How has George W. Bush affected your life?

[obtheatre]

It has been nearly eight years since George W. Bush took office and in that time much has changed across the American landscape. How has your life changed since George W. Bush became President? Have you been directly affected by the tragedies of 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina? Have you or a loved one served in Iraq or Afghanistan? Has the housing foreclosure crisis hit too close to your home? How are you coping with $4 a gallon gasoline and rising food costs? How are you surviving?
How is your America 2008 different from your America 2001? Are you better or worse off? Do you blame/credit the President?

We are small theater outside of Pittsburgh, PA, assembling stories from real people to tell the story of where America is today. These stories will be worked into monologues to be presented as an evening of live political theater.

We are looking for your TRUE personal story – a one to two page monologue of how your life has been affected or changed by the past eight years under the Bush administration – told in the first person. And we are not just interested in the negative – if your situation has improved or you have been changed for the better, we’d like to hear those stories as well.

Be bold, be brave, be honest. Let your voice be heard. Although there is no monetary compensation for chosen monologues, authors will be credited in the program (i.e. John Smith of Tulsa, OK) and a copy of the program will be mailed to them.

Send to [e-mail]. No attachemnts, please. Deadline is August 15, 2008. Thank you for your submission. If we choose to use your story, you will be notified by August 31, 2008. Help spread the word and please pass this along to any friends who may be interested in telling their story.

[Nickster]

1. Submitted!

[Mme. Defarge]

2. On the morning of December 9, 2000,

it was a Saturday, I was listening to a cable news station and heard the announcement that the U.S. Supreme Court had voted to stop the Florida recount. I screamed "NO!!!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs and started crying hysterically. I'm not, by nature, a screamer, and was shocked at my own reaction. But I knew. I KNEW that our democracy and our country would never be the same. When Gore conceded the election a few days later, I physically collapsed -- I was still suffering from a very sore throat as a result of the assault on my vocal cords -- and missed the next two days of work.

My apprehension about the new administration was so great that a month or so after the election I predicted to a friend that there would be some kind of event early on that would lead to a curtailment of our civil liberties -- perhaps even provide a rationale for declaring martial law. Oddly enough, during the days following 911, I was totally unwilling to entertain the thought that it was anything other than an attack on our country by a foreign enemy. It was only months later, while reading an article about the Bush family's connection to the Saudi royal, family that I began to start trying to connect the dots.

How has all of this affected me? Physically not at all, since my throat condition cleared up. But emotionally and spiritually? My heart is broken. After the stolen election of 2000, I stopped exercising. Several years later it occurred to me that I had actually been in a low-grade depression since December 2000.

Now, I live life on a day-to-day basis going through the motions of work and domesticity. I still enjoy relationships and little recreations. But I am alway mindful of horrific damage that my country has perpetrated upon the people of Iraq, as well as the subversion of the rule of law here at home. We are now torturers. And I won't travel outside of the U.S. unless and until we have a new leader who can restore our government "of the people, by the people and for the people", as well as our honor in the eyes of the world.

Thanks for asking, and keep us posted.

[Name removed]

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[lk9550]

16. Ouch

I could understand, though.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[NorthCarolina]

3. As a gay man in a long term committed relationship......

well, I guess I don't need to say more than that now do I?

[Name removed]

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[davidnc76]

4. From wiretapping

To a tanking economy. George Bush is one of the worst presidents, EVER!

[Name removed]

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[Karl_Bonner_1982]

5. I've witnessed the birth of a genuine progressive movement

Today we finally have all the facts on our side, and all we need now is to get our arses in there so we can implement the change we want.

[Name removed]

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[Hellataz]

6. Almost made me ashamed of being an american

Almost made me ashamed of being an american...Almost, but just in the sense that the world sees us all now as a joke, we voted this tool in not once but twice based on staged terror alerts and paranoia, i feel embarrassed for our country and how Bush has handled things, I actually felt more scared while he was in office then before because his efforts create more enemies for us.

I don't know if i can give one or two pages, but this is how i feel, and normally i can be quiet wordy but after 8 years what is left too say about how one ignorant cowboy from Texas ruined our great country.

On the upside, he did make the daily show and Real Time much more entertaining, but kinda in a "it's so bad i half to laugh if not to cry", sorta way..

[davefromqueens]

7. Very Simple Message I have for People

Gas prices - $1.25 under Clinton, 4 bucks now.
health care costs - more than doubled.
Energy costs - more than doubled
food prices - more than doubled.

Then use a little sarcasm, pretend I don't know who to vote for.

