Bush: Love him or hate him
Those seeking a heated debate need only mention the name "George Bush." America is divided in its feelings about the man in power over these United States, and the division is strong – love or hate, with few in-betweens.
Full Story Bush: Love him or hate him
Kathie Marchlewski , The Midland Daily News 08/03/2003
Those seeking a heated debate need only mention the name "George Bush." America is divided in its feelings about the man in power over these United States, and the division is strong – love or hate, with few in-betweens. Michiganders are just about evenly split on how the Texan is handling the U.S. economy. A Detroit News poll last week showed 48 percent approve and 47 percent disapprove of the tactics he expects will bolster the nation’s financial situation.
The Daily News wanted to see what Midlanders thought, and asked readers to comment on Bush’s performance in economic matters and the war on terrorism. It also asked if readers plan to vote for his re-election in 2004. E-mails and notes, 154 of them collected this week, show that Midland’s confidence in the leader may be dwindling. There were 94 votes of criticism and 60 of support, 61 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Comments were filled with high praise, strong dislike or intense fear.
Some believe Bush is a strong and noble leader. He’s the best man for the job, they say, and will go down in history as the world’s greatest. But more who answered the poll think otherwise. Some used four-letter words. They question his intelligence, worry about a grim economic future and fear the damage he may be inflicting on global relations. Even some lifelong Republicans are disappointed with Bush’s job performance and say they disagree with tax cuts the country can’t afford in this time of turmoil.Midland Daily News informal poll of readers on President Bush’s handling of the war on terrorism and the U.S. economy
Approve: 60
Disapprove: 94Midland County votes in the 2000 presidential election
Straight Republican ticket: 9,403
Straight Democratic ticket: 5,598 Votes for George W. Bush: 21,887
Votes for Al Gore: 15,959Popular vote, 2000 election, nationwide
Votes for Al Gore: 48,612,539
Votes for George W. Bush: 48,382,678
Excerpts from responses
We can count our blessings that George W. Bush, a man of high character and leadership, is in the White House. He's a Christian and trying to conduct the business of this country and abroad by the Lord's leading.
Robbin Pangborn \
Aw shucks, how can anybody think that Bush isn’t the best president we’ve ever had? George and his rich friends know what they are doing. Ignore those 100-plus economists and Nobel Prize winners who are saying that the country will be bankrupt in 10 years and we will lose our Medicare and Social Security. All those hard-working multimillionaires deserve their huge tax cut. I got my $400 rebate George promised. I just wish it could cover the wife’s high-priced medicine and little Sam’s $2,000 tuition increase. When they get rid of my overtime pay, I can always get a second job to make ends meet. There are lots of jobs out there, right? Well, all this thinking and ignoring is making me tired and nervous. Guess it’s time to watch wrestling or "American Idol."
Dale Penprase
Here are two votes of STRONGLY DISAPPROVE of Bush's handling of the war and the economy. If George were to donate all the money he raises for his re-election to the U.S. Treasury, we'd change our vote to neutral.....
Mark and Dorothy Shaw
War – Stongly Disapprove. Bush/Cheney should be ashamed of everything they have done with this "war." They have lied to the world about the weapons of mass destruction, they have lied to the Americans about the reasons and costs of going to war, and have repeatedly lied to the poor troops themselves.
Economy – Strongly Disapprove. "Trickle down" doesn't work and never will. This is a case of the rich getting richer AND the government becoming more powerful.
Bush is the most UN-AMERICAN president we have ever had!
Michele DeVoe Lussky
A smaller tax cut with some of the funds going to the states would have made sense. The Bush plan is somewhat offset by cuts in spending at the state level.
Cal Hoerneman
STRONGLY APPROVE of President Bush's actions. (Aside: I shudder to think about what Mr. Gore would have done.)
The American people are a bunch of hypocrites. They want miracles from a man they pay $200,000 a year, but accept mediocre performance from their sports heroes, whom they pay $2,000,000 plus ...
Robert Welser
I have recently read that criticism divides the strength of the one being criticized. As a people, we need all the strong leadership President Bush has and then some. Let's get behind our chosen leader. Let's pray for President Bush, for his family, his wisdom, discernment and the tough decisions. This seems to be God’s man for this time and place!
Carl and Carol Shafer
We cannot cram democracy down everyone's throat. Other cultures do not seem to be able to function in a democracy. We don't have such an easy time of it either. We have our own problems "enforcing" democracy.
With all the debt being produced with a sluggish economy, the war and other government spending there should never be a tax refund. Yes, I like the money in my pocket as much as anyone else, but we have the greater obligation to get and keep our country out of debt. When a country’s debt is owed to its citizens, it is the citizens who also end up paying for it. The taxpayers lose both ways.
Lee Walkowski
The economy is in a mess. The tax cuts were unwarranted and ill advised. We were just beginning to emerge a little from unconscionable (Reagan) debt and the economy was flourishing. And now where are we? Back with floundering economy and deficits even larger than Reagan’s. Bush’s wars have put him in over his head and he doesn’t even realize it! And in addition to all that, Bush is beholden to the religious right with disastrous results.
The Bush administration is an utter, unmitigated disaster. The sooner we can get rid of it, the better.
Peter and Patricia Dreyfuss
much more