What's so frustrating is that had every voter read Molly Ivins's Shrub, it would have been obvious that we'd end up precisely where we are: bankrupt and drowning.


To paraphrase:

From the record, it appears that he doesn't know much, doesn't do much and doesn't care much about governing...Bush has admitted that he dislikes reading, particularly about policy issues, and that he hates meetings and briefings...

I just...it's just...there are no words.

That's how I felt when he was first elected governor. He was an empty suit then, and it didn't get any better. When he was up for the Rethuglican nomination for president, I couldn't help but laugh. I told as many folks as I could get to listen that nothing about being the Governor of Texas necessarily prepares you for *any* office given the weakness of our Governor's Office. No one would listen. They bought the lies and here we are.

I'm still STUNNED that the Democrats let him get away with presenting himself as an experienced executive branch kind of guy. I get that the average citizen might mistake "governor of Texas" for a powerful position but the Democratic party would know the truth.

It's not as if they had to worry about losing Texas votes by attacking the bizarre power structure here. Never mind the string of businesses that Bush was involved with during his life -- each funded by his father's buddies and each one a money losing venture. In light of that, his disastrous presidency is just the same old same old for him.

Oh, yeah! He really has lived up to his 'potential'. So far, he's been a failure in everything he's ever tried.

What an utter embarrassment.

I keep finding myself apologizing for not having seen to it that he was better contained early on. We all kept forgetting just how stupid people in general are.

Whereas I get bitchy about it and point out that as a Texan, I've voted against the Brainless Wonder far more times than have non-Texans. ;-)

I dislike him enough that I crossed party lines to cast an entirely ceremonial vote against him in the Rethuglican (I like that and am stealing it!) primary of 2000. I'd have done it again in 2004 but there were a couple of Democratic primary races I wanted to weigh in on -- so that was the only time the man's name has been on the ballot that I didn't make it my duty as an American to vote against him.

It was very strange to stand in the Repug line; I took a shower after voting.

Oh, well, yeah. I also like to point out that he's a Texan about like robins are... they're born in Mexico, grow up in the north and pass through here on their way elsewhere.

Yeah, I found myself in a Rethug line by accident once. Went home and showered.

Oh, well, yeah. I also like to point out that he's a Texan about like robins are... they're born in Mexico, grow up in the north and pass through here on their way elsewhere.

I used to take great joy when my Connecticut friends would bitch about Bush in saying, "Hey, he's one of YOUR people, not mine." :) (The fake Texas accent really gives me hives.)

I've actually had a Connecticut friend apologize to *me*. It was quite refreshing.

Everything about him raises my hackles. Always has.

At least when he was governor he was more or less harmless.

Good to know that your instincts are right on, isn't it?

Texas governor was the perfect job for the guy: it was ok that he was mentally lazy because he was just the cheerleader. The state constitution had already taken away all of the dangerous toys, so we could sit back without worrying that the Dolt in Charge would accidentally stick a fork in the outlet or anything.

Exactly. The Texas Governor is as influential or inconsequential as he or she chooses to be. You get a good one, like Ann Richards, and it can be a powerful office. She was a true leader. She led in all the right ways. Then you get dumbasses like Dubya who couldn't lead his ass to the bathroom if you tied him to the sink.

Amen, sister. I really didn't know just how fleeting those Good Times were with Richards and Clinton. Gods, that depresses me. :(

Tell me about it. I comfort myself that we'll likely survive this.

We may have to do it at the top of a mountain, but we'll likely survive this.

Hee! I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one who felt dirty.

Not by a long shot. And Texas seems to breed a particularly virulent strain of the microbes.

Whereas I get bitchy about it and point out that as a Texan, I've voted against the Brainless Wonder far more times than have non-Texans. ;-)

When I moved from Houston to Connecticut, I got told all of the time, "You're from Texas, so you must like Bush." To which I would always reply, "No, I'm from Texas, so I know better."

Oh! Excellent answer. I'm still dumbfounded nobody bothered to explain that our governor is just a highly paid state cheerleader.