president bush has lost his connection

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President Bush has lost his connection with America

America is adrift, crying for the Captain to secure and stabilize the rudder.

November 26, 2005

One does not have to be a Democrat to comprehend that President Bush is not exercising the leadership necessary to convince America he is on top of a domestic agenda…nor is America or the world convinced the President has firm grip on his foreign policy agenda.

The President seems to have lost the magic he displayed on the rubble left after 9-11-2001 where he reflected a calm, determined, courageous, inspiring and stable leader. America needed the encouragement and “take charge” attitude from our national leader that New Yorkers found in their Mayor Guiliana…President Bush displayed the strength in the chaos of 9-11 that endeared him to a large majority of Americans, politicians of all stripes, in short, melding America into a cohesive, coherent force, determined to hold accountable the parties responsible for the destruction and attack on America.

What has happened since the early days of the Bush Presidency that has left America in the divided, vile, confrontational, and floundering condition apparent in Congress, the Administration, and spilling across America?

In all fairness, an objective analysis demonstrates that all was not well in America when President Bush assumed office. The weeds in the garden were already hip high, but President Bush had an opportunity plow them under…unfortunately the elephant died and the mule balked. Why?

Was it the death of the force pulling the plow his fault? I submit President Bush dropped the reins…he became distracted from the mission by the forest (self-serving advisors and politicians) in which he got lost.

I believe President Bush has a good heart, is sincere in his desire to do the best he can for America, and I believe agonizes over the divisive conditions in America. Be this observation as it may, it is the Presidents responsibility as Americas national leader to pull us together.

What must he do to reverse the image of a weak leader? A start would be to rely on his moral instincts, emerge from the cocoon (read politicians) that enslaves him, clean house of dead-wood advisors, and convince all Americans why his policy is what America needs, as he did during the 9-11-2001 crisis.

Can he do it? Not unless he clearly articulates to his Administration that he is in charge and “takes charge“, escapes from his political cage, makes it clear and convincing to America where he wants to go, surrounds himself with functional experts who view “America First“, and communicates to America with a personal approach.

A critical question surfaces…was President Bush’s performance during the 9-11-2001 crisis an aberration? Does he have the gut instinct to lead? For Americas sake, I pray the answer to the former is “no” and the latter is “yes” ...performance will confirm.

Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret

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Responses to:

President Bush has lost his connection with America

Sir, with due respect for your comment, what has happened is THE MEDIA! All the American people and peoples of foreign countries hear is how terrible President Bush is, how HE and HE alone LIED to take us to war, how he doesn't make the decisions, how he doesn't have an exit plan, how he didn't act quickly enough in Hurricane Katrina, how he didn't do this or that......blah, blah and more blah. Unfortunately many people only listen to the nightly news, they don't have the initiative to read any magazines (although you have to hunt for unbiased magazines articles as well) or books, so they believe what they hear. Personally, I feel sorry for President Bush, he is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't!

V/R,

Maryln Tetzlaff

Col Riley,
   I think you are accurate in your dialog no matter what you think of Bush. I was a staunch Democrat for over forty years. But then came Johnson (Sent me to Nam 64-65)(went back again in '68). Then there was Carter - Gave all the peaceniks amnesty and the Panama Canal away. Of course Henry B. Gonzales had his turn. All Democrats!
   So I had enough of the Jackass party and became an Independent but after voting, I check my ballot and find that is is 90% Republican - I guess they just think the way I do.
   I had my share of action in the 26+ years and think I served my country well. Much more than that bunch of wimps in D.C.     Keep up the pressure on those useless B-------!

   Charles W. Morrell Jr.
   CMSGT USAF-Retired

Me thinks you are trying to tell us Bush is smart. I think he is dumb or a slow learner. He must clean house in the oval office. He is stuck with Cheney but he can keep him from the meeting with new blood. He must appear before the American people and admit he has made a mistake and ask for our forgiveness and lay out a plan to right out beloved America. But all this is just dreaming.

Mac

While I generally support President Bush, I too admit to feeling "adrift" in the current political climate. Republicans are the majority in Washington DC. It is high time to implement the conservative agenda and ignore the mutterings of the "left". I'm also sick and tired of being sick and tired of political correctness. Let's call things how we see them. Isn't is interesting now, how conservative college students in liberal institutions of higher learning (almost all of them) across the country are being persecuted by extremist liberal professors (a story on Sean Hannity's radio show)? What ever happened to the free exchange of ideas? Liberals are the new poster children of intolerance.

Most Sincerely,

Mrs. Kathie Marino

Clinton, PA

(not a joke, unfortunately!)

In regards to your E-mail "America is Adrift." You must admit that MOST of the media is against the President especially in regards to the Iraq situation.

My wife was employed by Kirtland AFB Hospital and became friends with many of the staff. We receive E-mails from Colonels, enlisted of all ranks and a Major (pastor), the general consensus is that the President and the military is getting a bad rap. There is so much progress being made and none of it is being reported by the media.

