Keywords For George W. Bush: 911, Aristocracy, Big Brother, Children, Civil Rights, Corporate Interests, Crime and Punishment, Criminal, Despicable Behavior, Enron, Ethics, Fiscal Irresponsibility, Freedom of Speech, Foreign Policy, Honor and Integrity, Hypocrisy, Labor, Lack of Leadership, Lies, National Security, Perjury, Prescription Drugs, Profiteering, Tax Cut, Terrorism, Un-American

At his father's insistence, Bush tried his hand in the oil business. He returned to Midland and formed an independent oil and gas exploration company that he called Arbusto (the Spanish word for “bush”). After losing in a 1978 race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Bush accepted an offer to merge his failing oil firm with an oil-investing fund called Spectrum 7. He became chairman of the resulting corporation. In 1986, Spectrum was sold to Harken Energy where Bush practiced Enron-like accounting, committed insider trading, received executive loans that he has since declared illegal for others. In addition, he evaded taxes to the song of $3 million on his sale of Texas Rangers stock.

As the Rangers managing partner, after an initial outlay of only $606,000, Bush walked away with nearly $15 million when the team was sold in 1998. This was the result of a government land grab for the Rangers stadium that was essentially given to Bush and his cronies. Thank you very much taxpayers of Texas.

Bush was elected governor of Texas in 1994, a figurehead position in this state. (The Lieutenant Governor literally does all the work.)

In 2000, Bush stole the presidency of the United States and still violates the White House, implementing his complex domestic (Cut taxes) and foreign (Kill Sadam) policies. He spends his free time destroying the planet and ripping the citizenry of their civil rights. 

Hobbies include: smirking, gaffing and clubbing baby seals with oilcans.

STRATEGY: Do not let Bush off the hook. Those things given short shrift in the major media (if any shrift at all) must be hammered at the grassroots level. (Ex. Regarding avoidance of service in Vietnam, the major media printed over 13,000 articles about Clinton but less than 50 articles about Bush. Damn that liberal media!)

KEYWORDS: Illegitimate, Privileged

MESSAGE: The truth will set you free

NICKNAMES: Shrub, Dim Son, Smirk, Junior, Commander-in-Theif, Chimp

(Lies, Lack of Leadership) 06/2002

FACT: We all remember Bush's tasteless yet timely "trifecta" joke, when he said that only in times of war, as a result of a recession, or in times of national emergency would his administration run up deficits. Strangely, but not surprisingly, he's been lying about when he said it. You see, he would like you to believe that he made his deficits prediction long before his election, during his campaign and the administration has been constantly giving the impression that this was Bush's position all along. Lies! Lies! Lies! In reality, Bush promised (without condition) to avoid deficits, a convenient promise when running for office but wholly unnecessary and even burdensome once elected. Ha ha ha ha ha! Suckers. Wait till you see what he does to Social Security. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

(Despicable Behavior, Children) 06/2002

FACT: Bush once famously announced that he would leave no child behind. More than 2.2 million people, the majority of which are children, die every year in the Third World from a variety of diseases caused by lack of sanitation. The UN predicts that that number could drop by 75 percent if clean water and sanitation were provided. Which is why a plan to aid 1.2 billion people without sanitation will be put in front of the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg this August. Unfortunately, Bush is blocking the plan, according to the UK Independent. Apparently a British delegation met US officials last week but "did not receive any clear reason for their objection." 

(Lies, Enron, Corporate Interests) 06/2002

FACT:  The economic stimulus bill that Bush wrote had a secret quarter of a billion dollar bailout in it for Enron.

(Hypocrisy) 

FACT: President Bush lambasted congressional Democrats, saying they want to "increase taxes" because they brazenly suggested that tax cuts be put on hold until we get our economy under control. Not surprisingly, however, he hasn't been slamming his own brother or three other Republican governors for doing exactly the same thing. It seems that Jeb's tax cut has created a state deficit much like the one brother George created both in Texas as Governor and Nationwide as current squatter in the White House. When Florida's books didn't balance, Jeb did what he had to do. USA Today says he "signed a bill depriving Floridians of $128 million in tax relief promised through mid-2003." 

