>>I really haven't seen the people on here claiming evil and grand conspiracies by Bush. Most of the bashing has been in the form of pointing out the man's lack of compassion for humans not of his ilk, his gross incompetence in complicated matters, and his apparent low intelligence or at least the inability to see things in more than black and white. There's plenty of evidence that's been cited in all those categories and I'm not going to repeat them now. <<

Yes, you have made it clear how you see the man. You have formed your opinion and view of him, but it is still your opinion.

I see a man that was hurt by 9/11 because it killed people he is responsible for. He does care about America and Americans. And he is not stupid. He inherited a failing economy. He kept America going after the worst attack the country has ever seen, and also though one of the worst natural disasters the country has seen. By all means, we should be having the worst recession this country has ever seen, but the economy grows stronger. The man must be doing something right.

There have been many terrorist attempts since 9/11, yet none of them have succeeded. The man must be doing something right.

A few have gone into the conspiracy area but it's my recollection they've gotten as much flack back from the left as from the right.

You see things your way, I see them mine. To each their own, but don’t get angry at me when I disagree with your public views, and I’ll try to do the same.

>>I think very few of us believe that Bush and his bunch orchestrated 9/11. That's one of those grand conspiracies that would require too many people to keep their mouths shut. However, it's not beyond comprehension to believe that small groups knew it was coming or possible and put up subtle roadblocks that slowed investigations since they knew a national crisis would further their well-stated plans to control the Mideast. <<

But they do not want to control the Middle East. Bush would love nothing more than to leave Iraq in the hands of the Iraqis and get out. He is not an imperialist. Where is this well-stated plan? Another conspiracy? Once again, speculation, but not a fact.

>>It's also pretty consistent among your opposition to believe that Bush took an unethical advantage of the fear amongst Americans to put us into an unnecessary war in Iraq. The evidence of a conspiracy (if you want to call it that) is huge considering the number of past staffers including members of the intelligence community and armed forces that have publicly come out and stated just that and been extremely consistent in their stories. The Downing Street memo has never been fully answered and attempts by congressmen to investigate it were brutally squashed by the Republican power block. <<

The fear was real. Bush didn’t put it in us, but he is fighting those that did.

Bush said early on that to stop terrorist, we must change the environment that breads them. The only way to do that is to give them freedom and democracy. That was his intent from the start. If you didn’t hear it, I am sorry.

If there was any substance in the Downing Street Memo, it would have come out. They can’t keep those kinds of secrets. Too many people talk. So more speculations, no facts.

>>History shows us actions such as these are common in American politics so this isn't science fiction REB. Remember Iran-Contra? Tell me about the USS Maine, the Gulf of Tonkin, the flubbed Bay of Pigs. <<

So you assume Bush is doing the same sort of dirty work. That is your assumption. Where is the evidence. Real evidence. Not speculation, not opinion and no rumors. Where is the real evidence for these accusations?

>>The one consistent thing I notice about you, Tom, SDAI, Evil, etc. is that you're totally out of touch with human behavior. You fill yourselves up with buzz words, poll results, talking points, and yet you know not a clue about interacting with the rest of us. You completely dismiss feelings about the most devisive president I've seen in my 52 years of life and somehow try to put the blame back on the people that are legitimately angered by him. You have no understanding for why we're the target of terrorists other than simplistic good guy/bad guy stuff like we're in some idiotic black and white 50's cowboy drama. You masquerade true debate by placing labels on it instead of exploring the thinking that went into your opponent's point of view. I really pity you in that regard. <<

I don’t have a problem with you having a problem with the president. That is your right. What I don’t like is treating opinions, rumors and speculations about the president as facts. You call him, “divisive”, but I don’t see that. You see, you want me to respect your opinion of the man, but you refuse to respect mine.

I understand what is going on. I know the history. And I know America is not totally innocent in all this. We do act in our own interest. We do use the world for our own good. I know we used. In the world of politics we have been allies with just about every Middle East country at one time or another, and it was for our own good, not theirs.

I know why bin Laden is mad at us. And I know America probably would probably not give the Middle East a second thought if it wasn’t for their oil. Hell, we ignore the genocide going on in Africa right now when we should be forcing the UN to send in troops.

>>It must be scary having to be told how to think by your media darlings like Ann Coulter or pompous asses like Pat Robertson because they never simply present facts and allow you to sort them out logically. They tell you what's right and wrong like you don't have the mental capacity to learn from your interactions with others. Hell, maybe it's simpler that way having no shades of grey but I know the subtleties make my life richer.<<

I do think for myself, Art. I don’t listen to Ann or Pat, or even Rush. You have this stereotype image of us Republicans that is just not true. And you don’t respect our opinions and get mad at us when we don’t respect yours. It is a two edge sword. You know, I don’t think I am that much different from you. I go home and spend time with my family, go out doors and leave the TV off.