The Democrats don't have any programs. They'll promise the military and Vets anything to gain power over Congress again only to tell us to go to hell after they're in. They had many chances to help us under the Clinton Administration and what did we get?

He didn't cause Katrina and he didn't cause the rise in oil prices.

We did receive Concurrent Receipt and CRSC under President Bush Administration. The Democrats and the media stated he was forced into it, so what he signed it into law, How many times did we try under Clinton with no results. The Democrats speak out of both sides of their mouth.

Regards, Al

From day one he hasn't been in charge and doesn't know what the word means. Iits a damn shame the troops have too depend on his non leadership capabilities. He dropped his reins way before 911 and has been at war on terrorist ever since. If you remember, I am sure that you do, we lost American Marines when the coward terrorist blew the marine barracks up in Beirut...every person out there has a small memory and it makes me sick. We are using National guard to replace regular troops/reserves who are just not ready to go to war in somebody else's ground. We better build up our regular strength and do it fast

GySgt Angelo Vitalone Sr. Semper Fi

Under the sitting President and Congress America will only drift further into quagmire- national debt, foreign debt- bad foreign policy.

Americans will see their quality of life decrease as inflation erupts; hatred of the United States will deepen and spread; never-ending war will drain military assets and divide the nation.

The present President and Congress offer the citizens nothing except heartache, hard times and lost Constitutional rights.

Tim Forehand, Samson, AL

I think if he is to improve his image and get the real American people behind him again he must start calling the traitors traitors. He has been and is being blind sided by those who place their careers above that of our country's needs.

Take back the reins that he loosed when they started attacking his policies, both foreign and domestic, and put them in a place of dishonor that they deserve. No man or woman should be allowed to aid our enemies by trying to discredit our president, his policies or his ability to do the job.

We elected this man that said he was capable of doing the job of running our country, no one knew or expected things to go so far from our normal way of life. Terrorist, war and a faulty economy that is producing a monumental debt. NOT HIS DOING. He has responded to these problems in a way that should take care of them but, as some un-American politicians and corporations have taken exception to our commanders agenda, there has been nothing but turmoil for him on a daily basis. I charge any person to do a better job under these circumstances.

It is time for him to take back control of his politics by denouncing those who aid and abet our enemies or those whose only agenda is to take advantage of our problems only to make money and have no interest in serving the needs of our nation.

He must re-enforce our Mexican border, Fox is of a mind that he is in control of them, this is possibly true. He must show the American people that we are safe within our borders and he is aggressively trying to make us safe where ever we go. Stop the illegals from entering our country, including the Mexicans. We are in a situation that we need to account for every dollar we spend and to make sure it is spent for our protection and safety.

I voted for him as a man I thought was capable of doing the job, I will vote for him again if he will take back control of his job and rid himself of the nay sayers and uninformed advisors.

G.W., you are the boss, act like it. You cannot do it all by yourself so choose some helpers that are on the same page that you are on. Don Fullerton

Who do we elect, some dummy who thinks he or she knows what is best for us? Trouble is the parties, both,) do what's best for them. Clinton calls us ordinary people.......When the President of these United States, calls us "ordinary," does this mean he knows better than the majority of ORDINARY people? What happened to representation?

I don't smoke, but I'm not going tell people, or pass a stupid law that restricts one's rights. I don't think people should smoke, but the government taxes cigarettes, and they are saying, the right hand says no smoking, the left says it's ok. Same with alcohol, we'll sell it to'em, tax it, and

fine'em, and put'em in jail for doing it....?

Same thing with our military, send'em to fight, and they accidentally kill someone who's not a terrorist, they want to hang'em....? This reminds me of the way the Britons used to fight, march head on into battle, and die by the thousands.

Everyone has something to complain about, the majority rules, and that the way it should be unless someone violates your constitutional rights. The President, Senate, Congress, or the majority does not have the right to violate others rights. But ,you see it being done, at home, abroad, in the military, and especially in government.

It used to be, the rich, the middle class, and the poor, now, it's them ,or us. Mark my word, in the next ten years, there is going to be a lot of pensioners, I believe they will take part of pensions for taxes. This government has no intension of giving up the good life they've created

for themselves. White collar against blue collar? I'm educated, I'm better'n you? Your rich, have a better life than me? perhaps!? Ha! This government sent our men, and women over there to do a job, but, don't hurt anyone................Yeah ..right!

I went to to a Doctor, to get a physical, he said you have wax in your ear, I said, I thought I am supposed to have wax in your ear for protection, he said, without missing a beat, (you have wax in your ear.) Intellectual idiot? Hmmm.... !? I haven't had an earache for over fifty years, his point being.......Damned if I know, but he's educated.....go figure.

Don Pratt

This president is a victim of his belief that to be a winner, he must first divide the country. That plan worked too well, and is now spilling over into not only his close circle of advisors, but the Republican led Houses of congress and finally the Republican Party .

