Bush, 12/22/05: “It’s been a good year for the American people.”
Reality
Hurricane Katrina
The sheer physical size of Katrina caused devastation far from the eye of the hurricane; it was possibly the largest hurricane of its strength ever recorded, but estimating the size of storms from before the 1960s (the pre-satellite era) is difficult to impossible. On August 29, its storm surge breached the levee system that protected New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. Most of the city was subsequently flooded mainly by water from the lake. Heavy damage was also inflicted onto the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, making Katrina the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States and the deadliest since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane.
The official combined (direct and indirect) death toll now stands at 1,383, the fourth or fifth highest in U.S. history (behind the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928, the 1893 Sea Islands Hurricane, and possibly the 1893 Chenier Caminanda Hurricane). As of December 20, 2005, more than 4 thousand others remain unaccounted for, so the death toll may still grow. [2] As of November 22, 2005, 1,300 of those missing were either in heavily-damaged areas or were disabled and “feared dead”; if all 1,300 of these were to be confirmed dead, Katrina would surpass the Okeechobee Hurricane and become the second-deadliest in US history and deadliest in over a century. [3]
Not to mention 2,161 deaths of U.S. forces in Iraq.
But hey, if you’re a rich white guy and especially if your name is George W. Bush, 2005 was kick ass.
(not to mention our closest allies being bombed by terrorists)
“white guy” … more proof Oliver hates whites.
Quick question: does the fact that Drudge has this headline:
‘IT’S BEEN A GOOD YEAR FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’
meant to be ironic, considering it is accompanied by a picture of our President looking worse than Don Imus?
Once you’ve lost Drudge, you’ve lost the American people.
Yes, Ian, I hate white people. You believe all other kinds of bullshit, what’s one more piece?
Oliver, when he says “It’s been a good year for the American people” he’s speaking AS A WHOLE.
By your rationale, the American people have NEVER had a good year.
Oliver, you said a good year for a “rich white man” .. gee I wonder what George Soros would think of that comment!
Anyways by the “rich white” comment, I am guessing you’re implying that it was “poor blacks” who suffered because of Katrina .. too bad there were just as many whites as blacks that were killed.
Oliver, you hate white people, everytime you mention the big old bad white man or the word racist, it’s always about white folks.
Jay, Ian, Dugger and other fellow conservatives,
I had a great year! How about you guys?
oh really ?conservatives ..you call yourselves ..really !self centered schmucks jes’ like your president …glad you had a great year boys ,,remember it ! ..’cause if you aren’t millionaires …of the caucasian persuasion ..ie the donor class of either of the branches of the party …it’s been a less than swell year …
and there’s no brain surgery involved in comprehending that… okay ?for the country as a whole tho’2005 will be like ice cream and cake compared to what it looks like we got coming along ….in 2006 …and you ‘conservatives ‘just keep making sure your candidates HUG BUSH ! yeah back to back with shrub all the way you guys! remember how ‘great’ this year was …next year about this time !
It’s been a good year, indeed. The Chicago White Sox finally won the World Series, and the American people have finally started to sour on the Republicans in Washington. Hopefully 2006 will bring more of the same.
If nothing bad happened to sam, Jay, Ian, Dugger, or any of the other Republicans that troll Oliver’s comments, then yes, it’s been a good year. It’s utterly self-evident to them, so don’t try to tell them any different.
Jay: was 2001 a good year? Any year where thousands of Americans are killed and a major American city is practically nuked is not a good year. It’s not like that kind of thing happens all the time.
Anything to excuse George Bush. Anything.
That’s right, I hate the white man. I give up. I just can’t have rational conversations with people as dumb as Ian Schwartz.
You know what has made this, in my eyes, another bad year more than anything else?
This country, yes as a WHOLE, grows poorer. I hope and hope and HOPE that a Democrat wins the next election because only THEN will we finally get an increase in the minimum wage. The last one came in 1997.
I realize that many states have set it higher than the $5.15 but many states, including one not too far from the beltway – West Virginia – have decided not to. Think for a moment: how much does someone working full time, every day for a year make if they’re earning $5.15/hour? $10,712.00 Less than $1,000 per month. How can we even let that go on in our country in good conscience. And if you want to tell me that it doesn’t, you can go shove that sideways into a place that good taste will not allow me to name on this board. Think of it this way, if you were making minimum wage and it took you just one two gallons of gas to get to work each day, you were working for almost two hours before you were actually making any money for yourself each day (consider the taxes, too).
