Complicit CNN tries to spin Bush's legacy as "mixed bag." Note to CNN: Bush is a failure

[ProSense]

With one year to go, Bush's legacy a mixed bag

By Ed Henry
CNN Washington Bureau

Ed Henry is a CNN White House correspondent.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It's the best of times, it's the worst of times -- a tale of two legacies as President Bush prepares to ring in the final year of his presidency.

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Usually in election years, not much gets done because each side is dug in, but 2008 may be different for one reason: Bush and Democratic leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, each have incentive to come together on at least a few issues, like maybe children's health insurance. Bush needs legacy items, while Pelosi & Co. need some accomplishments to take to voters next November.

Bush noted the year ended on a "high note," with compromises on energy reform and a tax fix for middle- to upper-income families. But he also ripped Democrats for loading up the budget with too many pork-barrel projects and not finishing terrorist surveillance legislation.

The bad news for Bush is that other than the Medicare prescription drug program he signed into law early in his presidency, his domestic legacy is thin. Even his signature education reform law, No Child Left Behind, is under fire with some conservatives and struggling to be reauthorized.

The good news for Bush, however, is that by brandishing his veto pen, he was able to prove this year he still carries a lot of clout. Plus, the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate are very thin.

That's a major reason why Democrats repeatedly failed to change Iraq policy -- and why Bush scored a major victory by getting $70 billion in new war funding with none of the strings Democrats originally wanted to attach.

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So CNN thinks that vetoing SCHIP expansion is good news? That not ending the war is a plus for the country?

Assholes!

Also, isn't there a hell of a lot more bad news for Bush?

Shameless:

our government’s position on rendition, or torture by proxy, or the indefinite imprisonment of children without representation or the right of habeas corpus.

John Kerry on the energy bill:

The president just signed a comprehensive energy bill passed by the Democratic Congress that marks the first significant increase in fuel efficiency standards in 30 years. The bill, which also funds alternative energy research and development, contains key provisions I authored with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) that empower small businesses. We increase low-interest loan amounts available to small firms to provide up-front help with investing in energy efficient technologies. We direct the federal government to reach out to entrepreneurs about the tools and information available to them and create an energy audit program. And we promote incentives for utility companies to establish affordable financing agreements with small businesses that increase their energy efficiency.

A Democratic Revolution? The House Democratic Caucus released this chart touting its legislative accomplishments, as compared to the 1995 “Republican Revolution” led by Time’s then-Man of the Year Newt Gingrich:

Pelosi's first year as House speaker marked by little change on war

Pelosi's first year as House speaker marked by little change on war

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Pelosi's first year

San Francisco Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi made history as the nation's first female House speaker in January, but she's had a bumpy first year marked by successes and failures.
Biggest successes

-- Passed an energy bill raising fuel economy standards for the first time in 30 years, the equivalent today of taking 28 million cars off the road by 2020.

-- Approved a major cut in interest rates on student loans to make college more affordable.

-- Passed the strongest ethics reforms since Watergate, banning gifts from lobbyists and making earmarks more transparent.

-- Secured the largest increase in veterans' benefits in history.

-- Increased the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 over three years.

Biggest failures

-- Despite repeated votes, failed to enact any major changes in Iraq war policy.

-- Tried to expand the state children's health insurance program to cover 4 million more children, but was blocked by President Bush and House Republicans.

-- Sparked a diplomatic fight with Turkey by pushing a resolution condemning the country's mass killing of Armenians during World War I.

-- Abandoned the party's "pay-as-you-go" budget rules to avoid letting the alternative minimum tax hit 20 million Americans.

-- Accepted Bush's spending limits in the end-of-the-year budget fight to avoid shutting down the federal government.

(Emphasis added)

On that last point (spin in Bush's favor), here are the highlights of the budget bill:

Democrats have made our priorities clear; increasing veterans’ health care funding, expanding college aid and funding the fight against terrorism. But President Bush has very different priorities; more and more funding for Iraq but less funding for investments here at home, like our aging infrastructure, officers on the street and medical research.

