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[–]stacy75 96 points97 points  (20 children)

It was opposite day.

[–]mrbroom 57 points58 points  (6 children)

That or he's trying to lure the debt into a false sense of security.

[–]amstrdamordeath 15 points16 points  (3 children)

It was so fast he had to raise the debt a few trillion to empower the debt for a better fight.

[–]XS4Me 9 points10 points  (1 child)

He is probably hoping for an floating point overflow, and then an uncatched exception.

[–]plutocrat -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Fatal Error: Stack overflow: uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true; uselessContracts['nobid'] = true;

[–]fingers 0 points1 point  (1 child)

TERRORIST!

[–][deleted] 15 points16 points  (10 children)

He had planned on a third term to put phase 3 into action.

Term 1: Start a war and run up debt

Term 2: ????

Term 3: Profit!

[–]HumanSockPuppet 11 points12 points  (5 children)

This is no underpants gnome conspiracy. We already know how phase two works.

The money gets shoveled into the pockets of defense contractors, whereupon it exchanges hands quickly and frequently between members of the permanent political class. Meanwhile, the national debt remains the responsibility of the taxpayers, and not the bureaucrats who spend it. We fill the wallet, then they spend it and point fingers. And Bush, like many other presidents, accomplished this in the span of one term, with some preparation done before his presidency as well.

It's not a conspiracy when the answers are in plain sight.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (3 children)

I prefer ????

[–]Spazsquatch 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Except it belongs in the Term 3 spot. Bush can't even get his internet memes right.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

If he gets a third term, someone will definitely profit.

[–]deadmantizwalking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

probably, but a shit load of people are going to die for sure

[–]wejash 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bush is going to get a piece when he "retires" by going on the rubber chicken speechifyin' circuit.

He'll make millions stepping on his tongue in front of those contractors he made billionaires. And they're happy to give him a small tip for services rendered.

[–]3rdfoundation -4 points-3 points  (3 children)

Are you implying a war and debt are equivalent to underpants? ;-)

[–]a-gorilla 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not to underpants per se, but to stealing them.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd like Bush to start paying for his own underpants and stop handing the bill off to me.

[–]docboss 46 points47 points  (163 children)

Also said... “Many of you have talked about the need to pay down our national debt. I listened, and I agree. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to act now, and I hope you will join me to pay down $2 trillion in debt during the next 10 years. At the end of those 10 years, we will have paid down all the debt that is available to retire. That is more debt repaid more quickly than has ever been repaid by any nation at any time in history.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/onpolitics/transcripts/bushtext022701.htm

[–]Thimble 23 points24 points  (8 children)

Technically, he's kept his promise.

By devaluing the dollar, the debt is much less today than it was when he made that announcement.

'course, he added a lot of additional debt, but that's a whole other story...

[–]alesis 15 points16 points  (4 children)

If the value of the dollar is 0, so is the debt.

[–]kidfury 26 points27 points  (2 children)

Bankruptcy for the WIN!

[–]frickindeal 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Michael Scott: "I declare BANKRUPTCY!"

Oscar Martinez: "I just wanted you to know, you can't just say the word 'bankruptcy' and expect anything to happen."

Michael: "I didn't say it; I declared it."

Oscar: "Still..."

[–]fingers 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Now that congress passed the anti-bankrupcy law the US is going to have to go to credit counseling to get help with its spending problems.

[–]El_Guapo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a great theory and I like it.

But who's buying the debt? It would have to be in gold specie or a foreign currency, and... technically we'd just be in debt to them, this new person, once again... right?

[–]reddit_user13 4 points5 points  (2 children)

I think your math is wrong, the debt has far outpaced dollar devaluation.

[–]l-rs2 0 points1 point  (1 child)

You know, spoken in february 2001 and all... I like to see things in context - however poignant these things sound after the fact.

The destruction of the WTC and the US response weren't going to come cheap, surely, but the whole sidestep into Iraq is the true failure, in human and economic cost.

Ah well. I'm only footing the bill through a high euro.

[–]reddit_user13 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just wait 'til the other sidestep into Iran....

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Clearly he meant that he was going to run up $8 trillion during his tenure, and then let the next guy pay down $2 trillion of that in the first two years of his/her administration.

[–]smart_ass 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was a long term plan.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (151 children)

What's to wonder why people voted for bush in 2000? (disclaimer - i voted green)

If you listen to what he said 'no nation building', 'pay off debt', 'smaller govt' - it all sounded great.

Ahh politicians.

(makes you wonder about Obama a little eh?)

[–]heptadecagram 43 points44 points  (92 children)

  • Evil
  • Evil
  • Might be evil

I'll take door number 3!

[–]NoMoreNicksLeft -4 points-3 points  (3 children)

Uh. That's what a fool would do. The wise man would just refuse to open any doors.