Soon it will be NINE YEARS since we’ve raised the minimum wage in this country. Our trade deficits loom larger each year. We ship jobs and even Defense Dept contracts overseas. We open our borders to more workers and more free trade all the time. When will we look inward and take better care of our own workers?
“That s right, I hate the white man. I give up. I just can t have rational conversations with people as dumb as Ian Schwartz.”
O’Dub, I never asked you to admit your hatred for whitey but any rational person can see you’re not fond of white people.
Re the Bush situation:
The thing is you [Oliver] look at every situation as a negative. Sure, Katrina was bad but what do you want the President to say? Do you really want him to get on camera and act all depressed and say how terrible things are, well then he would be a liberal.
I’m no Bush apologist, but please don’t accuse others when you are a huge Democratic apologist. Whenever anything is compared to what a Democrat has done, you cry foul.
Yes you are. You totally are. Can’t you at least be that honest?
Oliver, was 1993 a good year? 1995? 1996? 1998? 1999? 2000?
WTC bombing, Oklahoma City bombing, Khobar Towers bombing, Hurricane Fran, embassy bombings, Hurricane Floyd, Cole bombing. Hundreds dead. Hundreds more wounded.
Those must have been bad years right?
Do you ever stop to consider you freaking stupid you come off sometimes?
I’m a conservative, and I’m having a pretty good year. I live in Hawaii, I have a great job, with 401k & health benefits, the house I bought last year is worth 40% more than I paid for it. Got a new HDTV last month for my birthday, ordered a new laptop last week (Christmas present). And just when you think it can’t get any better, Howard Dean gives a speech somewhere calling the folks he wants to change their vote to “D” a bunch of idiots, or he makes fun of their religion. Yep, the world just gets better with every passing day if you’re a conservative.
Some advice to other conservatives on this thread: When your poolside and you order a gin rickey, make your servant squeeze in the lime juice while you watch. That way you can make sure he isn’t using the cheap canned stuff & pocketing the price difference.
I always use you as a yardstick, Jay, so by comparison I’m always ahead. I now know that a year where people drown by the hundreds in a major American city is a great year when the president is Republican.
And yes, Ian you idiot who can’t understand blatant satire, it’s clear that the fires of anti-white hatred burn strong in my soul.
Oliver,
I am not sure whether or not this was a “good” or a “bad” year for the American people, and I am not sure what factors we should take into consideration. Katrina was a terrible tragedy, but I am not sure that we can put the entirety of the blame on the Federal Government. I think that the State and Local governments jacked that one up pretty good as well. As far as the deaths in combat, unfortunately that is something that we must accept at this point. The focus should be on how we move now to more effectively stabilize the region so we can get the hell out of there. I apologize for not having all of the slick keyboard skills of a professional web pundit, but I think like a Soldier. HOW and WHY we got there is irrelevant to me at this point, I’ll let the smart guys argue about that one. My focus is on getting the job done in Iraq as soon as possible, and shoring up the border and the security in Afghanistan as quickly as possible. As a soon-to-be Company Commander, and yet again a candidate to go to Afghanistan in the Spring I wholeheartedly admit that I have tunnel vision. I do like your blog, and I am a registered Democrat, but the reactionary antics of my party sometimes make me ashamed. Despite all of the cries about the blurred vision and oversight of the Republican Party, it seems that some of the alternatives we give, (on the few instances that they are even offered), seem to be quite myopic in comparison as well.
I am by no means a Conservative, but I do say that talking about “rich white guys” in such a careless manner is self-defeating. If the world is all about wealth and lack of melanin, then why should anyone try to better themselves. You are much too intelligent to go down that road. By all means blog away, express your dissent, but to start bleating about how “The Man” has us down is really perplexing.
There are a lot of things that deserve attention, I’m not a conspiracy theorist by any means, but I find some of the things that have gone on in the Federal government to be questionable, and as Americans we have a right to question our government. We do not, however, have the right to exaggerate, spread hysteria, and go hippie every time things do not pan out the way we want them. The Republicans are whipping out tails now because they are organized and they seldom denigrate one another. Think about that the next time you talk about “Hanoi Joe”. What was that all about anyway, once we can get attached to the idea that to be a Democrat you don’t have to accuse everyone of being racist, try to make a case that all Republicans are hell spawn, and attempt to put daisies into the barrels of M-16’s the Party will be in much better shape.
