OK, All you Bush-haters. Please explain in detail what you would have done differently...?

Question

If you were the president for the past six years. Pretend that you were Bush and tell everyone how you would have handled the war, the terrorists attacks, everything that you all seem to be so upset with the President about. Put yourself in his shoes. I can't wait to hear some of these tales!!!!

Jason, learn the English language, please. I think you mean "won"???

Added after three answers: I knew you idiots couldn't be specific. Proved my point!

Answer 1

Well, if you honestly are open to the answer.

I would have been shocked and appalled the same way he was after 9/11 and I would have gone after Osama and taken out the Taliban the same way he did for harboring a fugitive.

I too would have created an organization for all intelligence departments etc. but I would not have called it the dept of homeland security bringing language that sounds like the 3rd reich - probably the Intelligence and Security Organization Agency (ISOA).

I would have done more to support the UN so that it was the UN that enforced it's resolutions, not just us. I would not have taken us into Iraq with the minimal of world support we got on what was clearly wrong information (I know, you will say hindsight, but NOPE, there is proof the info was questionable even at the time.)

Had I for some reason I cannot fathom gone into Iraq "alone" I would not have declared victory until we had it. I would not have second guessed my generals and would have committed the resources necessary to protect my soldiers.

I would not worry about amending the constitution for gay marriage, there are far too greater issues facing the totality of the country. That is an issue for states to decide (14th amendment).

I would have gotten on the Senate and their wussy border / immigration bill and made it clear we don't even talk about worker programs or amnesty until the borders are secure (especially since we are concerned with terrorists coming over.)

Yes, I would have made mistakes, but I think the most important thing is that I would have admitted to them and not given anyone the idea that I or my administration is above the law. I would not have tolerated an inference of favoritism toward any industry or inference of illegality anywhere near my administration. I also would not have given jobs to my buddies, but rather those that were qualified. (that would have helped Katrina victims a tad better.)

You are right, he has done some good, but you asked the question and that is my answer. (like you really wanted it).

Answer 2

I like this question and will happily read the answers, but I find it hard to give an accurate answer because of not knowing the information that President Bush was presented with at the time, but here goes....

After 9/11, I think the intial reaction was solid. I would have done the same thing, and maybe had some sort of special commission besides the 9/11 panel to look at things. I still would have gone into Afghanistan and prusued the Taliban.

Iraq I would likely have handled a bit differently, because I would have felt it more important to establish a multi-national coalition, like Bush the elder did in 91. The intelligence we had should have been shared in some way, if for no other reason than to get additional confirmation. We know now that the confirmation would not have been found, or if it had come from some other nation, we may have had more support so we would not be so alone in the current situation.

I don't think Bush did anything drastically wrong in his handling of foreign affairs, other than not stressing international cooperation like his dad did, but I do not support him because of his educational and environmental stance. In addition, I do not see where he spent a lot of money on border security back in 2001 and 2002. I think the political climate then would have backed him with far less cost than today, and I think at heart it is necessary due to the ease with which people enter our country.

Answer 3

Perhaps I'm hasty in my assessment of the situation, but I might have tried to find out what provoked them to attack us in the first place. I clearly remember that in one of the videos sent out by Bin Laden that he stated that we could avoid future attacks from his and other such organizations if we withdrew. We didn't so now another 2500+ of our service men and women have died. And it's not like we know why they attacked. Bush says they are terrorists, the majority of the American public for some silly reason still believes that lie. Experience shows that very few attacks are unprovoked (most of the ones that appear that way, are usually found to be a case of revenge being best served cold). So again, I would probably invite Bin Laden to a sit down, ask him what we did to piss him and his crew off to the point they wanna take shots at a superpower (which is looking much less super than usual), and see if some sort of accord could be reached. The reason I despise Bush, other than the horrible state of the economy, is because he is the embodiment of inept leadership. He is a hypocrite, a coward, and worst of all, he plays to the fears of the American People in an attempt to win support for his agenda which has little if anything to do with the best interests of the American People.

Answer 4

First of all is it a terrorists attack or government conspiracy? If it is real terrorists attack I will be going after Bin Laden rather than diverting our attention and attack Iraq, which has nothing to do with that guy. Give more fund to the school rather than cutting the scholarships and government aids down. Put the funds that goes to Iraq into repaying our debt. Education is a long-term investment. Iraq war is a waste of money. What do we get in return from the war of Iraq? Everyone hates us now, and we are losing man, money, and time. Is this what we want? And where is the freedom in Iraq? We abuse the prisoners and we are committing a crime. We fight for their freedom and we take it away. What is the point of the war?

Answer 5

firstly, i wouldn't have instituted paul wolfowitz's defense stratagies, America is not meant to be the global police force.

Secondly, i would not give weapons contracts to companies with representatives in my cabinet.

Thirdly, i would not invade any sovereign state without UN approval, no matter how much i disliked them.

