I gots a question . . . .

[MrFun]

all these Americans who are angrily protesting what they perceive to the direction our country is heading in over the issue of health care reform - where were all these angry protesters when the Bush administration dramatically increased the power of the government through extraordinary wire-tapping, searching of property, torture of detainees, and so on?

And another question. Why do so many of these protesters throw around words like "communism," "socialism," and other words when they apparently do not even know what these words mean?

[SlowwHand]

You assume a lot.

[MrFun]

What assumptions are you talking about? I'm asking questions because rather than assume, I want some answers.

[Zkribbler]

You need to remember how the right wing works. It has think tanks under the control of Karl Rove, Grover Norquist and their minions that produce each day's "talking points." These talking points are given to the right-wing talk shows and posted on right-wing website and are broadcasts by Sean Hannity and the other commentators on Fox News.

The touchstone of these "think tanks" are, first, short-term corporate profits and, second, gathering power to the Republican leadership Their tactics usually revolve around speading smears and fears. They do not trying and engage in a reasoned discussion of the facts but instead engage solely in mud slinging and fear mongering.

When Bush, Delaney, etc. were in charge, the right saw the increase in government power as a good thing.

Now that government power might be used for the health and welfare of the average citizen, it is suddenly a very bad thing. And providing health care to citizens might cut into corporate profits.

So the right wing as launched an all-out attack, flinging around buzz words like "socialist" and "communist" without any attention being paid to the meaning of those words. The right is just trying to panic people into once again working against their own self interest.

[MrFun]

When Bush, Delaney, etc. were in charge, the right saw the increase in government power as a good thing.

Now that government power might be used for the health and welfare of the average citizen, it is suddenly a very bad thing. And providing health care to citizens might cut into corporate profits.

Yeah, that's what I've been thinking too. More powerful government for American world domination and corporate excesses are acceptable to conservative voters. But not when a more effective, pro-active government could mean helping the less fortunate American citizens.

But I'm giving conservatives here on Apolyton a chance to provide another explanation for why conservative voters accepted more government power under Bush, but not now under Obama.

[Wiglaf]

increased the power of the government through extraordinary wire-tapping, searching of property, torture of detainees, and so on?

I know this might be hard to understand for someone who wears golden tighty whiteys and prances around in traffic screaming about equality while I'm trying to get to work, but all those things expanded government control over like 20 ugly hairy detainees over the course of about 7 years. Obama, with his large black penis, wants to take over a third of the economy overnight.

[Ben Kenobi]

I don't get the question. There were plenty of anti-bush rallies.

If you mean, where were these people, well that's just the thing.

Back in the Bush days, they had 5 percent unemployment, real income was increasing each year. The stock market increased to it's highest point. Consumer confidence was high. These people were happy with the direction of the country and they believed they were well off under the leadership of Bush.

Now, with unemployment doubled, taxes increasing, and the general economic malaise, they attribute the shift to the change in leadership.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Back in the Bush days, they had 5 percent unemployment, real income was increasing each year. The stock market increased to it's highest point. Consumer confidence was high. These people were happy with the direction of the country and they believed they were well off under the leadership of Bush.

You do realize that 2008 was "the Bush days" right?

[SlowwHand]

All he realizes is that he's getting signatures for Lincoln to run again.
Do you want to tell him? I will, if you won't.

[Zkribbler]

Now, with unemployment doubled,

...under Bush

taxes increasing,

i.e. Bush tax breaks for the uber rich are expiring under their sunset provisions

and the general economic malaise,

i.e. the Bush Depression

they attribute the shift to the change in leadership.

i.e. a shift from demand-side economics which gave the middle-class their highest standard of living ever to supply-side economics, which stiffled the middle class and marginalized the poorer classes, while making millionaires richer.

[ricketyclik]

You need to remember how the right wing works. It has think tanks under the control of Karl Rove, Grover Norquist and their minions that produce each day's "talking points." These talking points are given to the right-wing talk shows and posted on right-wing website and are broadcasts by Sean Hannity and the other commentators on Fox News.

The touchstone of these "think tanks" are, first, short-term corporate profits and, second, gathering power to the Republican leadership Their tactics usually revolve around speading smears and fears. They do not trying and engage in a reasoned discussion of the facts but instead engage solely in mud slinging and fear mongering.

When Bush, Delaney, etc. were in charge, the right saw the increase in government power as a good thing.

Now that government power might be used for the health and welfare of the average citizen, it is suddenly a very bad thing. And providing health care to citizens might cut into corporate profits.

So the right wing as launched an all-out attack, flinging around buzz words like "socialist" and "communist" without any attention being paid to the meaning of those words. The right is just trying to panic people into once again working against their own self interest.

Hear hear.

[Ben Kenobi]

You do realize that 2008 was "the Bush days" right?

From these people's perspective, they attribute 2008 to the democrap leadership in congress.

[Ben Kenobi]

...under Bush

Again, you asked, I'm answering. They don't attribute what happened at the end of his term to the policies of Bush, especially not the crummy stimulus bill that was passed. They quite well remember how 'Obama' demanded such intervention. They see Bush as a lame duck, as none of what was on his agenda was passed in 2008.

i.e. Bush tax breaks for the uber rich are expiring under their sunset provisions

Not just for the rich, for everyone. People see it as a policy that helped them considerably and was an engine for economic growth. I'm curious, do you label everyone who made more than 30k a year, as the 'rich'? They see the partisan Obama hacks as not only stripping the good things of the Bush administration, but also doubling down on the bad things.

i.e. the Bush Depression

You mean the Obama depression.

i.e. a shift from demand-side economics which gave the middle-class their highest standard of living ever to supply-side economics, which stiffled the middle class and marginalized the poorer classes, while making millionaires richer.

No, they realise how insane it was for people to complain that an economy, under Bush, with 4.5 percent unemployment, was the 'worst economy ever.'

Why do I never see anyone on Poly acknowledge this simple fact? You are very quick to recount what happened in the last days of his administration, but do not look at the other 7 years of prosperity that he brought america.

[MrFun]

[MrFun]

My apologies for getting conservative members on here tongue-tied with the question in the OP.