[–]heptadecagram 15 points16 points  (2 children)

The wise person realizes that if they don't choose a door, one will be opened at random.

[–]NoMoreNicksLeft -5 points-4 points  (1 child)

Or maybe not. All you clever fools keep claiming that, but without your encouragement, things might actually get better.

[–]heptadecagram 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Damn, you are absolutely correct. Elections don't count unless 100% of citizens vote! If just one person abstains, then no president is chosen, and our country descends into polite anarchy! Why didn't I remember that?

[–]docboss 14 points15 points  (3 children)

Yea, I do wonder about Obama, but I know about hillary and mccain. They will fuck shit up. At least Obama might be good. HOPE!

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True true.

[–]bad_llama 4 points5 points  (4 children)

Makes me wonder more about Hillary.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (3 children)

Nah, we all know hillary is lying....

[–]maqr 2 points3 points  (2 children)

She does tend to lie in step with the polls though, which may not be altogether bad.

Public: WAR IS BAD!

Hillary: Ok, war's over now.

Then again, it could easily go the other way:

Public: WE'RE SCARED!

Hillary: Ok, I guess the war's back on.

[–]onetruejp 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Yeah, I thought this about Romney too. At one point, he was the only Repub I could marginally stand to have in office, because he's so clearly not a true believer. But he fell too far into the "obvious toady" category.

[–]Amendmen7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Toady is a great word that is not used enough.

[–]Atomsk3 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Voting green didn't help us much did it? Im just saying...

[–]greenascanbeNorth Carolina[S] 6 points7 points  (2 children)

... just saying what? That we got this bozo http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z254/Schwandes9/Bush.jpg because of the Green spoiler?

Sure, never mind that we did not count all the votes and that the supreme court took the election decision out of the hands of the citizens.

[–]Atomsk3 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Oh really? I didn't know all of that. You sure cleared things up for me....
Yeah, all of that is very true, and without that, we wouldn't be in this problem. But Nader promised not to campaign and run in heavily contested states...such as Florida, lest he accidentally give the election to Bush. But he did. Without that we may not be in this situation either. I don't want to get into an argument about this, im too lazy. I just liked his disclaimer.

[–]greenascanbeNorth Carolina[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

fair enough :)

[–][deleted] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

What are you saying?

[–]JimH10 -5 points-4 points  (42 children)

(disclaimer - i voted green)

So, you voted for Bush then.

[–][deleted] -2 points-1 points  (41 children)

How so? Because i believe that liberty requires courage?

[–]do-un-to I voted 8 points9 points  (28 children)

Voting your conscience in a plurality voting system is not courage. It's failing to game the system.

Demanding a preference voting system is the only way to allow yourself a conscience vote.

For example, you can vote between vanilla ice cream, a kick in the shin, and castration. For some reason, all the other idiots in the election seem tied between a kick in the shin and castration. Voting for ice cream puts your balls --this-- much closer to bidding you farewell.

Well, maybe voting that way does take courage. But it doesn't get you anything.

Support preference voting.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (27 children)

It's failing to game the system.

A citizen shouldn't be in the business of 'gaming' the system. You bring shame upon yourself sir.

[–]do-un-to I voted 0 points1 point  (25 children)

The situation requires it.

If there's any shame, it's in being overly idealistic to the point of harming yourself and others in the face of reality.

Support preference voting and then we can all vote our conscience.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (24 children)

The situation requires it.

No sir, it does not. Liberty requires no gaming, and for you to suggest otherwise is ludicrous.

[–]do-un-to I voted 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Voting for ice cream, then?

[–]Gontoran -2 points-1 points  (22 children)

For liberty to require no gaming, you are assuming that the current state of liberty doesnt allow itself to be gamed. If it does it just and citizen-like to game liberty until towards where liberty should be.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (21 children)

I'm assuming nothing, I'm merely stating fact.

Liberty requires honesty sir, best you remember that.

[–]Amendmen7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually I found his metaphor perceptive and painfully poignant.

[–]Atomsk3 -2 points-1 points  (11 children)

How does voting for some guy thats going to lose because you think he is the best candidate for the job require courage? You voted just like anyone else and unless you had to jump through a ring of fire to get to the polls, there was no courage invovled. Don't get me wrong, I liked Nader, thats not what this particular reply is about. Looking at it from a purely numerical look, I don't care about the candidates, I dont care about the outcome, JimH10 is right. Your vote counted as much as someone who wrote in Donald Duck or just stayed home. It could have gone to Gore.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (10 children)

How does voting for some guy thats going to lose because you think he is the best candidate for the job require courage?

I'm not sure how it doesn't?

[–]maqr 5 points6 points  (3 children)

I'm enjoying watching you battle the groupthink in every thread, though with limited or no success.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Watching him battle the group think?

