Bush's Top Ten Flip-Flops

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Announcing the invasion of Iraq on March 19, 2003, Mr. Bush said, “Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.”

Two months into the war, on May 29, 2003, Mr. Bush said weapons of mass destruction had been found.

“We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories,” Mr. Bush told Polish television. “For those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong, we found them."

On Sept. 9, 2004, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Bush said: “I recognize we didn't find the stockpiles [of weapons] we all thought were there.”

Nation Building and the War in Iraq

During the 2000 campaign, George W. Bush argued against nation building and foreign military entanglements. In the second presidential debate, he said: "I'm not so sure the role of the United States is to go around the world and say, 'This is the way it's got to be.'"

The United States is currently involved in nation building in Iraq on a scale unseen since the years immediately following World War II.

During the 2000 election, Mr. Bush called for U.S. troops to be withdrawn from the NATO peacekeeping mission in the Balkans. His administration now cites such missions as an example of how America must "stay the course."

Iraq and the Sept. 11 Attacks

In a press conference in September 2002, six months before the invasion of Iraq, President Bush said, “you can't distinguish between al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror... they're both equally as bad, and equally as evil, and equally as destructive.”

In September of 2004, Mr. Bush said: “We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September 11th." Though he added that “there's no question that Saddam Hussein had al Qaeda ties,” the statement seemingly belied earlier assertions that Saddam and al Qaeda were “equally bad.”

The Sept. 11 commission found there was no evidence Saddam was linked to the 9/11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

The Sept. 11 Commission

President Bush initially opposed the creation of an independent commission to investigate the Sept. 11 attacks. In May 2002, he said, “Since it deals with such sensitive information, in my judgment, it's best for the ongoing war against terror that the investigation be done in the intelligence committee.”

Bowing to pressure from victims' families, Mr. Bush reversed his position. The following September, he backed an independent investigation.

Free Trade

During the 2000 presidential election, Mr. Bush championed free trade. Then, eyeing campaign concerns that allowed him to win West Virginia, he imposed 30 percent tariffs on foreign steel products from Europe and other nations in March 2002.

Twenty-one months later, Mr. Bush changed his mind and rescinded the steel tariffs. Choosing to stand on social issues instead of tariffs in steel country – Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia – the Bush campaign decided it could afford to upset the steel industry rather than further estrange old alliances.

Homeland Security Department

President Bush initially opposed creating a new Department of Homeland Security. He wanted Tom Ridge, now the secretary of Homeland Security, to remain an adviser.

Mr. Bush reversed himself and backed the largest expansion of the federal government since the creation of the Defense Department in 1949.

Same-Sex Marriage

During the 2000 campaign, Mr. Bush said he was against federal intervention regarding the issue of same-sex marriage. In an interview with CNN's Larry King, he said, states "can do what they want to do" on the issue. Vice President Cheney took the same stance.

Four years later, this past February, Mr. Bush announced his support for an amendment to the Constitution that defines marriage as being exclusively between men and women. The amendment would forbid states from doing "what they want to do" on same-sex marriage.

Citing recent decisions by “activist judges” in states like Massachusetts, Mr. Bush defended his reversal. Critics point out that well before the 2000 presidential race, a judge in Hawaii ruled in December 1996 that there was no compelling reason for withholding marriage from same-sex couples.

Winning the War on Terror

"I don't think you can win it," Mr. Bush said of the war on terror in August. In an interview on NBC's "Today" show, he said, “I think you can create conditions so that . . . those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world."

Before the month closed, Mr. Bush reversed himself at the American Legion national convention in Nashville. He said: "We meet today in a time of war for our country, a war we did not start yet one that we will win." He later added, “we are winning, and we will win."

Campaign Finance Reform

President Bush was initially against the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. He opposed any soft-money limits on individuals to national parties.

But Mr. Bush later signed McCain-Feingold into law. The law, named for Senate sponsors John McCain, R-Ariz., and Russell Feingold, D-Wis., barred both national parties from collecting soft money from individuals.

During the 2000 race, Mr. Bush showed support for the so-called 527 groups’ right to air advertising.

In March 2000, he told CBS News' "Face the Nation," "There have been ads, independent expenditures, that are saying bad things about me. I don't particularly care when they do, but that's what freedom of speech is all about.”

In late August of this year, in an effort to distance himself from controversial anti-Kerry ads by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Mr. Bush reversed his position, announcing he would join McCain in legal action to stop these "shadowy" organizations.

Though it would close the Swift Boat group's funding, court action would also silence well-funded liberal 527 organizations like MoveOn.org and America Coming Together.

Gas Prices

Mr. Bush was critical of Al Gore in the 2000 campaign for being part of “the administration that's been in charge” while the “price of gasoline has gone steadily upward.” In December 1999, in the first Republican primary debate, Mr. Bush said President Clinton “must jawbone OPEC members to lower prices.”

As gas topped a record level of $50 a barrel this week, Mr. Bush has shown no propensity to personally pressure, or “jawbone,” Mideast oil producers to increase output.