The FY ’08 Consolidated Appropriations bill illustrates these different priorities and makes important investments here at home. Here are the highlights of the Consolidated Appropriations bill:

For the First Time, the Consolidated Appropriations Bill Fully Funds Veterans Health Care, Boosting Veterans Spending By $3.7 Billion. By including the additional $3.7 billion above the President’s request, Congress has for the first time ever provided funding in line with the Independent Budget, which is authored each year by veterans’ organizations. The Independent Budget lays out a spending blueprint by veterans’ organizations for how to provide adequate resources to care for our nation’s veterans. (Disabled American Veterans Press Release, 12/17/07)

* White House Called Veterans Spending Above the President’s Request “Excessive.” The White House Statement of Administration Policy calls the spending levels in the Senate’s Veterans Affairs appropriations bill (S. 1645) “excessive,” noting that the bill provided $3.6 billion for veterans than the President requested. (Statement of Administration Policy, 9/4/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Invests in Pell Grants and Student Aid. While the President’s budget cuts Pell Grants by $246 million and cuts other student aid programs by $900 million, the consolidated appropriations bill rejects those cuts. Instead, it invests $801 million above the President’s request for Pell Grants, and an additional $900 million above the President’s request for programs like Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Perkins Loans and LEAP, preserving assistance for roughly one million students. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Boosts Medical Research to Find Life-Saving Cures for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Cancer and Heart Disease. The President’s budget cut Medical Research into disease like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart disease at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $480 million. The consolidated appropriations bill rejects those cuts, and instead provides $613 million above his request for this crucial, life-saving research. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

President’s Budget Underfunds Transportation While Consolidated Appropriations Bill Boosts Transportation Funding by $631 Million, Provides Additional $1 Billion to Repair Bridges. The President’s budget shortchanges funding to improve our nation’s highways, providing $631 million less than the level provided in the transportation bill he signed into law just 2 years ago. The consolidated appropriations bill rejects that approach, providing $631 million above his request, to improve and maintain our nation’s aging highway infrastructure, and provides an additional $1 billion above his request to address aging bridges throughout the nation. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Invests in Local Law Enforcement Programs. While the President’s budget cuts the COPS program by 94%, the consolidated appropriations bill rejects that cut, providing $555 million above his request for local law enforcement program. Additionally, the bill would provide $20 million for the “COPS on the Beat” hiring program, a proven program not funded since 2005. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Increases Funding for First Responders. Under the President’s budget, Homeland Security Grants would be cut by $1.1 billion. The consolidated appropriations bill rejects those cuts, by providing $1.8 billion above his request. The additional funding would go to State Grants, including law enforcement ($950 million), Urban Area Grants ($820 million), Transit Grants ($400 million), Emergency Management Performance Grants ($300 million), Fire Grants (including SAFER) ($750 million), Metropolitan Medical Response System ($41 million), Interoperable Communications Grants ($50 million), and Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grants ($35 million). (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Expands Access to Health Care. The President’s budget proposes a $595 million cut to a key agency responsible for improving access to health care (the Health Resources and Services Administration). The consolidated appropriations bill rejects that cut, providing $1.1 billion above the President’s request. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Reduces Dependence on Foreign Oil in a Way that Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Bill rejects the President’s proposed $238 million cut and provides $486 million above his request for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, such as solar energy, biofuels and vehicle technology. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Restores Cuts to Head Start, Ensuring High Quality Preschool Services. The President’s budget cuts Head Start by $100 million. The consolidated appropriations bill rejects that cut, providing $114 million above his request, to help sustain high quality preschool services for children currently enrolled in Head Start. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

Consolidated Appropriations Bill Rejects the President’s Cuts to Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Increasing Funding by $788 Million. Instead of cutting Energy Assistance for low-income families, as proposed by the President’s budget, the consolidate appropriations bill provides $788 million above his request. This increased funding will help two million more low-income families and seniors cope with an anticipated colder winter and a 28 percent increase in home energy prices compared to last year. (House Appropriations Committee, 12/17/07)

The bill completely reversed Bush's cuts to social programs and he's still talking crap: Bush threatens to cancel earmarks: President chastises Democratic leaders in Congress for $15.3 billion in pet projects embedded in spending bill

Bush is full of shit. What we will never know is if he would have had the audacity to veto the spending bill with Iraq funding in it.

Congress (meaning Democrats who voted for the $70 billion) should have called his bluff and sent him a bill without the money.

To hell with Roadblock Republicans.

Worst president ever: Bush beats Nixon’s disapproval ratings (64%, first time in Gallup history 50% strongly disapprove)

[Echo In Light]

1. And the Bush/Cheney regime is "incompetent" at worst, certainly not mass murdering fascists

CNN lies and sucks.

[Beam Me Up]

16. You forgot something,

specifically this: :sarcasm: . Because, they are far worse than "incompetent" as, indeed, they are mass murdering fascists.

[ixion]

2. worst. president. ever.

period.

[ProSense]

5. The media wants you to believe that the Democrats are just as bad:

Democratic agenda + Republican obstructionism = Bush's crimes.