(Prescription Drugs, Aristocracy, Lies, Enron, Tax Cut) 06/2002

FACT: In Bush's prescription drug plan, you don't get any prescription drug help if you're a senior citizen who lives on more than $17,000 a year. 

COMMENT: From Paul Begala, "So that in George Bush's America, if you're an old couple, retired, living on $17,000 a year, you're so rich you can't get prescription drug help. But if you're an Enron executive living on $17 million a year, you're so poor that you get a tax cut and a bailout." Thanks Paul.

(Lies, Criminal, Perjury)

FACT: If you've never heard of "Funeralgate" you should. This is a scandal involving one of the largest funeral home businesses in the country. As Paul Begala put it in an interview with Buzzflash.com, "[Bush] swore under oath that he had never discussed an investigation of a funeral home company with either the funeral home company or its lobbyist for his state agency that regulates the industry. As the lawsuit went on, the funeral home company's CEO, the lobbyist for the funeral home company, and the Bush appointee to the state agency all testified under oath that Bush was lying -- that, in fact, he talked to all of them about it." And, "…it's absolutely clear that Bush committed perjury in a civil lawsuit, and that DeLay did as well."

(Lies, Criminal, Despicable Behavior)

FACT: Bush was arrested for drunk driving in Maine. He kept this secret as long as he could until he was outed several days before the 2000 election. He claimed that he kept it secret to protect his children. You know, It’s all about doing it for the children. Yes these are the same little cherubs who have been arrested twice in a three month period for underage drinking and then spotted once again in  a Georgetown bar drinking illegally again

COMMENT: Let’s remember that this is no laughing matter. Thousands of people are killed or otherwise have their lives ruined every year by such grossly negligent and selfish imbeciles as Bush and Cheney. They shouldn’t be allowed to laugh this off.

(Lack of Leadership, Coward, Lies, Profiteering) 05/2002

FACT: According to the GOP, the infamous Bush-9/11 exploitation photo they were hawking for cash demonstrated "the gritty determination of our new president." But in an interview last week for German television Bush revealed what was really going through his mind as he sat safe and sound on Air Force One. "I was concerned about things like, is my wife safe? You know, I was worried about that. I was worried about things such as my parents. I was worried about my [twin] girls....I mean, I was trying to get out of harm's way." 

(Foreign Policy) 

FACT: With Sino-American relations already strained, GW appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" and managed to reverse 30 years of U.S. policy in a single spectacular brain-on-vacation incident. He said that America would do "whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself" against a Chinese attack, clearly departing from the U.S.'s previously (and deliberately) vague policy on the area. But in follow-up interviews Bush said that he "strongly supports the one-China policy," (the notion that Taiwan is not an independent country). 

COMMENT: The initial statement sent shockwaves across the globe as militaries heightened alert status and diplomats clamored for an explanation.

(Hypocrisy, Foreign Policy)) 

FACT: When a nuclear scientist was accused of selling secrets to the Chinese, Republicans couldn't blame Clinton fast enough. Since this "Logic" is so compelling and useful, we thought we could apply it to some of the things that Bush has done since the coup. First, and foremost, he handed over of one of our spy plane to the Chinese. killed a bunch of school kids in a Japanese fishing boat, pulled out of the Kyoto agreement, and misspoke about Taiwan, Bush then scrapped the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.

(Corporate Interests, Invasion of Privacy, Big Brother)

FACT: Just before our last elected president left office, he introduced a federal safeguard that would prevent patients from having their personal information passed around. Last week Bush suggested that we should change the regulation so that doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, insurance companies, and any other interested third parties can access your medical without restriction and without your permission. The proposed regulation change has been "hailed by the insurance industry." 

(Honor and Integrity, Taxpayers' Money)

FACT: After the recent TCU booze-up, Jenna Bush's "boyfriend" was thrown in jail for public intoxication. Four hours later, Secret Service agents showed up in a black Chevy Suburban, bailed him out, and give him a ride home. 

COMMENT: That's our tax dollars at work to support the Bushes and their drunken friends 

(Aristocracy, Foreign Policy, Stupidity, Ethics)

FACT: It is not unusual for an incoming Administration to reward their friends and big donors with ambassadorships to largely innocuous posts in places like the Bahamas, Andorra, or Micronesia. But President Bush has a different idea. According to USA Today, so far Bush has given 22 out of 27 ambassadorships (81%) to "people with political or personal connections and no diplomatic experience". He even nominated a former college fraternity brother to be ambassador to China. 

