October 15, 2006


IMPEACH BUSH




IMPEACH CHENEY


THE CORROSIVE IMPACT OF REPUBLICANS

Republicans have represented themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility, as strong on foreign policy, and of "moral values." We see the absolute absurdity of all those claims. Bush and company have exploded the federal deficit. We are deeply in hock to other countries. This was after Bush inherited a surplus from Bill Clinton. Bush's arrogant and reckless foreign policy led us into the disaster that is Iraq. First, Bush failed to prevent the attacks on 9/11 and since then his policies have made countless enemies of the United States and endangered us all. Now North Korea may have nuclear weapons. Then the "moral values" question really shows the hypocrisy of Republicans. This column by Andrew Rawnsley is at www.guardian.uk.co:

President Bush has again tried to use national security as his trump card in this election. The terror of terror worked for the Republicans in 2002 and again in 2004. It is not working this time. The opinion polls all agree: a majority of Americans now feel that Iraq is getting worse, and that the war was a mistake which has left them less secure.

They still see Bush as a 'War President'. The difference now is that they see him losing his wars. The United States has invaded Iraq and not found any weapons of mass destruction while North Korea is acquiring the nuclear bombs which George Bush once pledged he'd prevent them from having. At a news conference at the White House, the President talked big about Kim Jong-Il but carried a small stick. The world's soi-disant hyperpower is reduced to suggesting that China should do something about it.

What is most alarming people, including senior members of Bush's own administration, is how the crisis over North Korea plays into the threat of a nuclear-tipped Iran. The more helpless that America looks in relation to North Korea, the more emboldened the Iranians will feel about defiantly pursuing their ambitions to join the nuclear club. The Bush presidency has expended squillions of dollars on warfare and military hardware. So much treasure and so much blood and Americans are left with a growing dread that they have ended up weaker in the world.

BUSH AND PREDATORY LENDERS

George Bush's "compassionate conservatism" is compassionate for military contractors, for the top one percent of the economic elite, and for predatory lenders. Bush signed an onerous and despicable bankruptcy law. It's no coincidence that companies like credit card giant MBNA and mortgage lender Ameriquest were big campaign contributors. In this piece former Senator John Edwards writes about the crying need to deal with predatory lenders. The column is at www.thinkprogress.org:

We need strong legislation against predatory lending — preventing mortgage lenders from charging excessive fees, forbidding loan “flipping” where lenders rack up fees by refinancing mortgages without benefiting borrowers, and limiting pre-payment penalties.

Predatory lending isn’t the only problem for families that are working hard, paying their bills, and still struggling to get by. Short-term payday loans with excessive interest rates can quickly turn into a crushing long-term debt. Congress recently passed protections for our military men and women, but why not all families?

It’s well past time to install leaders who care about issues like predatory lending, rising mortgage foreclosure rates, increasing the minimum wage, and helping middle and low-income families. Americans deserve leaders that have the backbone to stand up and do something about their concerns. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again until it’s a reality — we need a government that works for all of its people, especially the most vulnerable among us.