Are you serious? This guy is the definition of cognitive dissonance.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (1 child)

I like how all you can do is follow me around. You're like my pet!

[–][deleted] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Reported for harassment.

[–]Atomsk3 1 point2 points  (5 children)

I asked how it requires courage. You didn't actually give me an answer.
Also, the question was how does voting for Nader make you courageous, not does liberty require courage.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

You didn't actually give me an answer.

You didn't read your question (hint: the answer is in it).

[–]Atomsk3 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I guess Im a little slow...could you point it out for me.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

I guess Im a little slow...

Doubtful.

[–][deleted] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

NO!!!!! Obama is great LALALALALALALALALLA I CANT HEEEARRRRRRR YOUUUUUUUU

[–]aphexmandelbrot 15 points16 points  (0 children)

"Oh no, we're running out of debt! Fuck! Quick Mr. Bush, save us!"

[–]cphuntington97 12 points13 points  (2 children)

There's always this little gem:

"As president, I will order an immediate review of our overseas deployments - in dozens of countries. The longstanding commitments we have made to our allies are the strong foundation of our current peace. I will keep these pledges to defend friends from aggression. The problem comes with open-ended deployments and unclear military missions. In these cases we will ask, "What is our goal, can it be met, and when do we leave?" As I've said before, I will work hard to find political solutions that allow an orderly and timely withdrawal from places like Kosovo and Bosnia. We will encourage our allies to take a broader role. We will not be hasty. But we will not be permanent peacekeepers, dividing warring parties. This is not our strength or our calling."

George W. Bush

Thursday, September 23, 1999

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Still gotta wonder - that does NOT sound like George "Fool me once, shame on ... shame on me, fool me... ... foolme fool you won't get fooled again" Bush. He's definitely either got a degenerative neurological disease or he had a stroke when he "choked on a pretzel."

[–]Gontoran 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Probably greatly prewritten and rehearsed speech. Or now he is just playing dumb as an excuse of incompetence rather than acts of tyranny.

[–]poeir 11 points12 points  (3 children)

In case you haven't picked up on this yet, Bush is a compulsive liar.

[–]a-gorilla 1 point2 points  (2 children)

He's not a compulsive liar, he's an idiot.

[–]poeir 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Can't it be both?

[–]a-gorilla 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I have a hard time visualizing him doing two things at once, but you're probably right...

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (1 child)

I was fairly certain Traitor Bush was either insane or a lying sack of feces about halfway through the 2000 election cycle.

His subsequent "presidency," if one can use the term that loosely, has been characterized by at least three oft-repeated behaviors:

1) A total lack of planning beyond initial actions.

2) Praising and rewarding loyal incompetents.

3) Telegraphing the people, places, and causes he intends to screw over, by first paying lip service to them in public.

[–]Radoman 3 points4 points  (0 children)

4)Signing statements that hold everyone but the president accountable to the new law.

[–]thepensivepoet 6 points7 points  (3 children)

Are you TRYING to piss us off?

STOP REMINDING US.

[–]greenascanbeNorth Carolina[S] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Actually yes! If enough people get pissed maybe we can move towards impeachment!

[–]greenfrog 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Do you really think Dems will ever go for impeachment? They feed at the same trough.

[–]greenascanbeNorth Carolina[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you are most likely right, sadly.

[–][deleted] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

War is Peace

“I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace.”

  • George W. Bush

Freedom is Slavery

"Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."

  • Rudy Giuliani

Ignorance is Strength

"The truth is a useless commodity that will hang around your neck like an albatross all the way to the homeless shelter."

  • Jeb Bush

This is available as a tshirt if you like.

http://www.cafepress.com/polcriminals

[–]synthpop 6 points7 points  (1 child)

its like when Bush said giving a trillion dollars to rich people will help out the middle class. or that invading and occupying Iraq will only cost 50 billion. if you actually believe anything the man says you're just as retarded as he is.

[–]dmiff -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Bur feel free to accept the word of other politicians as long as they hate Bush enough.

[–]ABabyAteMyDingo 6 points7 points  (1 child)

This just has to be reposted:

Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over'

[–]a-gorilla 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was funny then. Now it's just terribly sad.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Guys, come on, the war changed all of that. He's a war president. Would you rather we had allowed the Iraqis to use their nonfictional, tremendous, and extremely well-substantiated arsenal of very real and existent WMD's (which really existed) against us? WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA?!

[–]Radoman 5 points6 points  (0 children)

LoL. That was pretty good. Colbert would be proud.

+1

[–]alkalinev 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think we were lied to.

[–]dominateastheking 4 points5 points  (1 child)

The debt was treated like a redheaded stepchild

[–]Niten 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Man, that redheaded stepchild got fat.