COMMENT: Sino-U.S. relations are already strained and in need of an experienced diplomat to mend the wounds. Old frat brothers don't quite make it. So here is another threat to world stability resting on the pseudo-nepotistic preferences of an illegitimate president.

(Hypocrisy, Aristocracy)

FACT: Despite his "Three-Strikes" program (Instituted as Governor, which made jail time mandatory for anyone convicted 3 times for any reason) and his new policy of denying college funding to any person who has been convicted of a drug-related crime, (including possession), Bush is very soft on his own drug use. Remember back in the campaign when Bush dodged questions about allegations of cocaine use? Obviously not wishing to buy into the idea that drug use is some youthful right of passage, one of Bush's answers was, "When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible." 

COMMENT: Under the laws that he has enacted since being elected Governor of Texas, Bush would have served some time in jail and been denied government student loans, not that he would have needed them, with Poppy's money and all.

(Tax Cut, Fiscal Irresponsibility, Terrorism) 06/2002

FACT: According to the Bush Administration's own report, the federal budget deficit for the month of May 2002 was $80.63 billion, the worst monthly deficit ever in the history of the United States. The previous record was from August of 2001, exactly eleven days before the "War on Terror" even started. 

COMMENT: This is clearly the result of the fiscally, grossly irresponsible Bush tax-cut and not the "War on Terror" as the deficits began prior to September 11.

(Foreign Policy, Stupidity) 

FACT: Vladimir Putin announced that if America abandoned the ABM treaty and went ahead with the missile shield, the Russians would simply upgrade their nuclear arsenal with multiple-warhead ICBMs. Cheap and effective, these missiles would easily be able to overwhelm any defense shield we could put up. Of course, the ABM treaty previously banned these weapons - 

COMMENT: but as Dubya has oft reminded us, that's just an old relic. So crank up the nukes, baby, 'cause "the Cold War is over". Uhhhhh..Yup. 

(Crime and Punishment, Hypocrisy) 2002

FACT: Bush executed 152 people while governor of Texas, far more than any other governor in any other state.

COMMENT: According to the USA Today, religion "infuses" George W. Bush's daily life. Apparently he reads the Bible each morning, studies a daily Bible lesson, and frequently prays in the Oval Office. Now, what was that pesky commandment that the oh, so pious Bush seems to be overlooking? Oh yea, "Thou shalt not Kill". He must have learned to ignore that one when his poppy was the head of the CIA.

(Stupidity, Crime and Punishment) 07/2002

FACT: after declining for the previous nine years, crime is on the increase again nationwide. In response, Bush is proposing "several reductions in grants and other assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies, including an 80 percent drop in funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services program," according to the Washington Post. I guess since the Rapture is almost upon us, Righteous George and his buddies might as well give it a helping hand. GRRR!

(Women's Rights) 07/2002

FACT: It was revealed that George W. Bush will, under pressure from conservative pro-lifers, "slash millions of dollars of funding for a UN family planning program," according to the UK Guardian. The UN program assists women in more than 140 countries with family planning, HIV and Aids prevention, health and education.

(Anti-Civil Rights, Freedom of Speech, Un-American) 2001

FACT: When Bush appeared at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida, last week, protesters were herded into a "First Amendment Zone" half a mile away. Three attendees were arrested and dragged out of the stadium after refusing to leave with their anti-Bush signs, because according to the SS "you can't be within eyeshot of the president with those signs because it's a security issue." 

COMMENT: Ah, Remember back when the whole country was a First Amendment Zone. Well, forget it. You're in Bush country now and anything you say can and will be a security breach against our fine president (sic).

(Aristocracy) 

FACT: Robert Novak's quote from "The Capital Gang", "I think that the person who is to blame is George W. Bush for passing those tough enforcement laws in the state of Texas, that if his daughter gets caught again under those laws she goes to jail - of course, she won't go to jail - but these are ridiculous laws, and everybody is too excited about teenage drinking" Did you spot the mistake? 

