I don't think Bush cares about public opinion

[charlyvi]

I used to think Social Security privatization was dead because public opinion was so against it; then it occurred to me that shrub doesn't care. He will push his agenda through no matter what the public wants, no matter how unpopular his "solution" is. He will do this simply to say he can; Reagan couldn't do it, nor could Nixon or shrub's own father, but he can.

Then I started thinking about all his "programs" and how harmful they are to our country--the Clean Air Act, Healthy Forest Initiative, the Bankruptcy Bill, tax cuts, not to mention the worst political blunder of his career--the War in Iraq. He simply does not care about this country. Runaway deficits, world opinion, the rapidly disappearing middle class; George Bush is saying "fuck you" to this nation simply because he thinks he can. And he's been getting away with it brilliantly.

He has some Messianic pathology that excludes any reality other than his own desires. I truly believe that he wants to go down in history as the giant that forced America to become a nation based on his own image--a scary thought. God help us all if he is allowed to succeed.

[FreedomAngel82]

1. Of course not

He doesn't give a damn about what we say. If he did he wouldn't have had his convention in NYC, he wouldn't have gone to Iraq and he wouldn't be doing Social Security. Instead he'd be working on education, enviornment and health care for us all. All he cares about is getting his friends richer.

[charlyvi]

8. I don't think he even cares that much about them.

It's just that HE'S in the income class he's helping. It all comes back to his idea of himself.

[gratuitous]

2. He definitely doesn't care about public opinion

But his Republican colleagues, who are going to be running for re-election in 2006, sure as the world care about public opinion! And they'll jettison Chimpy but quick if they perceive that he's hurting their chances.

[charlyvi]

10. That's my best hope.

But he's shown an uncanny ability to get people to vote on his programs. I don't know if it's the repub noise machine or what, but I'm amazed at how many reps in Congress go along with him.

[dave123williams]

3. What was your first clue?

[atommom]

4. You hit the nail on the head. Our only hope is that the other

Repubs decide they don't want to be blamed for his legacy.

[callous taoboy]

5. I think of the parallels between NCLB and Iraq:

Toss a poorly made plan, a hand grenade if you will, into the middle of a dire situation and then sit back and crow about how great the plan is, lie about how wide the successes are. It is truly sick that this country hasn't revolted by now.

[charlyvi]

11. That's what I mean.

He's like Rasputin, keeping what would seem to be sensible people in his thrall. It's crazy, as crazy as shrub.

[Protagoras]

6. I think you're right.

I think we've reached a point where polls don't matter. Bush and his cronies don't give a rats ass if we like what they do....they recognize that some things still require them to go thru the motions and produce a bit of political theater but they've figured something important out.

If you drag it out long enough, and just keep dunning away...the public will lose interest and you can do whatever you want.

We don't DEMAND things happen...we whine about it. We're this way in all aspects of our lives now.

At work we sit in our cubes (well I used to) and complain about the boss...low wages, disrespectful treatment, unrealistic deadlines...and if we really can't take it we MIGHT quit...thinking we can't be replaced (but we can be and are). We never unionize. We never really shut the plant down anymore.

We complain about our children getting substandard educations, but then we skip the pta meetings and won't vote to fund education bonds because that would cut into our SUV gas budget.

We roll our eyes over how bad movies have become, but we still rent the crap and watch it while eating our Dominos Pizza.

We've been pacified. As long as we remain passive in action, they don't give a damn what we think. In fact, they're probably happy we spend most of our energy blowing off steam in most of the ways we do.

It lets them work without distraction.

[charlyvi]

14. We've taken our democracy for granted.

That's for sure; thought it would always be there without any caretaking by us. Look where that kind of thinking got us.

[JRob]

27. This country hypnotized

into pursuing an “idea” of success and popularity which is represented through TV, movies and advertising, textured by government sensors. God forbid you should stray for the prescribed path, decide for yourself what important.

We (most of the country) are so focused on personal ego pacification that they can't see the destruction of the very system that provides for their self indulgency.

Of course there are the others who are so focused on survival that they are completely unengaged or fall prey to unscrupulous groups and organizations.

[charlyvi]

28. Yep

Especially the "the harder life is now, the greater the reward in heaven" people. That way of thinking is effective for the wealthy to keep the poor under their thumb, and gives hope to the poor of a better life after death. It's sad, really.

[tridim]

7. He doesn't care about anything

Except his money and his friends money. Other than that, I doubt he even knows what day it is, let alone what the American people want.

[charlyvi]

12. I don't think he REALLY cares about his friends.

The first nanosecond his friend's interest part from his own, they're toast.

[anarchy1999]

9. Well, welcome to our club. Many of us have know the shrub doesn't give

a shit for a long time. Welcome to our world. Get used to it.

It is called the BFEE, and we are in dark times.

on edit:

Have some fun, just go buy lots of tin foil and paper your home with it. Keep many bottles of water on hand and forget about the "duct tape and plastic", it's useless. Just be prepared.

Buy all the gold you can.

