Bush: 'I didn't compromise my soul' to be popular

By ASSOCIATED PRESS   Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008
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Photo

U.S. President George W. Bush, reacts, after shoes were thrown at him, by a correspondent, during a joint press conference with Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, not seen, in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2008. On an Iraq trip shrouded in secrecy and marred by dissent, President George W. Bush on Sunday hailed progress in the war that defines his presidency and got a size-10 reminder of his unpopularity when a man hurled two shoes at him during a news conference.

— President George W. Bush knows he's unpopular. But here's what matters, he says: "I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy."

In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News Channel, Bush also praised the national security team assembled by President-elect Barack Obama, offered hope to U.S. automakers seeking government assistance and said the people of Illinois will have to sort out allegations that Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought kickbacks in choosing a successor for Obama's Senate seat.

Bush said presidents fail when they make decisions based on opinion polls.

"Look, everybody likes to be popular," said Bush.

"What do you expect? We've got a major economic problem and I'm the president during the major economic problem. I mean, do people approve of the economy? No. I don't approve of the economy. ... I've been a wartime president. I've dealt with two economic recessions now. I've had, hell, a lot of serious challenges. What matters to me is I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy."

An Associated Press-GFK poll last week showed just 28 percent of the public approving of the job Bush is doing, about where he has been all fall. Among Republicans, 54 percent approve, a low figure from members of a president's own political party.

Bush said he didn't think he would be viewed as the 21st century's Herbert Hoover, who was president during the Great Depression. He said he worked to keep the economy from collapsing.

"I'm a free market guy," Bush said. "But I'm not going to let this economy crater in order to preserve the free market system. So we made a lot of very strong moves and it's been painful for a lot of people, particularly because, you know, this — the excesses of the past have caused a lot of folks to hurt when it comes to, like, their 401(k)'s or, you know, their jobs."

He said his administration is continuing to look at options for helping the Big Three automakers and that it needs to get done "relatively soon." He said a "disorganized bankruptcy" of one or more of the automakers could cause great harm to the economy "beyond that which we're now witnessing."

"That concerns me," he said. "And the other point is that I — I'm not interested in — in really putting good money after bad."

On other subjects:

— Bush called Obama's national security team "solid," especially praising his own Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who will continue in the post in Obama's administration.

"I think the incoming administration's going to have to fully analyze the risks and the tools and — come to their own conclusion," he said. "But one thing's for certain. I'm confident that President-elect Obama knows that one of his most solemn duties is to protect the American people."

— Bush avoided discussing Blagojevich.

"They're going to have to sort it through in Illinois," Bush said. "Obviously anytime anybody allegedly betrays the public trust there's got to be great concern because, you know, democracy really is, you know, really rests on the trust of the people. It's a system of people and by people and for people. And, therefore, the public trust is important."

reader COMMENTS
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(74)
whybesad
Dec 24, 2008 at 8:48 p.m.
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No child left behind is working.

bkrkim
Dec 24, 2008 at 12:09 a.m.
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lol

klick
Dec 23, 2008 at 7:17 p.m.
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Do you remeber Sept 11th when Bush Devil was reading a book to school children. The book was edispu nwod. I think conspericy theory.

bkrkim
Dec 23, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.
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Do you remeber Sept 11th when Bush Devil was reading a book to school children. The book was upside down. I think conspericy theory.

bkrkim
Dec 23, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.
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What happened to no child left behind?

whybesad
Dec 23, 2008 at 9:32 a.m.
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Klick thanks a gotta four year supply on it's way.

klick
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.
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whybesad*****double up on your Prozac you need it .