The country is not just a house divided; rather it is a house in total confusion bordering on chaos.

The statement that the President should clean house is profound. However, I fear that step is now too late. The rudder has been too long under the control of a misinformed Tiller.

The long and the short of it is; I no longer think this President can hack it.

Andy

Once again you have hit the nail's head squarely on dead center. Renaissance within the Executive Branch is necessary. Current incumbents seem to have forgotten (or just take for granted) "by the people" in their decisions "for the people". In my eyes the Executive Branch has concentrated and dedicated too much Executive efforts to: "Do more with less" policies. The history of "do more with less" policy has finally eclipsed the leadership shown in 2001.

Part of this history is invasion of Iraq with insufficient numbers of troops, the disastrous disbanding of the Iraqi Armed Forces (even Khomeini that evil SOB was skillful enough to successfully combine SAVAK and The Revolutionary Guards whose revolution (shalouk) placed Khomeini in power). During the Kuwait/Iraq War General Schwarzkopf repeatedly emphasized that invasion of Kuwait would not commence until sufficient numbers of troops were in position for victorious results. Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell showed the path for victory. Did the incumbent Executive Branch just disregard Schwarzkopf's lessons/principles for victory?

In The Bible Mesopotamia was the "cradle of civilization". Mesopotamia is Iraq. Could any nation other than Iraq "the cradle of civilization" have been chosen to introduce democracy to the Middle East?

Major blunders have happened. In Iraq the Mosques are off-limits to the invading troops. Protected Sanctuary for enemy forces in the middle of the combat zone! Stupid! Just plain stupid! That Grand Mosque in Najaf was sanctuary for Khomeini for nine years after The Shah of Iran changed his mind and approved the death sentence on Khomeini that was levied by the Ministry of Justice for Khomeini's treason. SAVAK would not execute Khomeini in the Mosque so Khomeini just never left the Mosque - sanctuary. Sadr the cleric will be a nuisance for years. He should be eliminated. Mosques are not Armory's! When a Mosque becomes an Armory - for any religion - the religious mission of the Mosque has changed and when the Mosque becomes an Armory it should be a fair target for elimination. The faithful have spoken and their message is that the Mosque is no longer a protected place and that the members of the Mosque have joined and support the actions of those who transformed the Mosque from Sanctuary to Armory.

A little Omar Khayam is appropriate. "The moving finger, having writ, moved on". Charlie is moving on and closing. Thanks for opportunity to express my thoughts Harry.

Your friend,

Charlie

I totally agree with your assessment - America is floundering both with its domestic and foreign programs. I think all Americans would be happy to see the ship righted. Not only do we have to see the President regain his leadership qualities and the confidence of the public, but I also think that major change is needed in both the House and Senate. In an Article by Charley Reese, who writes editorials in our local Suncoast News, he makes the point that an incumbent-less House and Senate would be a good thing. He advocates that next year, we should all go to the polls and vote against every single incumbent running for re-election, regardless of his or her party or so-called philosophy. His reasoning is that the present House and Senate has neglected the common good. He further states that they are literally making a mess of what was once and could be again a great country. They're bankrupting it. They are allowing the manufacturing base to be stolen by cheap foreign labor. They won't guard the borders. He further states that six years in the House or Senate is enough for any citizen and that we shouldn't get fooled by the so-called value of experience. His classic line on that subject is "the experience they gain is the same as whores and thieves. Inexperience can be a virtue, and experience can be a vice." I'll close for now; however, the article goes on to make many points as to why it is time for a change in our congressional leadership. For anyone wanting to contact Charley Reese for this article, write P.O. Box 2446, Orlando, Fl 32802.

Take care and keep up the good work.

Richard Slager

Very good. I am also wondering, and have been wondering for some time. what happened to Bush? This country is very divided, you hit the ole nail right on the head. With elections in the not far off future, Bush and the Repo's better get it all together or we will end up with a leftist government.................unfortunately, but the old Democratic Party has been left behind.

John R. May, MSG, USA Ret

I do respectfully disagree. President Bush told us after 9-11 that the war was going to be long and tough. He was right.

I believe his leadership has been brilliant under the circumstances. I believe history will judge his leadership to be better than Reagan's or Lincoln's, the two Presidents who faced the most similar challenges.

I believe that this Administration's international and domestic policy has put US is on the best track yet. Now that it is clearly evident that it is working, Democrats and others are falling all over themselves trying to figure out how to upstage President Bush in order to claim some credit for the success. Case in point, Hillary Clinton pushing prolife issues for the President's visit to China and feigning a pro military posture. Another case in point, Congressmen calling for withdrawal from Iraq after their classified briefings tell them that the Administration and the Pentagon have already planned to do just that, without announcing the strategy to the enemy.

It's way too bad that our opposition politicians are so intent on selling out the peace after we win the war in their attempts to regain power and control. We've seen that before and they're trying it again.

Hopefully, enough of our voters are smart enough to figure out the scam.

Cy Huerter

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