[bhbwl]

8. An Open Letter to Red State America...

It's over. Don't bother showing up.

Oh, show up if you like. It won't affect the outcome.

America is tired.

America is tired of your criminal, murderous, slave-owning, greedy, hateful past.

America is tired of your criminal, murderous, wage-slave-owning, greedy, hateful present.

America is not going to put up with your vision of a criminal, murderous, back-to-slavery, greedy, hateful future.

America is tired of inbreds and rednecks running things. We're tired of idiots thinking they can play at the grown-up table. We're tired of you whining when we smack you down for slinging mud at your betters.

America is tired of your racism.

America is tired of your hate.

America is tired of YOU.

You will not be put up with any longer.

Your opinions will not be listened to, nor will your interests be represented, ever again.

Deal with it.

Your time is up, and you will never be allowed near the keys to the candy store ever again.

Deal with it.

America will take back what you would not share.

Deal with it.

America will put you back in your place.

Deal with it.

America will demand your murderous guns, your factory-farms, your strip-mines and your oil-guzzling, habitat-ruining SUVs. You better be ready to hand them over.

America will try your leaders for war-crimes and crimes against humanity. Your party will be declared a terrorist organization and disbanded. Your party platforms will be given the same treatment that Mein Kampf is given now. There will never be another Republican president or Republican-controlled congress ever again.

Deal with it.

You had your chance. We gave you your chance.

You ruined it.

Now it's time to pay.

You can't stop us. Make it easy on yourself.

Take down that yard sign. Scrape off that stupid bumper sticker. Don't make a fool of yourself showing up on election day, because it won't change a thing.

Because we'll remember you were there.

Get ready.

You know where your police station is. Turn in your guns now before we come after you. You know where your recycling center is. Turn in your SUV now while you can still get scrap prices for it. You know where your money is. Bring it back stateside now, and we may let you keep a bit of it. About as much as you let the poor keep now. Maybe.

What you don't yet seem to know is your place.

Don't worry about that. We'll take care of that for you.

You're done, red state America.

Now go along quietly and do as you're told for a change.

Or else.

[Name removed]

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[Rabia]

9. He has through policy obstructed my marriage plans

I am a muslim who is in a personal relationship with a Christian and would like to get married. The marriage is in keeping with Islamic circumstance in that there is no Islamic statutory jurisdiction within the Western Hemisphere. The marriage is blocked through covert and subliminal means within this society because the untransparent 'official' stance here is not to 'mix' Islamic ideology with Christian ideology, especially in a family circumstance such as marriage.

I maintain that as a free adult in a 'free' country it's my right to marry whom I choose and who chooses me. Any situation that doesn't allow for that has no right to exist in a 'free' society.

Bush for me has defied and denied democracy, a fact that makes me seriously consider pursuing my marriage within another society that at least replaces hypocracy with honesty.

THAT'S how Bush has affected my life.

Definition of the Bush Regime = Destroys everything it touches.

[GSPowner]

10. so he has

kept you from getting married through covert and subliminal means?

[Name removed]

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[texastoast]

15. Since 1994

When the Contract on America began in earnest and my beloved Ann Richards was defeated in her run for another term as governor. Then in 2000 it was about the first week of March when it appeared that Bush was going to come out of the Republican primary fray as the frontrunner. It was also the week of the beginning of the dot com crash. Coincidence? I don't think so.

:tinfoilhat:

[Glory89fan]

21. Made all of us a future target for terrorists

Amongst other things.

[Name removed]

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[clarence swinney]

23. TRIPLE A MAN

In 1994 Newt Gingrich won 73 new Barbarians into the House of Representatives
Their goal=Destroy the Social Safety Nets.
They spent $110,000,000 (GAO number) on Hearings/Investigations in an effort to destroy the Clinton Administration.
Lies-Smears were multitude with help of right wing freaknut radio and Conservative TV stations,
They held 13 public hearings on Whitewater a well-known simple land deal.
Borrow money-buy land-cut roads-sell lots. McDougal had been doing it for decades.
It was used as a Platform from which to launch many investigations
NY Times and Washington Post were culprits and assisted in the attacks.