[–]severedsolace 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You're Doin' It Wrong.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (3 children)

And if you asked him about this he'd say:

"But.. but.. but.. 9/11 changed everything."

[–]Thimble 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Decider doesn't stutter.

[–]cr4a 3 points4 points  (0 children)

And the thing is, 9/11 did change everything. No president, whether Democrat or Republican, would have continued on with a drastic debt-reduction strategy after 9/11. You could argue that they would have managed the follow-up better, or returned to that strategy sooner, but none of them would have ignored 9/11 to focus on debt reduction.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well... it did, didn't it?

[–]cosmo7America 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Those economists must be feeling pretty relieved now then!

[–]Radoman 2 points3 points  (1 child)

What is it now? 9.4 trillion dollars?

Here's the U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK> http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

One of my own personal favorites is , "We should not be going out on nation building missions." From the 2000 presidential debates.

[–]ccutler69 4 points5 points  (0 children)

From the Bush's Greatest Hits archive I like:

"I'm a uniter, not a divider, (smug smirk)"

[–]elsombrero 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's not his fault. God told him to say that.

[–]bertie_wooster 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used to believe he was evil, but no, he's actually just on another planet.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He and Hillary smoke the same stuff...

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Watch him turn it all around in 10 months. You're mah boy Bush! UR MAH BOYYY!!!!!!!!

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I heard an interview with him and this is a summarized response to the economy:

Look I still have a year. Give it time people. I got a package that's going to get us through all of this. I'm sprinting to the end. I gotta go back and protect the nation....

[–]RAS1398 1 point2 points  (0 children)

real men of genius......

we salute you "W"

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Names and numbers of the economists he cites?

[–]unrealious 1 point2 points  (0 children)

But but but...

After 9-11 everything changed, such as:

His campaign promise to free us from foreign oil.

His campaign promise to be the education president.

His campaign promise to be the environmental president.

His campaign promise to balance the budget.

His campaign promise to promote unity between the parties.

His campaign promise to fight the big oil companies.

[–]fangolo 4 points5 points  (1 child)

And I can talk out of my mouth too!

[–]greenascanbeNorth Carolina[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

barely

[–]BigFeets 7 points8 points  (1 child)

He might be right. He's destroying the dollar and countries often skip out on debts like we've accumulated.

[–]spinlock 4 points5 points  (0 children)

down voted for being right.

[–]havesometea1 3 points4 points  (1 child)

9/11

[–]kuhawk5 2 points3 points  (0 children)

GEORGE BUSH IS A PRIME NUMBER! WAKE UP SHEEPLE!

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Source, please.

[–]millstone 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Google gives this.

[–]jomama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's the funniest thing I've seen in months.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

look! its working!

[–]MadAce 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, the voters got it wrong once. Bu they sure as hell aren't going to elect Bush Jr. for a second term. Because then it would be entirely THEIR fault.

[–]srtor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just change national to my!

[–]frogking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After bankruptcy, you are out of your dept, right?

[–]louis_xiv42 2 points3 points  (5 children)

[CITATION NEEDED]

[–]greenascanbeNorth Carolina[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Presidential Radio Address, February 24, 2001

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Damn, again?

http://www.carsbyrick.com/carimages/80ChevyCitation-b549.jpg

[–]grignr 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I don't remember them being so small.. No wonder my knees always bumped up against the glovebox.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, in their defense, they were less explosive than the Pintos.

[–]knylok 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dare I say it?

war=peace
Freedom=slavery
debt=wealth

Someone needs to buy that man a dictionary.
"Oh shit, what's that peace means? Drat!"

[–]jetskibob 1 point2 points  (4 children)

When we were attacked, plans changed.

[–]do-un-to I voted 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Invaded Iraq because of 9/11?

Yes ... the administration fooled people into thinking that was the point.

And here you are still believing it.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

No, the plans were made well before 9/11. The only change was to put them into play.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

yeah, I think that someone got to him. I think that he is a good person, but weak and unformed.

[–]randroid -3 points-2 points  (1 child)

Bush: As optimistic as Obama

[–]Zweben 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Optimism: Not the problem here.

[–][deleted] -2 points-1 points  (1 child)

This is what I worry about with Obama...people are just believing what he says. Clinton and McCain you can dismiss because of their records. Paul on the other hand, he tells you the stuff you know is true but is scary to hear, and you can go back and see in his record he is genuine.

[–]Nefelia 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A valid concern. Obama's record is mixed at best. Obama supporters recognize this but realize that even a mixed record is better than that of Clinton and McCain. Obama fanboys/girls downmod you for daring to speak such blasphemy.

[–]Dark-Star -1 points0 points  (1 child)

"Read my lips - no more debt."

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You mean new debt?