And lastly, i would never spend more on reforming a foreign country than i did on my own welfare system.


thats just a few of things i wouldn't have done.
then theres the things i Would have done.

instituted stringent global emissions standards while putting significant funding into the research of sustainable alternative fuels.

Begun a program of small scale loans to the globes subsistence farmers, similar to the cow banks set up by independent citizens, but on a larger scale.

Entered into vigourous public debate about why so many people seem to dislike us and what we can do to reduce our negative press overseas. This would eventually have lead to the question being asked, why do the terrorists hate us? and, what have we done to anger them? and ultimately, what can we do to ease tensions?

I would have increased tax on the super wealthy and companies, and used the extra revenue to create better schooling and welfare systems. thereby ensuring the long term viability of employment prospects for our youth, our role as a global leader and ultimately our economic prosperity.


These measures and more would be aimed at creating a long term future for our country and the planet, averting the economic and social disaster that looms 50 years down the track.


this is just a sample of what i would have done, had i been president, or even american.

Answer 6

Well the first thing right off the bat that I would have done differently, I would not have discontinued the PAY AS YOU GO system that Clinton implemented to balance, and keep balanced our budget.

As far as terrorism and the war, that would take a book but in summary: I would have followed UN's advice; therefore, as the UN advised at the time, I would have stepped up the level of sanctions and demands for more cooporation with inspectors.

I definitely would not have gone into Iraq unilaterally, against UN approval. If he had just bided his time awhile and not been so quick to jump, who knows maybe in time the UN would have decided it was a good idea. At that point, most of the world would have been with us.

I sometimes think, because it was widely known he knew before he even took it to the UN that they weren't ready for such an aggressive move against Iraq, that Bush wanted to invade Iraq alone in order for him to be able to control their oil without the world seeing.

Anyways, that's just a couple things.

Oh yeah and I would not have invaded Afgan.. but rather I would have accepted their offer (that for some reason most ppl weren't aware of. The Taliban offerred to hand over B. Laden before we ever sat one foot into Afgan.. with one stipulation: they wanted to hand him over to a nuetral country so that he would be given a fair trial. Bush declined and chose to attack Afgan. instead.

Answer 7

I would have read the Presidential Daily Brief that the presidents get every morning. Bush never did (because people close to him say he can't read worth a damn).
On the cover in huge letters it would have said BIN LADIN DETERMINED TO STRIKE U.S. The following paragraphs would have said that he was going to use airliners to do it and soon.
I would have listened to Richard Clark a world expert in counter-terrorism when he said to Bush "Bin Ladin will use airliners to hit U.S targets within a year".
If the attacks still happened I would have done something stupid. I would have actually gone after Bin Ladin. Bush said in a comment he maid to a national newspaper " I don't care about Bin Ladin. He doesn't even cross my mind. I don't think about it anymore ".
And I sure as hell wouldn't be telling Lie's to the public saying "forget Osama, Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, lets get him instead"
I would also have had denied any of our port security going to any country involved in terrorism. It would have went to a U.S company.
Bush on the other hand wanted to hand over port security to countries with known ties to terrorism. But hey, one nuclear blast won't hurt us will it.
I would have rejected forming a North American Union.
I would not have cut research into alternative energy sources by 80%. (I guess Bush didn't want to piss off his oil buddies)
I would not have cut $200 million dollars from workforce training programs for dislocated workers.
I would not have cut 200 million from the childcare program which helps poor children.

Answer 8

Well, for one, I certainly never would have gone to war in Iraq based on faulty intelligence, outright lies, omissions, and shaky presumptions.

I would have funded No Child Left Behind.

I wouldn't have cut funding for the troops during a war and I would have given them body armor.

I would have gone to war in Afghanistan because that is where Osama bin Laden was and where the terrorist base was. And I would have fought there until that was finished and then looked to other places, like Iraq.

I would have paid more attention to North Korea and Iran from the beginning.

I wouldn't have picked Dick Cheney and every other big shot from my father's administration to be in mine.

That's all I can think of right now.

Answer 9

It's hard to answer in hindsight of what we already know, but looking back to how I felt at the time. I'd say after 9/11 I would've hit Osama full throttle and used our forces to get him not the Northern Alliance. I know for sure I wouldn't have went to Iraq cause I remember yelling at the TV when they were always talking about it before the war. Pretty sure we'd of gotten Osama with a 150,000 troops though. After we got him and rid the Taliban I wouldn't do much differant than what's being done now in Afghanstan. I guess it doesn't really matter though cause your only asking this to disagree anyways, I don't even know why I waste my time anymore..

Answer 10

There would have been no war with Iraq. I would have concentrated on Asama and went after him no matter where he is. Iran, Pakistan it wouldn't matter. I wouldn't have given tax cuts to the very rich and run up such a huge debt. I would not have cut programs for the poor. I would push for a minimum wage increase. So many things that I haven't got time to get them all, but I am sure that you will get them in others answers. The point is that Bush sucks. He should be in jail for his crimes and instead you back him. It would be a joy to see him dragged out of the white house in handcuffs and leg irons and taken to the Hague for trial.