Democrats failed to get some legislation passed = mixed bag for Torturer in Chief.

[ray of light]

14. the problem is that the pain is so strong out here that they thought the dems would

fix it in 06 after winning.

[ProSense]

20. I agree with you on that, but

that doesn't excuse the media trying to spin the worst president ever as a "mixed bag," whatever the hell that means. The Republicans get credit for supporting a failed agenda and blocking bills that help Americans.

As for the Dems, I'm all for focusing on the ones who continually cave on principle, not the ones who continue to promote and vote our ideals.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

3. BEHOLD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WALL STREET DARLING

[nancyr]

4. Mixed bag, my foot.

[SpiralHawk]

6. "Bush is a miserable failure." - Gigadittoes

[DesertRat]

7. Hey CNN, there's nothing "mixed" about this failed presidency! nt

[ProSense]

8. Kick! n/t

[ProSense]

9. Bush's approval rating in CA bay area

28% APPROVAL RATING WITH VOTERS; IT'S EVEN LOWER, AT 17%, IN BAY AREA

Wow, 17%!

CNN, trying desperately to give the worst president in history.

[ProSense]

10. No matter how the media spins it, Republicans know they're in trouble.

Blame Canada - for David Frum

Posted by Paul Mulshine December 23, 2007 5:10PM
Categories: Politics

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People like David Frum, in other words. Frum, who hails from Canada, claims to be conservative. But he is not really a conservative in the traditional American sense. He is instead perhaps the leading proponent of what has come to be known as "neoconservatism." This is the idea that it is the proper role of the government of the United States to bring about "An End to Evil."

That is insane, of course, but it is the actual title of a book Frum wrote back when the neocons had the ear of the impressionable George W. Bush.

Frum was a speechwriter for Bush in the run-up to the disastrous Iraq War, and he claims responsibility for lumping together Iran, Iraq and North Korea into that "Axis of Evil" that needed to be straightened out at the expense of the American taxpayer. The Frum plan called for quickly bumping off Saddam Hussein and setting up a democracy in Iraq. Then it was off to Iran, Syria and anywhere else in the Mideast that could benefit from Beltway guidance.

At the time Frum was having these deep thoughts, the Republican Party seemed to be on the verge of consolidating a grip on power that could last a generation. But thanks largely to the Iraq debacle, the Democrats soon took hold of both houses of Congress. So now the GOP needs a "Comeback."

That is the title of Frum's latest book. It's subtitled "Conservatism That Can Win Again."

Conservatism can indeed win again, but if it does it will triumph over the neoconservatism of Frum and his fellow Canadians, Charles Krauthammer and Mark Steyn. Until I read this book I hadn't really thought about how much American neoconservatism owes to these deep thinkers from Canada. And what it owes is a legacy of absolute disaster. These guys got everything wrong, a fact that can be documented by just one headline from an April 2003 Steyn column: "Just as I said, the war in Iraq will prove to be a cakewalk."

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Republicans know they're in trouble. Dems should aim for another 30 to 40 seats in the House and at least 8 seats in the Senate (10 seats is a dream).

[Echo In Light]

11. The thing is, the shadow govt could place another rightist regime into power, as occurred w/Bush...

And then use the media to spin spin spin the idea that somehow even after the past several yrs the public wasn't ready to give up on right wing "family values," and a large percentage of our populace would eventually suck it up. Just gotta keep drilling the "right" messages into the collective consciousness...

[Zorra]

12. When Bu*h "wins", 99.9999999999999999% of the world loses.

Only super wealthy people that have no conscience benefit from a Bu*h "win".

[ProSense]

13. The media is impressed with Bush's vetoes and Republican obstructionism, but

Repub voters appear confused and disenfranchised. For example, Andrew Sullivan endorsed Ron Paul, who puts earmarks into bills because the people he represents are "asking for some of their money back," but then he votes against them, and who doesn't believe in evolution.

Sad for him, but good for Democrats.

[annabanana]

15. A "mixed bag"??. . Is that, like, a MITIGATED disaster?

An incomplete catastrophe? A near-total debacle?

[Cha]

17. cnn is the enemy. And will be

until someone worthy of their country buys them out.

[EFerrari]

18. Sure it's a mixed bag. Half horse and half sh!t. n/t

[wisteria]

19. Great post and you are right, Bush is a failure. CNN is covering for themselves as well as Bush

when they claim Bush's policies have produced a mixed bag.

[Az_lefty]

21. the most incompitent and criminal regime on the planet...

FU CNN.

[ProSense]

22. Kick! n/t