It seems to me that before Clinton, people might like or dislike a president, but none of the earlier presidents really got the type of hate that you find that people harbour about both Clinton or Bush (well, perhaps Nixon after Watergate). Or if they did, it was definitely a minority thing - I don't recall any books written about Ford, how he was a murderer and cheat, nor about Reagan, how he was an ignorant traitor - even if you might have thought that individually, there wouldn'lt have been a market. It seems that starting with Clinton the attitudes towards the presidency changed - or is it that the presidents attitudes changed? \nI would like to hear your opinions on the change, or whether it even exists, and NOT on your personal opinions of either of the above-mentioned presidents.
138744
I'm sure there are and will be a lot of responses about Bush and what a horrible president he is, how if voting wasn't screwed with he wouldn't never have won and how tricked people into thinking it was okay to go into Iraq as well as forcing his religious agenda on the people.  I agree with all of that but I wanted to take another look at things. \n\nThe media.  The media today isn't what it used to be back them.  The media today seems to go for anything that will make a person look bad, which in turn riles the people into more hatred than in years past.  This goes both ways.  You'll be hard pressed to find a truly unbiased new station, paper or magazine now days.  They all have a slant or a spin they like to put on all things.  Unfortunately I believe the days of honest reporting are gone.  Instead, people look to Bill Reily like he's a serious news anchor.  People don't realize he's a 'pundit'.\n\nThe definition of a 'pundit' is: A source of opinion; a critic: a political pundit. This is not a real news person reporting facts, its a person reporting their opinion on a situation.  Yet people don't seem to realize that or want to look at that.  This goes for all others out ther with shows like his both conservative and otherwise.\n\nWhen people look at a sourse like that and see it as 'fact' instead of one persons opinion it helps to inspire anger and stronger opinion.  These things weren't around years ago for other presidents.  \n\nAnother think you have to look at with media is who owns the media.  Viacom and Clear Channel are owned by extreme republican christians so they limit what they show to their views.  This goes for your local news and other outlets so people aren't getting the straight facts like they used to.  This buts a conservative bias on whats going on in the world today and it pisses of liberals and it snow balls.  Then the liberals have to counter that in someway and it pisses off the conservatives and it snowballs.\n\nAdd in the internet making information available on demand and creating an network of like minded people who can get together and get angry together and you have quite the ugly and angry machine on both ends.\n\nI'm sure there are many more reasons but I think the media plays a HUGE part in it.  I just wanted to add in a different reason and outlook.\n\nThanks!
19436
The reason Bush is still President is due to the fact that he has not been impeached, The reason why he was elected was because unfortunately the democrats can not come up with a reasonable candidate that can stand on issues versus hate speech. This has been demonstrated here and is another indication of republicans taking the white house again in 2008. You hear about the"lies, the half-a** answers, The bad grammar, or lack of leadership" but never examples of such. His approval rating at this time in his presidency is actually higher then Bill Clinton's was during the same time in his administration. Its a shame that a party that stood for the common man with heros such as FDR and Kennedy(JFK of course) Has turned into a bunch of people who have no dream, have no desire to build, just the ability to whine and complain. I disagree with the President on many things but what i like about him is that he does what he says he will. This is a welcome change. If democrats want the White house back, stop being afraid of being called a liberal and show people a better way, not just calling our leader(like him or not) a retard. The most important thing in order to be taken seriously is the ability to respect the differences in others and being able to debate the issues instead of name calling and threatening to move out of the USA if your opponent gets elected. (BTW im still waiting for many of Hollywood to keep their word and leave.)  Just my opinion, remember you asked and know that I respect your right to express yours.
315300
I don't think so. It always seems that there are favorites years before the presidential election, but I believe there are negative effects from this. The sooner someone is running, the more chance there is for the opposing party to dig up dirt on them. I think it's more likely that a couple fresh faces with "new" ideas will come out and get more attention as the primaries get closer. I personally hope that this will be the case. Nothing against either Clinton or McCain, but I would like to see and hear what other candidates have to say before assuming that I will have to chose between those two.
527944
Your question is out of date. It's really the president that people don't like and the fact that so many voted against him has already helped dissipate anti-Americanism among most people I know
108357
Bush is no conservative in the way Barry Goldwater or Eisenhower were. I did not think much of Reagan but even he was better, hell for that matter Nixon was better and never did I think I would be saying this.
332254
Not really, the made jokes about President Carter they called him the peanut farmer. \n\nThey also made fun of Harry S. Truman, they didn't think he was educated enough to become president after president Franklin Roosevelt died. As a matter of fact he was Franklin Roosevelt's Vice President and was not even told the United States was on the verge of the atomic bomb that is how much President Franklin thought of him. Gen Douglas MacArthur almost showed disdain for him. President Truman had to eventually relieve him of his duties.\n\nRichard Nixon had a lower approval rating than President Bush and was eventually disgraced, he left his office before being impeached.\n\nThey laughed at Calvin Coolidge and called him slow Cal.\n\nThey called Taft fat Taft as he was the largest President we have ever had in office as far as weight is concerned.\n\nSo you can see there have been many presidents that had unfavorable stances with the public. \n\nIn some instances we did not have rapid media news as we have today, so it took awhile for the news to reach certain parts of the country.\n\nI hope this has been of some use to you, good luck.\n\n"FIGHT ON"
149727
haha "the Clinton days were better!!!"  hahahah\nI guess the pres gettin some action is seen as more positive than a war.  Anyway, I want to know who Pres Bush has peronally killed or given orders to kill... anybody? *crickets*  Yeah that's right, that's what I thought.  On the other hand Saddam gave orders for thousands and thousands to be killed (ok allegedly, friggin PC nazis).  \nso to answer the question, the aspect I hate is blind ignorant bashings that are fueled by Kool Aid drinkers and the  liberal mass media, who will not admit that THEY are the mass media and the real sheep here.
