Billings Gazette opinion: Bush hasn't earned 2nd term in office

[Ediacara]

The Gazette endorsed Bush in 2000

Gazette opinion: Bush hasn't earned 2nd term in office

As election day approaches, Americans are asking "are we safer?" Many of us don't feel safer.

President Bush had the whole world on his side after 9/11. He squandered that goodwill and undermined U.S. credibility with his Iraq policy. After his initial strong response in Afghanistan, he turned his focus to Iraq. Osama bin Laden remains at large. The president failed to adequately plan a U.S. exit from Iraq as demonstrated by the ongoing deadly insurgency.

One of the most troubling aspects of Bush's leadership style is his view that "if you're not with us, you're against us." The right to dissent is a basic guarantee of our democracy. Americans should exercise their right to criticize the government and work for positive change.

More at the Billings Gazette

Ok, so this is more of a laundry list of Bush's fuck-ups than a resounding endorsement of Kerry, but it's good news nonetheless!

[DemFromMem]

1. Ooh, another switch from Bush in 2000 to Kerry in 04

That's several just tonight...

[flygal]

2. OMG - I thought they were totally Rep..

That's a shocker! One I'm happily sending on to my Repug relatives. They'll be clinging a little harder to their guns Nov. 2 - that's the only reason they vote Repug. I keep telling them we won't take their guns away....pinky swear and everything..

[Skittles]

3. He didn't earn his first term either

nt

[saigon68]

5. YOU ARE RIGHT

He was "selected" by Scalia and 5 other idiots.

[goforit]

10. And they thought Bush was the Dumb one........not.

[GoSolar]

8. Yep

So true.

[Dudley_DUright]

4. Billings as in Montana?

Outstanding! Probably won't help win the state for Kerry, but could increase his popular vote totals a little toward nationwide popular vote win (as well as EC win).

[Ediacara]

7. yes, Billings Montana :-)

Montana's bluer than most people think :-)

I've looked through all the other Montana dailies, and the Gazette is so far, the only one to give a presidential endorsement. I know the Great Falls Tribune endorsed Gore in 2000, and this morning endorsed the Brian Schweitzer (dem) for governor, so I suspect they'll endorse Kerry, although one would think they'd endorse today... Editor and Publisher doesn't list the 2000 endorsements of the Missoulian, Helena Independent-Record, Butte Montana Standard, or Bozeman Chronicle, so maybe they didn't endorse anyone, and won't endorse anyone this year...

[Nimrod]

6. I'm near Missoula

If our state stays red, it won't be by terribly much. I think part of our problem is we have a Republican Assembly here mucking everything up, otherwise I honestly think we'd have a good chance of turning blue this year. Beware these people.

I think it's fine if people aren't impressed with Kerry, as long as they're impressed by * even less. Normally I'm against the "lesser of two evils attitude", but when dealing with evil incarnate like * it's a whole different story.

[goforit]

9. Isn't there a ton of Christian righters and Orthodox Catholics there?

Missouri has been known to produce some wackey people.

Ken Lay
Rush Limbaugh
John Ashcroft
Oklahoma City Bombers

[Nimrod]

11. Missoula, not Missouri

City in Montana.