Bush Has Failed Again and Again

By: Greg Colburn

I agree in part with Raymond Cleary. George W. Bush has accomplished quite a lot in a mere two years. He squandered the largest budget surplus on a tax cut for the super rich. He let energy trading companies pillage and plunder California residents for $40 billion. Ken Lay and the other Enron thieves still aren't behind bars.

The economy is entering its third year of recession. The stock market imploded, decimating young and old investors alike.

Gas prices are skyrocketing. Unemployment is the highest it's been in a decade.

And then there's national security. Our country suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history under Bush's watch. Nearly 3,000 Americans died on Sept. 11. Bush said he would bring accountability back to government. For all that tough talk, he still hasn't fired anyone for the numerous intelligence failures that occurred prior to Sept. 11.

Dick Cheney was the head of a terrorism task force that never met. As National Security director, Condoleeza Rice is supposed to synthesize data from various intelligence agencies to protect the vital interests of this country. That she didn't do, obviously. Attorney General John Ashcroft was taking chartered flights in July because he received warnings about possible attacks using commercial airlines. It would've been nice if he shared those warnings with the American public.

And using the full force of the United States government, Bush still hasn't captured Osama bin Laden, the terrorist leader behind Sept. 11.

To distract the American public from his administration's numerous failures, Bush wants to start an unnecessary war with Iraq - a country that had nothing to do with the Sept. 11 attacks. Meanwhile Afghanistan - the last country we invaded - is a land beset by chaos and violence and run by warlords.

So where Mr. Cleary sees success, I see utter failure.