Discuss

Posted by Josh Rosenau on November 27, 2006
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An oldie, but a goodie. Way back in February of 2003, D-squared Digest said:

give me one single example of something with the following three characteristics:

1. It is a policy initiative of the current Bush administration
2. It was significant enough in scale that I’d have heard of it (at a pinch, that I should have heard of it)
3. It wasn’t in some important way completely fucked up during the execution.

It’s nearly four years later, and I remain unable to think of an example. Discuss.

As you discuss, feel free to suggest helpful ways in which this situation could be remedied. For instance, would allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices move Medicare Part D out of the “fucked up during execution” column (and also out of the “it is a policy initiative of the current Bush administration). What else would have to be done to fix that.

Other topics you may wish to weigh in on: rebuilding the Gulf Coast, rebuilding Afghanistan, rebuilding Iraq, rebuilding NCLB, rebuilding the budget surplus, rebuilding American trade, rebuilding the American middle class. Enjoy.

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  1. #1 Paul Decelles
    November 27, 2006

    I know! I know! Bush’s policy on global warming has led led to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere! Led to greater increase in average planet wide temperature! Soon ships will be able to take an easy short cut over the top of the world! This year is supposedly heading to a record temperature for the continental US which means fewer days with winter coats and more days in shorts! What could be better! And its all happening faster now thanks to Shrub!

    oops…

  2. #2 Dale Austin
    November 28, 2006

    Grady;

    So, you can’t think of any examples either.

  3. #3 Dale Austin
    November 28, 2006

    Grady:

    “give me one single example of something with the following three characteristics:
    1. It is a policy initiative of the current Bush administration
    2. It was significant enough in scale that I’d have heard of it (at a pinch, that I should have heard of it)
    3. It wasn’t in some important way completely fucked up during the execution.”

    So, any examples?

  4. #4 Josh
    November 28, 2006

    Speaking of Korea, I love how Bush era policy there produced nuclear weapons, while the Clinton era policy prevented the same thing.

    The scientists didn’t fuck that up, the politicians did.

  5. #5 Dale Austin
    November 28, 2006

    Josh;

    But, but, but, anything less than belligerence would be . . . appeasement!

  6. #6 Josh
    November 28, 2006

    Visualize world pease.

  7. #7 Dale Austin
    November 28, 2006

    Visualize whirled peas.

  8. #8 Albatrossity
    November 29, 2006

    Hey, Grady

    In addition to the unanswered questions left for you on the “Good Riddance” thread, you also have an unanswered question on this thread (see the fifth comment by Dale Austin, above), and another one on the “Stupid is as stupid does” thread.

    If you don’t answer those, one might get the impression that you really are just pulling things out of your butt, rather than participating in a rational discussion of the issues. So maybe you should attend to those unfinished issues before you sidle off here.

  9. #9 Dale Austin
    November 29, 2006

    Albatrossity;

    I move for ritual disemvowelment. Any seconds?

  10. #10 Flex
    November 29, 2006

    Oh I don’t know,

    He completely fulfilled his policy initiative to give tax breaks to the wealthy. No hiccups or screwups there.

    The result was completely, and thoroughly, predictable. But I can’t say that it was fucked-up in implementation by the administration.

  11. #11 Dale Austin
    November 29, 2006

    Flex;

    I’d call that only a partial success. The rich still pay some taxes after all. The goal was to have our most productive citizens tax free by now, dinch’a know.

  12. #12 Flex
    November 29, 2006

    I really wish I knew how those guys define ‘productivity’.

    Oh yeah, the one’s with the highest income stream must be the most productive. MBA reasoning again.

    Honestly, I’m only in an MBA program in order to learn how these guys think! I promise to only use my MBA knowledge for good!!

  13. #13 Dale Austin
    November 29, 2006

    I promise to only use my MBA knowledge for good!!

    Of course young Anakin. . .

  14. #14 Greg
    November 29, 2006

    Gulf Coast : got rid of most of those icky poor people so that Disney can build a more authentic French Quarter. Sorry, I mean Freedom Quarter.

    Afghanistan : opium production and profits are at an all time highs.

    Iraq : Haliburton and Carlyle, and all the little bunnies in the oil patch, are doing more than just fine.

    NCLB : I admit I ought to have heard of this.

    the budget surplus : gave it to rich people for safekeeping too.

    American trade : traded most of America (and Americans too!) to China for a mess of Walmarts. exporting armaments all over the thirdworld — delivering right into folks’ livingrooms as fast as they load em on planes and drop em.

    the American middle class : turning them into eager minimumwage workers as fast as they can printup termination notices.

    Enjoy : the man is a genius! It is so exciting to live in such interesting times.

    When my grandkids come huddling around my cookfire, I’m gonna bore them to tears with my stories about the time his grateful friends pepper-sprayed me as I stood among the adoring throngs along the paraderoute holding up signs telling how much we think of him. he he : I won’t give them any pease porridge until they express proper respect neither.

  15. #15 Jackie
    November 30, 2006

    If I were in the richest 1%, I might say the Bush tax cuts were mighty handy.

    But I’m not.

    So I won’t.

    Fuckers.

  16. #16 CSA
    November 30, 2006

    . . . and there you have it. A plain, simple admission that the troll isn’t here to discuss, just to inflame and draw attention to itself by whatever means possible.

    Josh, *thanks* for deleting trollshit. It’s notable that you’re not doing so based on opposition to your POV – else Larry Farfarman would have been history by now – but on the evident sociopathic tendencies of said trolls.

    [i]The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental and behavioral disorders, defines antisocial personality disorder as a k[b]pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others[/b] occurring since age 15, as indicated by [b]three (or more)[/b] of the following:
    1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
    2. [b]deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases,[/b] or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
    3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
    4. [b]irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated fights or assaults (both physically or mentally)[/b]
    5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others
    6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligations [b]???[/b]
    7. [b]lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another[/b][/i]

    Of course, IANAP . . .