the Maryland ballot but then I am spitting against the wind in an overwhelmingly Democratic state.

Mr. B, are you keeping an eye on the stock market? I expected a flat day but, wrong again! Every thing is up, and by a good bit!

Yeah, it's up a couple hundred, isn't it? Yippee!

I'm still a seller here; I think things will get worse before they get better.

Of course, I hope I am wrong...

You're right Retread. That's why I'm so gloomy lately. We're doomed. There is no cure for the state that our nation has gotten to. We are about to elect a communist or an extreme socialist. It's not because people don't know that they are what they are, it's that they don't care or that they agree with socialism. Our nation is philosophically dominiated by the idea of socialism and a federal government with no limit to its scope of power -- on both sides of the aisle.

I'm nott as vote as you think I am... [hic]

I can't wait to start drinking, 'Fly.

Don't tease me like this!

I voted last week, thanks to vote-by-mail. Although I hand carried my ballot to the courthouse. Just to be sure.

Alas, I agree with Skyler and Retread's assessment. No matter who wins the election, there are rocky roads ahead for America.

I did my best to get a beer with lunch but had no joy. I'm now watching to clock tick slowly to quitting time and the stock market jump three percent (at 2pm). It seems American capitalism will be glad to see the end of Bush's presidency. Am I the only one left who doesn't despise W and all his works?

No, Retread, you are not alone. But probably in the minority, like me.

I don't completely despise Bush. I think of all the presidents in my living memory, he is among the most honest and well-intentioned of the lot, with the rather severe exception of his advocating mistreating prisoners.

The problem with Bush is that he didn't feel a need to convince the American people that he was doing the right thing. He seemed to think that us little people need not be involved in weighty issues that might confuse us. He allowed his detractors to define him and his supporters as evil, and he did not object to that characterization.

He did nothing to provide leadership to the country and his party to rein in the petty corruption of congress and the massive spending.

He didn't know of a government program that he didn't think couldn't be made better by being bigger and more powerful.

He created the department of homeland security.

So, what's to like in the man? He didn't give us much reason to support him.

Shit.

I'm tired.

Skyler-How many transcripts from whitehouse.gov have you read over the past eight years? President Bush has often made quite eloquent arguments about any number of issues, including to members of his own party. Rarely do more than a line or two show up in the MSM, if that. That's not to say there aren't valid criticisms that he could have fought harder on some issues or wielded the veto pen more, but the sad truth is that much of his words have never made to the public.

I second what skyler said about Bush.

As for myself, I'll be glad to not come home from work to an answering machine filled with political messages.

My take on Bush Jr. is that he is a decent man of great personal courage . He was extraordinarily tested by horrible events (9/11, Katrina). Unfortunately for the nation, he valued loyalty over competence. I do believe, however, that his reputation will be somewhat salvaged in 20 years or so. I remember how people sneered at and hated Reagan. I don't think Bush is another Reagan; he didn't defend conservative positions as he ought to have done. But I don't think he's another Hoover either. Like Reagan, he had nerve and did what he thought was right. Obama, in contrast, will cave to Pelosi, Reid and any special interest that got him elected.

Dave, it doesn't matter if he said or didn't say anything or whether it was eloquent. He didn't make the sale. He didn't spread the message. His words never had impact. There's only one person to blame and that's himself.

I left out his singlemost horrible act and that was the bailout. It was unconscionable.

Like I said earlier, I don't doubt his honesty or his intentions. He just didn't care to be persuasive.

"His words never had impact".

Kind of tough to do when most people never hear them because they are filtered out of most mainstream media outlets.

Damn that Bush for not putting a gun to the collective MSM head and forcing them to honestly report.

(snort)

That's his job, Dave, that's his job.

Put a gun to the MSM?

I hope you get your Fuhrer someday.

Not.

Dave, calm down and don't talk like you aren't capable of intelligent thought.

The president's job is to get people to listen to him. You know, the bully pulpit and all. Transcripts of speeches don't cut it. He needs to press the flesh, get out and about and sell his ideas. It's called leadership, the art of convincing people to follow you.

The press is biased, no doubt, but there are ways to make them pay attention, and he failed to get them to pay attention. That's no one's fault but his own. He gave up.

Skyler, I'm plenty calm. Please use your own capacity for intelligent thought and map out exactly what you think Bush could have done with a completely uncooperative and hostile MSM. Details, man, details. And please spare me your airy condescension.

Remember that for the past eight years dissent was the highest form of patriotism?

Think that will still be true in an Obama administration?

re NJ Sue. Can anyone think of legislation that a Dem Congress would put on his desk that President Obama would veto?

Spider, that may be true, but let's not forget that Bush didn't veto anything, not one bill, until 2006.

Correct Mr Bingley. W signed into law Pferdkaese that he surely would have vetoed if a Dem Congress gave it to him.

Republicans thought they would have an eternal majority and quit acting like Republicans.

Heck, when the GOP presidential nominee has to choose a VP candidate that will get Republicans to vote for him you know where the party is going.

As a recovering person I cannot join you in the post-election liquid soothing, but I am with you in spirits.