hidden agenda
CF, Merryman, and all,
In some ways GWB has a yeoman task as President. As some of you mentioned in this thread he is dealing with a military one half the size it was 10 years ago, he is wrestling with issues like poorer education, decaying transportation infrastructural, morality issues and now both economic and war issues. It is not his fault he inherited all this stuff. 9/11 would have probably happened regardless who was our leader, elected or 'selected'.
Think about it, a few years ago this country was focused on the stain on the blue dress or a missing intern or shark bites in Florida that were up from previous years. Why? because the economy was so good that jobless rates were almost unheard of, it was peace time economics (not war time economics), and spending in virtually every segment (except military) was way up. Americans can overlook a lot of things if economic times are good. We love good economic peace time eras. Just two years ago the Federal Aviation Administration had decided that we needed more concrete to handle those wanting to travel; air travel (especially discretionary travel) is a real good indicator of economic health. The airports could not handle the planes wanting to fly. Times were good.
Now GWB has to handle domestic problems and foreign war issues. States spent way more money than they bargained for on security stuff and want to get repaid; airlines are hurting, downsizing, parking planes, and looking for customers---all a bad sign for the economy; companies are laying off employees; and now we are spending upwards of $1B (somebody provided that estimate) a day at war that leaves the world (except for a few countries) wondering what we are doing and why we are changing many of our friends into enemys. GWB is certain dealing with a juggling act and a big one at that. For those that think he has special information or inner circle connections that most Americans don't have access to, lets watch. I, like most people, don't agree with everything he does, but for the country I hope he does good. I really do! Because this war is different, for every 50 troops or so there is a reporter. There is both TV and the Internet with 100 different versions of what happened that day in the war. Information flows this time like it never has, (inner circle or not) and is certainly different than with any previous war.