Spanky
Dec 21, 2008 at 10:29 a.m.
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I like how Congress gets all bent out of shape when the CEO's from the big three come to town on their jets and then two weeks later the Congress votes themselves a pay raise of $4,200 per member or $2.5 million. Why do they deserve this raise? What have they done for us? What party is in control? But, they are for the working class. Nancy Pelosi says everybody is getting a haircut. But, I guess they aren't. She is priceless.

jimbofish
Dec 21, 2008 at 6:47 a.m.
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You got to love this story.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-p...

chelleandlou
Dec 21, 2008 at 3:13 a.m.
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Some one just shut Bush up. The man hasn't ever said anything remotely intelligent. And to think he was elected twice! I am so going to miss the Great Presidental Speeches on Letterman....And I agree that he will most likely go down in the record books as the worst President in history.

klick
Dec 21, 2008 at 2:09 a.m.
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whybesad i agree with you
Thank You for agreeing with me

Obama was elected as our President

whybesad
Dec 21, 2008 at 1:42 a.m.
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Obama was selected not elected

whybesad
Dec 21, 2008 at 1:42 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
BostonBill
Dec 20, 2008 at 10:22 p.m.
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WOW! There is some passion in this Blog!

NVgrf
Dec 20, 2008 at 9:59 p.m.
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I believe that history will judge "W" as the worst President in history. Time will tell.

klick
Dec 20, 2008 at 9:42 p.m.
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shutupandfish*********We will be paying for George Wortless Bush for the next 30 years..

case closed

chad_vader
Dec 20, 2008 at 9:17 a.m.
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jimbofish - you sound like you were in the military (from the Commander in Chief comment). How do you think the Republicant's let down our soldiers, considering that is supposed to be the party of hawks? Just wondering.

jimbofish
Dec 20, 2008 at 5:59 a.m.
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George W. Bush, little did I realize "W" stood for WORTHLESS!

jimbofish
Dec 20, 2008 at 5:54 a.m.
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Whybesad/shutup...This country was doing fine until BuSh came along. We'll all be paying for his lies, torture, and raping of the US Treasury for many years, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. You must be proud to be in the 23% that support that idiot.

USA #1
http://www.sockandawe.com

klick
Dec 20, 2008 at 5:13 a.m.
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whybesad

There seems to be a lot of people that never make mistakes on this blog. Maybe all of you should run for office and see how easy it is.

I could have this Country in the black in 1 year .

klick
Dec 20, 2008 at 5:08 a.m.
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shutupandfish

I can't wait to see you lefties come up with excuses when Obama the clown screws up this Country. Wait your going to still blame Bush.

Yes i will .

whybesad
Dec 19, 2008 at 5:17 p.m.
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There seems to be a lot of people that never make mistakes on this blog. Maybe all of you should run for office and see how easy it is.

shutupandfish
Dec 19, 2008 at 4:37 p.m.
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I can't wait to see you lefties come up with excuses when Obama the clown screws up this Country. Wait your going to still blame Bush.

shutupandfish
Dec 19, 2008 at 4:35 p.m.
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Jimbo your a fool to even think that you were a Republican. I guess I called your bluff. I guess you were a RHINO (Republican in name only). FOOL!!

jimbofish
Dec 19, 2008 at 1:25 p.m.
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I've always been a solid Republican, that is until that moron Bush came along. I am now 100% behind Obama. He is my Commander in Chief. Maybe Bush hasn't compromised his soul or maybe he meant sole, size 10, anyway he ruined this country and I will never vote Republican again or have anything to do with the Republican party. The party of idiots and godless morons.

chad_vader
Dec 19, 2008 at 11:32 a.m.
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spark, I actually believe it was the Dark Lord Cheney who was pushing all the buttons. I think you are giving us false credit for giving GW all the credit. Most times you couldn't even see Cheney's lips move when George talked....

chad_vader
Dec 19, 2008 at 11:27 a.m.
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toasty reminds me of Lord of the Flies. Just another long winded, coconut gathering, insult throwing kid who wants it his way and ONLY his way. The rest of the world is filled with idiots according to him. If he is so all knowing, why not transport to another dimension?

