Bush takes swipes at Obama policies

[240 is Back]

ERIE, Pa.| Former President George W. Bush fired a salvo at President Obama on Wednesday, asserting his administration's interrogation policies were within the law, declaring the private sector -- not government -- will fix the economy and rejecting the nationalization of health care.

"I know it's going to be the private sector that leads this country out of the current economic times we're in," the former president said to applause from members of a local business group. "You can spend your money better than the government can spend your money."

Repeatedly in his hourlong speech and question-and-answer session, Mr. Bush said he would not directly criticize the new president, who has moved to take over financial institutions and several large corporations. Several times, however, he took direct aim at Obama policies as he defended his own during eight years in office.

"Government does not create wealth. The major role for the government is to create an environment where people take risks to expand the job rate in the United States," he said to huge cheers.

[Straw Man]

ERIE, Pa.| Former President George W. Bush fired a salvo at President Obama on Wednesday, asserting his administration's interrogation policies were within the law, declaring the private sector -- not government -- will fix the economy and rejecting the nationalization of health care.

"I know it's going to be the private sector that leads this country out of the current economic times we're in," the former president said to applause from members of a local business group. "You can spend your money better than the government can spend your money."

Repeatedly in his hourlong speech and question-and-answer session, Mr. Bush said he would not directly criticize the new president, who has moved to take over financial institutions and several large corporations. Several times, however, he took direct aim at Obama policies as he defended his own during eight years in office.

"Government does not create wealth. The major role for the government is to create an environment where people take risks to expand the job rate in the United States," he said to huge cheers.

The govt created a lot of wealth for Haliburton, Blackwater, KBR and anyone else who were pals with the Bush/Cheney cabal

[tonymctones]

The govt created a lot of wealth for Haliburton, Blackwater, KBR and anyone else who were pals with the Bush/Cheney cabal

first off 240 POST A FREAKING LINK ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL YOU DO IS CUT AND PASTE 

second this isnt a swipe at obama 

to straw
actually it created the oppurtunity for wealth, big difference

you guys may not like it but bush is right, its not the governments place to create wealth it is there to create an enviroment in which wealth can be created. Right now the government may not intentionally be trying to create wealth but that is the road we are on.

[shootfighter1]

Sounds good but Bush didn't exactly follow that economic policy.

At least he was clear not to criticize the president directly and offered professional criticizm to a few policies.  He should have had the same grace as president.

[Straw Man]

first off 240 POST A FREAKING LINK ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL YOU DO IS CUT AND PASTE 

second this isnt a swipe at obama 

to straw
actually it created the oppurtunity for wealth, big difference

you guys may not like it but bush is right, its not the governments place to create wealth it is there to create an enviroment in which wealth can be created. Right now the government may not intentionally be trying to create wealth but that is the road we are on.

yep - I definitely agree with you there and I also think that it's the govts. responsibility to manage those markets to make sure they are fair (doesn't let one company get too big) and to regulate the markets to protect us against fraud or the "to big to fail" syndrome that we're seeing at present. 

[shootfighter1]

I agree, there needs to be general oversight and rules to establish fairness.  That is a good function of government and I think there needs to be oversight of the banking system for sure.

The government must not run companies and make hiring/firing decisions in the future.  They also must not over-regulate or push unequal treatment of people like they do with government businesses (ie...forcing loans to low income people that weren't in an economic position to honor their financial obligations, and affirmative action policies which favor one person over another).

[tonymctones]

I agree, there needs to be general oversight and rules to establish fairness.  That is a good function of government and I think there needs to be oversight of the banking system for sure.

The government must not run companies and make hiring/firing decisions in the future.  They also must not over-regulate or push unequal treatment of people like they do with government businesses (ie...forcing loans to low income people that weren't in an economic position to honor their financial obligations, and affirmative action policies which favor one person over another).

this is exactly right problem was that there are regulations in place but you have ppl push things that arent in sync with fairness etc...this screws the system up and allows for shit like the hole we are in to happen. Im not saying these are the only reasons but even if the banks were to big to fail if everybody had been able to pay their mortgage would they have failed? NO

I agree that companies should not be able to get so big they cant fail without catastrophic effects but you also shouldnt be able to buy something you cant afford or reasonably pair for within a certain alloted amount of time...