There was as close to full support in the US as there ever has been for military intervention in Afghanistan, and I can't see where any president would have been able to avoid acting. There was broad international support, even in the moderate Islamic world, for dealing with Afghanistan and the Taliban.

As for your comment regarding grounding of all flights after 9/11, that is standard operating procedure. However, that didn't stop Bush from allowing his rich Saudi buddies from flying.

What may surprise you is that many of the presidents critics, myself included, feel that we didn't go nearly far enough in Afghanistan, and therein lies the rub. A couple years later, what I have seen is big talk and very little action. After the initial rout of of the Taliban, we got distracted with Iraq.

The other thing to consider Therese is that many conservatives are very uncomfortable with Bush. The patriot act concerns many, and the fact that he has allowed non-military spending to increase at double the rate under Clinton has earned him low marks across the board with conservatives including the ACU and other prominent groups. In the case of the FCC ownership regulations, a majority of Republicans in the house and senate are opposed to the administration, as are their constituents, yet the Whitehouse and the house leadership won't allow a floor vote.

I've lived under 11 different presidents, and I would rate Bush a 3 on a 1-10 positive scale. That puts him right at the bottom with Nixon.

One more comment Therese. Don't make the mistake of thinking that everyone that disagrees with Bush is a liberal, because most of us are not. You should try to understand more about what liberal really means before using it as a broad label.

oc

Please don't make the mistake that I myself am always pleased with what this or any other administration does. I am not. I disagree with immigration policies, the no child left behind bill is a joke and I don't like the way Scott McClellan handles press conferences. That being said, I do like the way the president has stuck to his positions no matter how unpopular they are. I do resent people calling him a liar and an idiot. There have been others that didn't rank too high on the intelligence scale, but I guess I am old school. I believe you don't have to agree or like him but a little respect goes a long way when it comes to making an argument and whether you are a Dem, Rep, Conservative or a Liberal a president deserves respect.
And no I am not a history major.

...........the layoffs are back in high gear.

Fleet Boston was recently bought by BancAmerca - they announced this week a reduction in workforce of 12,500 - starting this month.

Last week MCI announced 3,000 person reduction.

Microsoft announced another 2,500 layoffs starting next month.


And the one that pulls at the nostalgic in me: Radio Flyer wagons will no longer be made in Chicago,Ill,USA - they are moving production to CHINA.

not too sure about that...the missile defense program first of all lead significantly to the bankrupting of the soviet union, and opened up a new trade partner...second, the technology that comes from it is good for the economy as is the fact that it is developed here...third, a recent nobel prize in economics was awarded for a text on the premise that the country which controls the high ground in technology will be the wealthiest also...

At the very least it is people working for a living and advancing our understanding of science, technology etc. Not a bad thing.

And if you think it can't be built, you place yourself like a 19th century citizen contemplating the impossibility of the television, phone, air travel, automobile, and countless other things we take for granted today but weren't thinkable 100 years ago...beyond that it is in the hands of scientists and experts and those people all pretty much agree it can be built...it is only the stone throwing non technical types who disagree...

The President actually does enjoy significant control over the economy...Bush's tax cuts have provided one of the strongest periods of economic growth in the last 40 years. And he INHERITED a recession caused by Clinton's policies. It began in 1999 when Clinton sent Energy Secretary Richardson to Saudi Arabia to press them to increase oil prices. When oil prices go up, production costs for manufacturers go up and the economy suffers.

Everything is going to be ok. We can all get jobs working at Wal-Mart working ofr minimum wage, or we can join the military and fight for a cause we don't believe in. Thats what being an American is all about, having choices.

-Demosthenes

__________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

HELLO! Here is how it is.

2,200,0000 million jobs lost after 9/11

Now, 1,400,000 million jobs have been created in only 9 months.

That leaves only about 800,000 lost since 9/11. Thats pretty good as its getting lower every month.

The economy is coming back, we see this every month when the job status comes out.
- March: 308,000 jobs created
- April: 288,000 job created
- May: 248,000 jobs created
- June: Can't wait to see!

Also, there has been a record home-ownership in America which means more American are actually owning a house than ever before.
And interest rates are at a 46-year-low.
Oh, and yes, the tax cuts are working.

__________________
"Republicans believe that everyday
is the 4th of July, while the Democrats wish everyday was April 15th" - Ronald Reagan

My friend is right, now it is bashing bush not on the economy but on the war on terror

Yes jobs are being created, but instead of manufacturing, or tech jobs, the most jobs are being created in the serive sector which are low skill, low demand jobs that tend to pay little over minimum wage and don't carry the benfits that peopl had with their previous jobs. While I am worried about the quantity of jobs for the American people, I am equally concerned about the quality of jobs.

-Demosthenes

__________________
"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Here's from another post of mine:

JOBS:
- 1.2 million created so far in 2004 alone
- Job creation up since August 2003 with over 1.9 million created
- I can see a huge surge in June too (we will see in a few days)
- Manufacturing jobs are on the rise

INTEREST RATES:
- Interest rates in 2000 were 6.5%, in 2003-04 down to 1.0%
- The rise of .250% will stimulate the economy and Wall Street loves it
- 1.250% is still a record low of 40 years, while the 1.00% was a 46 year low

PERSONAL INCOME:
- Disposable income increase .6% for a second month
- Wages and salaries increased .7%, the largest gain since January after a gain of .6.% gain

CONSUMERS;
- Consumer spending on the rise with a 1% gain in May which beat expected margins
- This is largest increase since October 2003's 2.4% gain
- Home buying is the highest in history which is a result from low interest rates
- The June Consumer Confidence Index is at a 2-year high

GAS PRICES:
- Gas prices have decreased for 5 straight weeks

CORPORATIONS:
- U.S. corporate profits seen up 25%
- Higher earnings fom high consume spending
- Most IPOs to the NYSE in 5 years

__________________
"Republicans believe that everyday
is the 4th of July, while the Democrats wish everyday was April 15th" - Ronald Reagan