toasty2k
Dec 19, 2008 at 10:35 a.m.
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How true spark! in the last two years since the democrats took control of congress (by the way liberals, they are the people who write and make the laws, not the president) our economy has been the worse we have had it in decades. This is largely due to our financial sector problems. In 1979 president Carter, a democrat, pushed the sub prime loan bill when the left controlled congress. Today the sub prime loans have enabled thousands of people to lose their homes. In 2005 Senator McCain saw a looming economic crisis within our financial markets. He tried to pass a bill that would prevent this. However Democrat Senators like Barney Franks and Chuck Shurmer blocked it. Even a fellow democrat Senator by the name of Hillary Clinton re-introduced the bill in December of 2007 only to have it blocked yet again by the left. Then when the banks and lenders started failing they gave billions of dollars to these companies without restrictions. So this can happen all over again. Yet this all came after they took a couple of days off for a holiday, while many republicans protested by staying there in order to get something done. I guess the liberals thought their holiday was more important than the country's well being. Then the liberals stab the UAW in the back by not readily handing a loan to the automakers to help keep them a float. now they want restrictions. so now we face hundreds of thousands of job losses because of it. But the liberal voters will be again to blind to see who is really at blame. The democrats did more to sabotage president Bush than to help him. They put politics before the wellfare of Americans. How many times did the liberal congress never allow a vote on president Bush's appointments? Answer: Just about every time. Then their was president Clinton who worried about his popularity. So instead of sending troops to get Bin Laden in the 90's, he fires missles at him hoping to have get him. Yeah don't send in our elite forces to get him. I would hate to see people protest you and your approval ratings dip. A few years later, we get the September 11, 2001 attacks. I could throw facts out their all day to the liberals and they would never believe it, because they won't learn for themselves. You see the left needs to be dependent on others. they don't belive in self determination, which is a key belief in the republican party. President Bush, you did an excellent job by putting your country first instaed of trying to please people. You shown us that you could lead and do what is right for this country. You stood up to tyrannts instaed of trying to appease murderers. You stood up to the traitorish actions of the left and fought for us and our brave troops. Thank you president Bush, if I could vote for you again, I would proudly do so.

spark
Dec 19, 2008 at 9:42 a.m.
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Don't worry, Obama is going to save the World. All you lefties better hope so with all your talk. Otherwise, you are all going to look like fools. You are all so ignorant to think that one person controls everything just because he has the title of President. Go educate yourself. This isn't grade school.

dkush21
Dec 19, 2008 at 9:18 a.m.
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You already sold your soul, Mr. Bush!

edsci
Dec 19, 2008 at 8:43 a.m.
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George Bush has a soul? He may not have compromised his soul just the economic stability of our country. He and the Republicans ARE responsible for the current economic situation. It was they who neutered the SEC and made it more difficult for shareholders to sue company managers for fraudulent behavior. Tort reform has been a constant issue pushed by the Republicans. And now they cry about how they weren't responsible.

He did re-define the word torture and what it means to be a citizen. He should be a man and accept responsibility for what he did. Instead he hides behind religion like all Republicans.

The news media is liberal what a pile. Where is your proof? Oh Rush said it? Fox news said it? The American Enterprise Institute said it? An ex-government employee said it? They did lots of stories on the President being an idiot? The President IS an idiot and I am proud to say that I did NOT vote for him. Sorry, apologists.

yaboy22
Dec 19, 2008 at 12:56 a.m.
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hooray for obama! he will change this country and not put it through hell like bush did

lakennedy
Dec 19, 2008 at 12:51 a.m.
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While I don't agree with violent tactics used by protestors, etc. I would not call them any less American than you or I. It is a dangerous thing to equate dissent with a lack of patriotism.

localboysince1968
Dec 19, 2008 at 12:08 a.m.
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G.W. stood up for the American people. However, he was killed in the press which is liberal. He staid faithful to what he thought was right. I don't agree with every thing he did, but I will show him respect as the U.S President. He is American, and I American. That is more than you can say for Ayers, Wright, Dorn, and others.

garyprimer
Dec 18, 2008 at 11:46 p.m.
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Seems to be one or more posts by Hugo Chavez here. ;-)

klick
Dec 18, 2008 at 10:27 p.m.
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justsome1here
klick - the only people responsible for bringing a country to it's knees are the people that live in it - they sit back and allow it to happen.