COMMENT: Yes, a right-winger actually admitted that which is already well known - if you're rich and well connected, laws nneed not apply

(Stupidity) 

FACT: Bush was on Ellis Island to welcome a group of new immigrants to the United States, and all went well until it was time to recite the Pledge of Allegiance "Right hand up please," said Bush, holding up his right hand. As the confused immigrants cast glances at one another, Bush realized his error. "Actually right hand on your heart," he mumbled.

COMMENT: Bush's base in reality was once again in question when he, on another occasion decided to wave hello to Stevie Wonder. 

(Terrorism, National Security) 

FACT: The seven Democrats and seven Republicans serving on the Hart-Rudman Commission, which had been put together in 1998 by then-President Bill Clinton and then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., to make sweeping strategic recommendations on how the United States could ensure its security in the 21st century, delivered their report to the Bush administration, with 50 unanimously approved recommendations. The commission recommended the formation of a Cabinet-level position to combat terrorism. The proposed National Homeland Security Agency director would have "responsibility for planning, coordinating, and integrating various U.S. government activities involved in homeland security," according to the commission's executive summary. Other recommendations: U.S. foreign policy should strive to shape an international system in which just grievances can be addressed without violence. Verifiable arms control and nonproliferation efforts must remain a top priority to help persuade states and terrorists to abjure weapons of mass destruction. The development of new transportation security procedures and practices was urged. Said Gary Hart, "We said Americans will likely die on American soil, possibly in large numbers - that's a quote (from the commission's Phase One Report)." The Bush administration does nothing. 

COMMENT: Bush did absolutely nothing until after the fact (911), and even then he blatantly acted contrary to some of these recommendations, including arms control and nonproliferation issues. Bush also opposed the Airport Security bill (Passed 100-0 in the Senate) that put airport security in the hands of the government instead of underpaid, undertrained and underscreened private "security" workers. It seems that the lives of Americans subordinate the heinous crime of expanding government.

(Aristocracy, Anti-Children) 

FACT: Bush cuts the Childcare and Development Block Grant by $200 million. In addition, a program designed for child abuse prevention would be cut by eighteen percent, $15.7 million. Bush's budget would completely eliminate a $20 million program dedicated to improving early childhood education and development.

COMMENT: To keep this in perspective, the Defense budget is in excess of $360 billion (i.e. $360,000 million). To boot, a recent GAO reports shows that tens of billions of dollars are unaccounted for within this budget.

(Women's' Rights) 

FACT: Bush closed the White House Office on Women's Issues and refuses to discuss the closing. 

(Lies, Criminal, Secrecy) 

FACT: The scheduled release of 68,000 pages of Reagan era documents is delayed by the Enron administration, which says it wants until June 21 to review them, in violation of the Presidential Records Act of 1978. The papers cover the period when Osama Bin Laden was recruited and trained by the Reagan Administration, as well as the period when arms were being sold secretly in the Middle East to finance the terrorist campaigns of the Contras.

COMMENT: This criminal infraction of the Presidential Records Act was designed to protect his father and members of his administration from the truths of Iran Contra.

(Anti-Labor) 

FACT: Bush blocked mechanics at Northwest Airlines from going on strike by ordering a 60-day cooling off period. After hearing that four other major airlines could face potential strikes in coming months, Bush said, "I am concerned about their impact, concerned about what it could mean to this economy and I intend to take the necessary steps to prevent airline strikes from happening this year." President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Sonny Hall said, "Perhaps the most disturbing aspect about the President's remarks today is what some may interpret as a rush to judgment and a simultaneous promise to poison the collective bargaining process." 

(Punishing the Impoverished) 

FACT: Bush proposes eliminating the Public Drug Elimination Program, which provided federal money to public housing projects for security officers, alarm systems and after-school activities to prevent drug use. Bush claims that the program has "limited impact" and that "regulatory tools such as eviction are more effective at reducing drug activity in public housing." A program supporter, Rep. John LaFalce (D-N.Y), says Bush's idea would, in effect, tell families trying to raise their children in public housing that "drug dealers are welcomed back" and that combating crime no longer was a priority. 

(Despicable behavior, Stupidity)

FACT: At the beginning of his administration, Bush said that he would only break into Social Security in the event of war, recession, or a national emergency. According to Mitch Daniels, the budget director, Bush said to him shortly after September 11, "Lucky me. I hit the trifecta." 