TRIPLE A PARTY
Anti-anti-anti- no-no-no
Good for the Middle Class=No No No
Good for the Lower Class=No No No
Good for the Rich=Yes Yes Yes
Their Record is public information on their policies and votes in Congress.
Six years of Total Control of Executive-Senate House
A record of Coolidge in 1920s’
Cut Taxes for Rich
Let Rich Wall Street Gamblers play with marked cards and loaded Dice.
Make bets on many different things
Take $4000 bet with only $100 in pocket for payoff
OH! SNAKE EYES. UNCLE SAM HELP HELP HELP

BUSHALOONS
Many leading members of Bush administration were Clinton Haters Deluxe.
They joined Nixon in 1969 and were in office until 1977. Then, they joined Reagan in 1981 and were in office for 12 years. The believed they would be in office for the remainder of their active lives.

Clinton victory killed them. They hated Democrats and the Press for Nixon Resignation even though Republicans played a major part.
Cheney never got over Nixon resignation. His hatred increased with age.
He wanted to destroy Clinton. His mind became warped.
He had been one of the power people for 20 of prior 24 years.

When they returned to power controlling all three branches it was get even time.
They ignored Clinton administration many warnings on Osama Bin Laden and concentrated on eliminating the many Executive Orders initiated by Clinton.
It did not matter that some were valuable for the people.
If the Clinton name was on it --kill the sucker –nice Christ-like people?

George Bush was part of the Hatred group. He had campaigned for his Dad and was devastated when he lost. He hated Clinton and his people.

1946 to 2007

REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH + INCOME

From 1946 to 1981 each percentile gained almost evenly, percentage, in Income and Wealth.
Economists called it a Picket Fence Distribution.

Reagan policies began the Step Ladder distribution.
Each percentile gained some but top step (10%) went into outer space
Middle Class was “rewarded” by Reagan with largest income tax increase in history the Payroll Tax increase plus a tax on 50% of Social Security Income plus a 5-cent gas tax.

In 2007 it had been upward distributed so much the top 1% owned 21% and top 10% owned 71% of the nations individual wealth.

The Middle Class, not top 10%, should own 71% of wealth in a Democracy

Big question. How many decades will it take to redistribute downward to middle class?
So majority have affordable housing-affordable education-affordable health care

Financial Security more important to the Middle Class than “Excessive” Military Security

Reagan + GW Bush “forced” the Rich to take 2500 Billion in Tax cuts.
The Rich Income Tax Rate was reduced by 55% under Reagan.
His Savings and Loan change destroyed the institution but gave much wealth to Michael Milken ($555 Million income in one year) and his rich buddies in the rich man’s Wall Street Gambling Casino.

The reduction of Unearned Income Tax Rate from 28% to 15% was boom boom for very rich in the Gambling Casino. The huge reduction in Estate Taxes.
Bush 1700 Tax cut was primarily a reward to his Wall Street Gambling Pals.
Rich 2.7% (5 million) got four times as much as bottom 80 percent (125 million).

WORLD’S GREATEST CREDITOR TO GREATEST DEBTOR

In 1980 the Federal Debt was under 1000 Billion
Reagan added 1700B
Bush I added 1300B
Bush II added 5000B +
Twenty years of so called “conservativism” added on 8 times as much as we had after 200 years.

“Conservatives” controlled the Senate for 18 years—House for 12 years—All government for 6 years.

Federal Spending-- went from 600B per year under Carter to 4000B in Bush last budgeted year

Federal Debt—1000B to 11,000B +

They gave us the Savings and Loan Debacle, which aided in Hostile Takeovers of major corporations by Rich Gamblers in Wall Street Casino. Rich got ultra-rich.

They gave us the Housing fiasco and millions of home foreclosures.
Yes! It was Rich Gamblers in the Wall Street Gambling Casino.
Plus assistance by Federal Reserve Chairman Republican Alan Greenspan.
The same man who gave President Clinton seven significant rate increases in campaign year for reelection and six significant rate increases from June 1999 to June 2000 to elect a Republican President. Impartial? Ho Hum.
A Republican President gets a 6.5% Democratic Interest Rate cut to a 1% Interest Rate which exploded Housing Industry into a free for all profit maker for Developers-Realtors-Banks in Wall Street Casino.
Wall Street Gamblers were freed to use instruments similar to marked cards and loaded dice as in Coolidge years. Regulators were hog tied.

SCANDALS

Carter had “no” person convicted for a crime committed while working for him
Clinton had “one” person convicted of a felony that was committed while working for him
Nixon—aw heck forget it.
Reagan—
Haynes Johnson of Washington Post labeled the Reagan Administration as the most scurrilous in history
138 persons working for him charged with crimes.
That number is more than the grand total for all presidents since 1900
9 cabinet members investigated
Scandals in 32 departments of the federal government
15 major officials found guilty
Most of the crimes involved money
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