And how would you get people to ban together
and get this done ?

klick
Dec 18, 2008 at 10:22 p.m.
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teacher2b you forgot ----too the company store .

luluberry_0981
Dec 18, 2008 at 9:59 p.m.
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Hey I didn't vote for him, DO NOT blame me.

justsome1here
Dec 18, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.
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klick - the only people responsible for bringing a country to it's knees are the people that live in it - they sit back and allow it to happen.

luluberry_0981
Dec 18, 2008 at 9 p.m.
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Yeah true.... If he did sell his "sole"... others are willing to throw theirs to him (or at him)

teacher2b
Dec 18, 2008 at 8:44 p.m.
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luluberry...if you did want to make a shoe comment, it could be something about selling his "sole" ;-)

klick
Dec 18, 2008 at 8:38 p.m.
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whybesad--------------------------------

President Bush did face horrible and unthinkable trying times in our history. He did what he thought was best for his country he loves. He was drug through the mud for 8 years. Accused of lying about going to war and being an idiot***this is garbage GWB has brought this country to its knees...

darius
Dec 18, 2008 at 8:36 p.m.
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Go get 'em Georgey! No true, red blooded American should allow their soul to be sold. Unfortunatley, many leaders in this country have done just that! You see the fallout effect from it plain as day now. Where have all the "LEADERS" gone??!

madman1961
Dec 18, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.
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For W to have sold his soul, he'd have to have Haliburton buy one for him on the black market.
.
Remember, you can not sell what you don't have.

luluberry_0981
Dec 18, 2008 at 7:47 p.m.
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I will not make any shoe comments
I will not make any shoe comments
I will not make any shoe comments

lakennedy
Dec 18, 2008 at 7:33 p.m.
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I don't think it was garbage.

klick
Dec 18, 2008 at 7:16 p.m.
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whybesad and what kind of response do you think you will get for writing this garbage .

whybesad
Dec 18, 2008 at 5:38 p.m.
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President Bush did face horrible and unthinkable trying times in our history. He did what he thought was best for his country he loves. He was drug through the mud for 8 years. Accused of lying about going to war and being an idiot. Not once did he waiver and wave the white flag to his critics. He made mistakes just like every other President before him has. And just like every President after him will. I give him great respect for being called all those hateful names and never ever did he stoop to that level and blast his critics in the way they blasted him. That shows great character and I hope President select Obama will be a steadfast leader. Time will only tell which kind of leadership he will show.

lakennedy
Dec 18, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.
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Not a fan of Bush, but I do think that too often he is blamed for the idiocy that seems to run rampant in congress. He has been our President during an era that has saw some of our countries most trying times, and I doubt anyone could have emerged from the last eight years unscathed.

localboy...I do agree that he seems to have believed in what he supported or did, but what good is that? While indecisiveness is not a quality I seek in a President, I'd have a lot more respect for one who seems to have learned from his past actions. I've seen no evidence of that wisdom from Bush.
+
As far as the wanger in the pants comment, how do you know? He very well may have had his wanger in anything that moved, but never got caught. You refer to him as a faithful family man, but I question your evidence to that claim. Are you a close, personal friend of the Bush family? Or merely a fan? No one knows what goes on beyond closed doors.
+
I also take issue with your choice of the "lefts" heroes...I don't consider any of those people my heroes, and I definitely have been leaning to the left as of late. Be careful with your assumptions, or you'll be no better than those you criticize on this page.

Unidentified
Dec 18, 2008 at 4:39 p.m.
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I wasn't sold on Obama prior to his election. I felt most of his public life was spent looking to achieve higher office. This regardless of who he had to use or make friends with to get there. However, I find the man himself appealing and I believe he is a good family man. Moreover, I think his win puts to rest many of the racial undertones that were dragging America down. In addition, his success affects us all. As a result, I will respect him as commander in chief and see where he takes us. If he succeeds he should be praised, if he fails he should be questioned. I hope he governs from the center, but time will tell. We don't need the pendulum to swing too far from one direction to another. I think a majority of American's are somewhere in the middle.

localboysince1968
Dec 18, 2008 at 4:08 p.m.
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And oh by the way,G.W. has the quickest shoe throwing ducking reflexes. That has to account for some points.....

localboysince1968
Dec 18, 2008 at 4:07 p.m.
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I am not a Barack Hussein Obama fan, but I hold respect for the most powerful position in the world, and for that I will give Obama his due respect. I am an American, and I want my President to succeed, and therefore I will refrain from blasting the President regardless of his party. To do so now that he is President would do my country no good, unless he is caught and convicted of breaking the law.