(Lies, 911) 

FACT: Last week a House committee was pressured by the White House to vote down a measure which would have provided billions of dollars to help New York rebuild. So while big business is suddenly reaping the reward of massive government handouts, New Yorkers will have to find another way to recover from the September 11 attacks. 

COMMENT: Now, remember when Bush took his bullhorn up to the top of that pile of rubble at Ground Zero and told emergency workers, "I hear you.". Apparently he only "hears" people during photo ops and elections.

(Secrecy, Criminal, Aristocracy)

FACT: Bush signed an executive order which countermands the 1978 Presidential Records Act, and conveniently prevents Ronald Reagan's papers, which were due to have been released last January, from being released at all. 

COMMENT: Now why would they go and do a thing like that for? Could there possibly be something in those papers that would tarnish the image of the Godly Ronald Reagan and his silver plated henchmen? Note, that half of Bush Jr.'s administration used to be a part of the Reagan administration.

(Lies) 

FACT: Even after congress had earmarked $20 billion to help rebuild New York and other areas affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks, Bush has only put forth a fraction of that amount with no intention of giving the rest. No, no, that money is needed for the "War on Terrorism" according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. 

COMMENT: Remember again the photo op of Shrub standing with the NYPD, FDNY And other emergency workers, megaphone in hand, proclaiming "I hear you"? Did you hear him then say under his breath that he was going to screw NY. Didn't think so. It doesn't fit very nicely into the photo op.

(Aristocracy, Hypocrisy, Despicable Behavior, Corporate Interests)

FACT: In the winter of 2001, Bush refused to release $300 million earmarked to help the poor pay their heating bills, citing the possibility of a milder winter this year. Cold weather state lawmakers are trying to encourage Bush to release the funds.

COMMENT: In addition, the number of people seeking heating assistance will rise this year, due to layoffs following the September 11 attacks. All this while Bush gave the airlines $14 billion. 

(Corporate Interests, Aristocracy) 03/16/2002

FACT: Bush has used every excuse imaginable to promote his fiscally devastating $1.6 trillion gift to the wealthiest 1% of Americans: the economy is strong. The economy is weakening. Gas prices are going up. We're at war. The situation is inconsequential because the solution is always - tax cuts! In addition to Bush's initial $1.6 trillion Tax Cut debacle (true long-term estimated impact of $4 trillion), the administration is now pushing a supplemental tax cut plan. This one was narrowly voted through by the (Republican controlled) House. According to the LA Times, "80% of the benefits from the proposed capital gains tax cuts would go to the richest 2% of Americans." That sounds fair. The LA Times goes on to report that, unbelievably, payroll taxes may have to be raised in order to pay for the capital gains tax. COMMENT: Ah, the reverse Robin Hood approach…always popular with the electorate. But wait, Bush wasn't elected, in fact more people voted for Gore. Indeed, it was the wealthiest members of the country that "installed" Bush in the "White House". So now, I guess it actually makes sense after all. Bush is simply representing his true constituency. He is a fine leader after all. Bravo. 

(Lies, Honor and Integrity)

FACT: Bush's attempt to protect his daughters by trying to bury his DUI conviction failed after Jenna Bush was caught on camera during a student binge-fest. 

(Hypocrisy, Ethics)

FACT: Bush Sr. pardoned a man named Edwin Cox Jr., a crook who falsified collateral on $78 million in loans and spent six months in prison for bank fraud? It seems there was some last-minute maneuvering at the Department of Justice and lobbying by influential allies. The pardon was granted just 48 hours before Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, and…Edwin Cox's father just happened to donate $100,000 to Bush's presidential library. 

COMMENT: If you think there was a Marc-Rich type furor over this one, you are 100% wrong. Such actions are atrocious only when executed by non-republicans. 

(Anti Environment, Corporate Interests, Foreign Policy, Lies) 

FACT: Abandoning his more moderate campaign promises, Bush decided to forget that pesky CO2 promise. You know the one where power plants' would have to curtail their carbon dioxide emissions.

COMMENT: Chalk up another trifecta for Bush Inc. 1) It pisses off our allies, stressing our bold independence from any sort of global responsibility 2) The environment gets trashed further and 3) Polluting corporations are free from those pesky profit-munching regulations.