A spokesman for the president reportedly said in March that Mr. Bush will not personally lobby oil cartel leaders to change their minds.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/28/...ain646142.shtml

[GaryC 7]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

[Ban Hammer 14,396]

ah here we go again

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I notice that Steve's favourite source seems to be "SEE B.S."--which proved just that with the forged memo news in 2004!

[I'm Gone 60]

I would still vote for him over Gore or Kerry.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I would still vote for him over Gore or Kerry.

Can't--he's ineligible, having been a two-termer.

[Alex+R 0]

I'd like to see someone actually refute these points. Explain why they aren't flip flops. Seriously. Someone must have opinions other than what the propaganda machine tells you to think, right? Americans aren't ACTUALLY as stupid as they bank on us being, right?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

Hopefully you can see how pointless it is to use such labels against politicians you don't like, simply because you don't like them. Find me a politician who has never 'flip-flopped', Gary. It's nothing but meaningless political rhetoric and anyone can come up with a list like that for.... Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr....etc.

p.s. criticism with substance on Bush = a hit piece... but making broad assumptions and judgments about the character of a former presidential candidate who's not even running during election time is called, what?

Edited November 1, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[GaryC 7]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

Hopefully you can see how pointless it is to use such labels against politicians you don't like, simply because you don't like them. Find me a politician who has never 'flip-flopped', Gary. It's nothing but meaningless political rhetoric and anyone can come up with a list like that for.... Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr....etc.

Ummm, we were not talking about Kerry's flip-flops, although Kerry acts as though he invented them, we were talking about his bashing the troops. That has been proven beyond doubt. Your pretty good with changing the subject I see. Maybe you should run as the next Dem canditate for prez!

[Alex+R 0]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

Hopefully you can see how pointless it is to use such labels against politicians you don't like, simply because you don't like them. Find me a politician who has never 'flip-flopped', Gary. It's nothing but meaningless political rhetoric and anyone can come up with a list like that for.... Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr....etc.

This is what confuses me most. There are virtually zero politicians actually standing up for us. They WORK for us in theory, and we have to make them do it. Why would anyone blindly defend the actions of any politician? Why would anyone refuse to be critical of the president? Do they honestly think they can identify with him? That they are alike in some way?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

Hopefully you can see how pointless it is to use such labels against politicians you don't like, simply because you don't like them. Find me a politician who has never 'flip-flopped', Gary. It's nothing but meaningless political rhetoric and anyone can come up with a list like that for.... Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr....etc.

Ummm, we were not talking about Kerry's flip-flops, although Kerry acts as though he invented them, we were talking about his bashing the troops. That has been proven beyond doubt. Your pretty good with changing the subject I see. Maybe you should run as the next Dem canditate for prez!

Can't, ineligible--spouse (if any) of presidential and VP candidates must also be citizens (which won't happen in S&J's case till 2010).

This is what confuses me most. There are virtually zero politicians actually standing up for us. They WORK for us in theory, and we have to make them do it. Why would anyone blindly defend the actions of any politician? Why would anyone refuse to be critical of the president? Do they honestly think they can identify with him? That they are alike in some way?

Oh, no-one's refusing to criticise the president--it's that S&J refuse to criticise anyone else until goaded!

Edited November 1, 2006 by CherryXS

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

Hopefully you can see how pointless it is to use such labels against politicians you don't like, simply because you don't like them. Find me a politician who has never 'flip-flopped', Gary. It's nothing but meaningless political rhetoric and anyone can come up with a list like that for.... Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr....etc.

This is what confuses me most. There are virtually zero politicians actually standing up for us. They WORK for us in theory, and we have to make them do it. Why would anyone blindly defend the actions of any politician? Why would anyone refuse to be critical of the president? Do they honestly think they can identify with him? That they are alike in some way?

Team spirit? ...actually even those who are behind a team they like are able to point out the team's deficiencies and errors.

[Alex+R 0]

Team spirit?

Apparently...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

Hopefully you can see how pointless it is to use such labels against politicians you don't like, simply because you don't like them. Find me a politician who has never 'flip-flopped', Gary. It's nothing but meaningless political rhetoric and anyone can come up with a list like that for.... Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr....etc.

Ummm, we were not talking about Kerry's flip-flops, although Kerry acts as though he invented them, we were talking about his bashing the troops. That has been proven beyond doubt. Your pretty good with changing the subject I see. Maybe you should run as the next Dem canditate for prez!

Following your logic ...wouldn't it be bashing the troops (soldier) by questioning the military integrity of a decorated war veteran? When is bashing not bashing, Gary? You can't have it both ways. It seems that you legitimize criticism aimed at people such as Kerry because you don't agree with him politically, but dismiss criticism aimed at Bush's handling of the Iraq War as bashing the troops. Ahd it's not just Kerry, it's Murtha, McCain...etc.

....

A group funded by the biggest Republican campaign donor in Texas began running an attack ad Aug. 5 in which former Swift Boat veterans claim Kerry lied to get one of his two decorations for bravery and two of his three purple hearts.

But the veterans who accuse Kerry are contradicted by Kerry's former crewmen, and by Navy records.