it’s a great year for oiligarchy ! tax breaks HUGE profits more tax breaks ..a compliant press ‘preparing’consumers for the gouging that took place during and after Katrina and Rita ….just as they have prepared us for ‘rolling blackouts’ due to ‘energy shortages’this winter ….and this morning looking at a headline …that funding for heating oil assistance programs was slashed in the darkness of night …ah that christmas spirit ! magical insn’t it ?
sam,
Great, thanks. Lets count our blessings. We’re all rich Republicans. Myself, I am THE MAN. Bush elected two terms. Republican Congress. New Republican supreme court justice, the Democrats who might be able to win a national election are out of favor in their own party, Howard ‘can’t win’ Dean (say no more, say no more), Perp Walk’s double naught babe is posing in her PJs for national mags, we’re now able to spy on left wing hippies, and Operation ‘Trojan Hillary’ is proceeding as planned.
Yes, indeed, it was a very good year.
Dugger, Look Upon Me Ye Mighty and Despair for I am “The Man”
What do you guys care if Oliver *does* hate whites? It doesn’t make your comments any more incisive or intelligent. Nor does it make Dubya any smarter. He is a rich white guy. No person of color, no matter how rich, with his lack of insight would make it past your local city council.
Oliver, did all 2,161 die THIS year?
I don’t know, GDP growing faster than it has in years, unemployment down compared to last year, FREE elections in Iraq with decreasing numbers of american troops over there, MOVEON continues to step on their own cranks by doing TV ads using foreign troops in place of americans (thereby removing hundreds of thousands of dollars from their coffers), USC back in the #1 slot, tax rate down but the government income is up……
All in all, pretty good year I would opine….
Dkelsmith – Unfortunately, rational thinking and insight such as that which you routinely display is amongst the minority within your party. Were more people to share your thoughts and means of communication, the Democratic party would be in excellent shape and would most likely start winning elections again, and quickly.
Once again, thank you for your service. If you make it to Afghanistan, look up my little brother in Kandahar. Keep your head down, and your spirit up.
As far as the deaths in combat, unfortunately that is something that we must accept at this point.
Yes, indeed. But can anyone tell me why there is so little being said
about the archetypal post-election goings-on in Iraq. The Wingers
are curiously silent as the head-bandages of democracy continue to
unravel.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/21/AR2005122102056.html
Oh, and Merry Xmas to you all.
I’m sorry Oliver, I meant white Republicans and I guess black Republican too because apparently [according to you] they are traitors to their race. Speaking of which, I will be having a fun time this Saturday in the Gov’s box at Fedex Field with your favorite man, Michael Steele.
Dkelsmith said:
Amen. Thank you for your service and have a wonderful Christmas.
“No person of color, no matter how rich, with his lack of insight would make it past your local city council. ”
Tell that to John Street. He’s ten times dumber than Dubya, and a hundred times more racist, and he was elected twice as mayor of the fifth biggest city in the country, largely because of racist voters who are dumber than he is.
And also, Oliver, this year was a very good year for me and I’m not gonna apologize for it.
I got engaged, bought a house, saw the birth of my first nephew, and watched my parents buy their dream retirement home in Arizona.
If you’re life, Oliver, isn’t going the way you’d like it, then stop working for a pathological liar at some sham Soros front organization and get a real job.
Dkelsmith,
What JD said! You are a true gentleman and it’s always a pleasure to read your rational and thoughtful posts. Thank you and may God bless you and keep you safe as you serve our country.
I will be having a fun time this Saturday in the Gov s box at Fedex Field with your favorite man, Michael Steele
Heh.
Whilst the stat about the death list in Iraq passing 2000 is noteworthy, the stat on how many soldiers have been crippled in Iraq is probably a lot higher. I’m also wondering about what sort of help (or recompense) these guys who may have lost a leg or an eye get for the job they have done? Any help? What about the spouses of service personnel enduring hardship because of service in Iraq or because of their death or injury?
you know Oliver I do’nt know if the American people will get the message and send these guys packing,start with the house and senate in 06. On this Katrina mess up the guy was not even good as a horse judge,you do’nt put someone like that in control of an operation of this size and importance. I heard on the news wire that there are homes(mobile)just sitting down there with noone in them? But mark my words they will try to stear America through this season leading up to 06 elections,maybe more will get in trouble like ole DeLay did?
And that Bill Frist,I would almost move to Tennesee just to vote against that idiot. But they will use the media to thier advantage I just hope America has woke up during this majority and change for the better.