Unidentified
Dec 18, 2008 at 3:54 p.m.
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He's made his share of mistakes, but I think he's also taken more heat than he deserves. He's obviously not a gifted speaker, which proved troublesome when he was trying to sell his policies and bestow optimism. He's certainly had more on his plate than most presidents before him. Our current economic crisis is decades in the making. How his cabinet handles this last month economically could set the groundwork for Obama. So far he's been able to keep the credit markets from completely collapsing. He could abandon the auto makers and UAW who have never supported him, yet he's still considering taking action and most likely will. If does, this is without support from his own party. I don't love the man, but I don't hate him either. No body will no for sure just how bad or good Bush was until another president faces the worst natural disaster in modern history, worst attack on American soil, two wars, and an a global credit collapse. Some of those events people may blame Bush for, but in reality we don't know if some of these events were inevitable regardless. Nonetheless, if another president does face such a tough term in office, they hopefully will have learned from Bushes mistakes. That much future presidents can be thankful for.

intrigued
Dec 18, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.
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Um, "Ted Turner, Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Dorn, Jane Fonda, and other anti-americans who would sacrifice diddly for their country" are NOT my heroes but I too believe GW had no soul to sell.

localboysince1968
Dec 18, 2008 at 1:45 p.m.
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You leftest idiots who can't get over the fact that he didn't lie about the war, as it is fact that he went off of intelligent reports from several countries including our own CIA. That had been proven, but you liberals will hang on to any lie that supports you thought process.

I will say this about him, he believed in what he did, and he was not a spineless defender of freedom as previous to him (Carter, Clinton). He kept his wanger in his pants (Kennedy, Clinton)and remained a faithful family man. He didn't care what the left liberal biased media said about him, as he did what he thought was the right thing unlike (Johnson, Nixon) others before him. He put aside the thoughtless namecalling and ignorant banter against him by the UAW and is considering giving them a bridge loan. G.W. is more patriotic than the lefts heros like Ted Turner, Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Dorn, Jane Fonda, and other anti-americans who would sacrifice diddly for their country.

thediplomat
Dec 18, 2008 at 1:43 p.m.
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I think GW did have a soul once, but he sold it to Cheney to become president.

MikeF
Dec 18, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.
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"I didn't compromise my soul to be a popular guy."
So why did he? <- ok that was a snarky comment, but I just could not help myself. :)
Carry on all.

whythink
Dec 18, 2008 at 1:22 p.m.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/opinio...

This sums up what GW has done to this country.

I go back to my original statement...
GW=EVIL

whythink
Dec 18, 2008 at 12:26 p.m.
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Come on, GW has no soul.

The man lied for war, and ran campaigns meant to get the hate-filled and scared to elect him.

After 8 years, I can honestly say, GW is an evil man. Maybe evil is unfair so with the Holiday Season in mind...I will change it to VERY corrupt man.

Oh, what gets me the most, I voted for him x2.

ms_sassy_wi
Dec 18, 2008 at 11:45 a.m.
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um, I re-read my comment. It appears that I was calling Bush Sr. the devil. However, I meant to say that "W." sold his soul to the devil to gain his dad's approval. Either way, he sold the US out and did grave, unforgiveable things...I'm glad I'm not either one of the "former president" Bush. I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

woodsman
Dec 18, 2008 at 10:10 a.m.
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Is the soul kinda like your country?? Because he sold his soul to the devil & his country to the rich & not so famous!

ms_sassy_wi
Dec 18, 2008 at 9:12 a.m.
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so he sold his soul to the devil. for his dad.

beeferer
Dec 18, 2008 at 7:52 a.m.
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He didn't compromise anything to be popular.If he did, it was a futile effort.

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