[charlyvi]

15. I've known shrub was evil since 2000

that's why I've never voted for him; but I did think he listened to public opinion--even if the opinions were from the worst in society. It's just occurred to me, though, that public opinion--ANYONE's opinoin--is irrelevant to his own messianic master plan. It's to be used to reach the brass ring--implementation of of his own tunnel vision facelift of this country. And he is delusional enough to think he can do it. That's what really worries me.

edited by me

[jojo54]

13. You're right, he doesn't care.

He doesn't care about anyone but himself and his pals. This is so very evident every time I look at http://www.sorryeverybody.com/. All these people and many, many more are actually apologizing to the rest of the world for letting this insane egomaniac back into office, and thinking to themselves "OMG, what have we done?"

[hfojvt]

16. "Public opinion - Taylor made"

That was the line from "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" after the presses owned by Mr. Taylor worked to smear Mr. Smith.
The RNM makes public opinion, they do not follow it. And they work for the Cornelius Vanderbilts of the world, as he is quoted "the public be damned."

[charlyvi]

19. Let Them Eat Cake

The cake being Faux News, CNN, the 700 Club, etc. Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

But, Marie Antoinette was executed and Rome exists to this day--could our country be so blind as to let this destructive bullshit go on for much longer? I hope not.

[anarchy1999]

17. Dubya is nothing but a poppit for poppy. That is it, that is all!

Quit giving the pos credit for what he does not deserve. Poppy is running this show, don't you know?

[JRob]

18. He's doing what he was put in office to do...

Create a environment within which BIG MONEY can solidify control over everything! Most of all through limiting access to real freedom while limiting the liability of BM to the very people they employ and or market to...

Oligarchy

[charlyvi]

20. I know big money is reaping rewards from this

administration--it's in shrub's best interest for them to do so. It's shrub's political philosphy--total corporatism, free markets rule all, social darwinism. I understand that; but, bush is not doing this so much to please his masters because he has none. He is doing it BECAUSE HE CAN. He wants to outdo FDR--he wants to go in the history books as the one who totally changed the American nation. Not to reward his backers, that's icing on the cake, but to satisfy his insatiable need to dominate and control. To bush, this country is like a wrestling opponent he has to grind down and force to submit to his will.

[Stirk]

21. Can you blame him? Have you seen his fans?

He sees nothing but pre-screened audiences, you know. If I were Bush, and I'd been assaulting common sense non-stop for 5 years, only to be greeted with continued worship from doe-eyed sycophants... you know, I'd have no respect for the public either.

Seriously- George Bush Jr. is a stupid man in every way but one; he knows how to motivate people by appealing to hatred, fear, and greed. That's what he sees. How could a man with that kind of outlook possibly respect public opinion?

[charlyvi]

22. I can blame him for the destructive

policy he has put in place. But, you're right; he has no one to tell him the truth, not that it would matter. He reads nothing, has no one to give him an opposing viewpoint--he actually believes he is always right. That's not human. That goes along with what I'm saying; this country doesn't exist for him other than as a vehicle to play out his own messianic fantasy.

[Stirk]

23. I agree- and I think his actions clearly mark him as a man who

actually has disdain for the general public. When he has to sell something, he instinctively appeals to fear, hatred, and greed. The most base parts of the human psyche.

[Dulcinea]

24. Why should he care?

He doesn't have to worry about re-election.

He doesn't care about his place in history; he'll be dead.

History will not be kind to him, though.

[charlyvi]

25. I agree that he doesn't have to worry about

relection--that has made the situation worse. But I do think he cares about his place in history. He wants to change this country in a fundamental way. I don't think he cares whether he will be condemned or praised by history, just as long as he is known as the most effective (good or bad).

[ktowntennesseedem]

26. The only "public opinion" he's told about is behind him 100%

He only has to listen to the loyalty-oath-signing, kool-aide-drinking, Dubya-hung-the-moon morans, and probably has no idea that there is as much opposition as there is. He thinks he is winning hearts and minds everywhere, and any "rumors" of negative poll numbers must be the fabrications of a liberally-biased media.

[charlyvi]

29. True.

But I think even if he believed the numbers, he would be arrogant and angry (how dare they not like me!) enough to doggedly pursue his crazy agenda even more. He MUST win. It's some pathology inside himself, nothing to do with "public opinion". Makes you wonder what hell he gives any advisors (I use the term loosely) who don't agree with him. Wait a minute--they get fired. Duh.

[loritooker]

30. I think you've hit it. His entire world is heavily filtered.

He doesn't read newspapers. Or books. Only Fox news is allowed on tv in the White House. He has instructed his staff to only tell him what he wants to hear. And they are happy to oblige. I doubt he knows his social security crowds are hand picked. He has no idea how badly Iraq is going. He's the boy who just sticks his ears in his fingers and hums. Of course on some level he "knows", but those around him are in charge of keeping him in a complete fantasy world that reflects his ideal America. I think its that bad. Our pResident lives in a world that only exists in his mind. He's batsh*t crazy.

[charlyvi]

31. LOL

I agree. Wouldn't it be wonderful if he actuallyhad a townhall meeting without it being screened for supporters. This is a fantasy of mine where he is acually faced with dissent and goes totally batshit crazy for the world to see. A complete, total meltdown, leaving him babbling in a corner sucking his thumb. No way, of course, that this will ever happen. Sigh.