One of the accusers says he was on another boat "a few yards" away during the incident which won Kerry the Bronze Star, but the former Army lieutenant whom Kerry plucked from the water that day backs Kerry's account. In an Aug. 10 opinion piece in the conservative Wall Street Journal , Rassmann (a Republican himself) wrote that the ad was "launched by people without decency" who are "lying" and "should hang their heads in shame."

And on Aug. 19, Navy records came to light also contradicting the accusers. One of the veterans who says Kerry wasn't under fire was himself awarded a Bronze Star for aiding others "in the face of enemy fire" during the same incident.

From the ad...

SBVT Ad "Any Questions?"

John Edwards: "If you have any questions about what John Kerry is made of, just spend 3 minutes with the men who served with him."

(On screen: Here's what those men this of John Kerry)

Al French: I served with John Kerry.

Bob Elder : I served with John Kerry.

George Elliott: John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam.

Al French: He is lying about his record.

Louis Letson: I know John Kerry is lying about his first Purple Heart because I treated him for that injury.

Van O'Dell: John Kerry lied to get his bronze star...I know, I was there, I saw what happened.

Jack Chenoweth: His account of what happened and what actually happened are the difference between night and day.

Admiral Hoffman: John Kerry has not been honest.

Adrian Lonsdale: And he lacks the capacity to lead.

Larry Thurlow: When he chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry.

Bob Elder: John Kerry is no war hero.

Grant Hibbard: He betrayed all his shipmates...he lied before the Senate.

Shelton White: John Kerry betrayed the men and women he served with in Vietnam.

Joe Ponder: He dishonored his country...he most certainly did.

Bob Hildreth: I served with John Kerry...

Bob Hildreth (off camera) : John Kerry cannot be trusted.

http://www.factcheck.org/article231.html

[GaryC 7]

I see you lost the argument about Kerry so to make youself feel better you posted another Bush hit peace. You feel better now?

Hopefully you can see how pointless it is to use such labels against politicians you don't like, simply because you don't like them. Find me a politician who has never 'flip-flopped', Gary. It's nothing but meaningless political rhetoric and anyone can come up with a list like that for.... Clinton, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr....etc.

Ummm, we were not talking about Kerry's flip-flops, although Kerry acts as though he invented them, we were talking about his bashing the troops. That has been proven beyond doubt. Your pretty good with changing the subject I see. Maybe you should run as the next Dem canditate for prez!

Following your logic ...wouldn't it be bashing the troops (soldier) by questioning the military integrity of a decorated war veteran? When is bashing not bashing, Gary? You can't have it both ways. It seems that you legitimize criticism aimed at people such as Kerry because you don't agree with him politically, but dismiss criticism aimed at Bush's handling of the Iraq War as bashing the troops. Ahd it's not just Kerry, it's Murtha, McCain...etc.

....

A group funded by the biggest Republican campaign donor in Texas began running an attack ad Aug. 5 in which former Swift Boat veterans claim Kerry lied to get one of his two decorations for bravery and two of his three purple hearts.

But the veterans who accuse Kerry are contradicted by Kerry's former crewmen, and by Navy records.

One of the accusers says he was on another boat "a few yards" away during the incident which won Kerry the Bronze Star, but the former Army lieutenant whom Kerry plucked from the water that day backs Kerry's account. In an Aug. 10 opinion piece in the conservative Wall Street Journal , Rassmann (a Republican himself) wrote that the ad was "launched by people without decency" who are "lying" and "should hang their heads in shame."

And on Aug. 19, Navy records came to light also contradicting the accusers. One of the veterans who says Kerry wasn't under fire was himself awarded a Bronze Star for aiding others "in the face of enemy fire" during the same incident.

From the ad...

SBVT Ad "Any Questions?"

John Edwards: "If you have any questions about what John Kerry is made of, just spend 3 minutes with the men who served with him."

(On screen: Here's what those men this of John Kerry)

Al French: I served with John Kerry.

Bob Elder : I served with John Kerry.

George Elliott: John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam.

Al French: He is lying about his record.

Louis Letson: I know John Kerry is lying about his first Purple Heart because I treated him for that injury.

Van O'Dell: John Kerry lied to get his bronze star...I know, I was there, I saw what happened.

Jack Chenoweth: His account of what happened and what actually happened are the difference between night and day.

Admiral Hoffman: John Kerry has not been honest.

Adrian Lonsdale: And he lacks the capacity to lead.

Larry Thurlow: When he chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry.

Bob Elder: John Kerry is no war hero.

Grant Hibbard: He betrayed all his shipmates...he lied before the Senate.

Shelton White: John Kerry betrayed the men and women he served with in Vietnam.

Joe Ponder: He dishonored his country...he most certainly did.

Bob Hildreth: I served with John Kerry...

Bob Hildreth (off camera) : John Kerry cannot be trusted.

http://www.factcheck.org/article231.html

Your talking about 2 different things. One is Kerry's lying about his record and the other is about his bashing of the troops. Your changing the subject again!!!!