307131
People either seem to love her or hate her. Doesn't seem to be much inbetween. \n\nEven worse the people that hate her REALLY hate her. The republicans were raising money to campaign aginst her in 08 before the last election was over. \n\nBill was a great president, like him or not I think you would have to agree that if he could run again he could win every election as long as he lives. \n\nSo Hillary gets some of that love, but I don't think she will get enough. \n\nLets think about it, 1. She would be the first woman, 2. People hate her with a passion so much so that I'm not sure you could ever change their minds, 3. The republicans have had (although its finally slipping) a strong hold on this country\n\nAll that added up... I don't think she can pull it off. I hope that the dems don't even put her up. They need to prevent another Bush more than anything. I think at this point it would be a huge mistake to put all their eggs in her basket.
56730
I don't think it's anymore corrupt than any other administration, especially the Clinton administration. People refuse to look back and see what Bush has had to deal with, terrorist attacks, many terrible natural disasters. He's had a lot of lack to pick up. I think you have to remember that when you look at what he's done in office.
82350
Yes, you have taken leave of your senses.  Bush is the president of the United States.  He's commander in chief of the most powerful military in the world.  He shouldn't be treated like a normal person because normal people don't have the power to blow up the world several times over.  We can't let him get away with things just to protect is feelings.  If he didn't want the job he wouldn't be president.  It's not really a job you can get without really wanting it.  And the humiliation and ridicule comes with the job.  If he didn't know that going in he also doesn't know how much we hate him.  Besides, he's earned those low approval ratings.  Would you feel bad for a murderer going to jail?  Think about how many deaths Bush is responsible for.  If you ask me, he's getting off easy.
69122
My belief is that many people who were opposing Bush were living in an echo-chamber and were only speaking to people who opposed Bush. This was particularly strong in deep red areas such as academia and the media and ignored the strong level of support for Bush in the blue states. \n\nPauline Kael is alleged to have said that she couldn't understand how Nixon won in 1972 because she didn't know anyone who voted for. We tend to associate with those who we feel comfortable with who often share our political and social views. It doesn't matter whether you are a Hollywood actor or a Kansas farmer, you tend to think the views of you and your peers are the views of the nation. Polls for a couple of months before the election showed Bush with a clear but narrow lead in the election. Further, it seems that Bush won by increasing the turnout of his supporters more than Kerry did.
290428
THINGS WERE FAR BETTER OFF WHEN CLINTON WAS IN OFFICE.\n\nI MISS BILL CLINTON!!\n\nHELL, WITH PRESIDENTS LIKE BUSH, IT MAKES YOU MISS NIXON!!
70132
How can one know the answer to some hypothetical question whose answer is somewhere in the future.  History has not judged George W. Bush yet as he is still President.  What we have here is just a lot of people here you either think everything he does is wrong and those that give him their support right or wrong.  None of this will go very far in the judgment History will have on the man.  Each President has highs and lows in their popularity, which also goes nowhere in history actually judging the merits of his programs.  There are those who believe that Hilary Clinton would be far superior of a President that Bush however that is just polls as well and have no basis in fact for the way people feel.  If in fact Hilary would be elected she would also be judged by history after her term(s) and then you could compare the two, but you can not have anything but an opinion now, not facts.
305496
It isn't about President Bush, anymore than it was about Former President Clinton when he was in office.\n\nWe have people in the U.S.A. and outside the country who have confused name-calling, rumor-spreading, and undermining the country in the eyes of the World community\n\nfor\n\ndissent, disagreement, and protest.\n\nThey do not know the difference and are being seditious.\n\nWhat is worse, most of us have been silent about it, or even voted for the ones who do it.\n\nI'm a Democrat.  I strongly urge all U.S.A. citizens to stand together against this kind of behavior.  Disagree!  But be U.S.A. citizens, first.\n\nSee those who wish to destroy our constitution, attack capitalism, attack democracy, attack religion, attack our elected officials (even the ones who act criminally) as the real enemies of our country.  Take action.  Respect their free speech, but ANSWER THEM every time.  When politicians do these seditious things, don't vote for them.  When they act criminally, wait until they are CONVICTED, then never vote for them.  Stop condemning the elected officials and never let anyone convince our children (as some are trying) that our government is bad, "big brother", or whatever.  WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT!\n\nIF you stand up against them, they won't be able to hate our Presidents with impunity.  They will be alone, and know it.\n\nThere's a lot more of us, than them.  Join us.  Don't call them names.  Don't join them, but call them on their behavior everytime.
299893
You question assumes that he was elected the first time around. I disagree. He was selected. Second time...his cronies owned and built the voting machines,and Kerry was a shallow puppet douche. Add it up, it was rigged. I hate Bush. I assume that you hate Bush. 69% of the country hates Bush. And the rest of the whole world hated Bush. ABASSO IL RE! (Italian, not Spanish. For all you little bigots out there clenching your teeth and shaking your little fists, there is a difference.)
255909
People who voted for Bush seem to have done so because of their self-righteous-"Clinton is an adulterer"- piety.  Alas, I long for the days when our biggest concern was whether our president received oral sex.  It was simpler times.\n\nYou see what happens when we let the self-righteous decide who becomes president?\n\np.s. \nUnemployment is low, but the gap between the rich and poor is ever increasing because the types of jobs that are being created are service jobs and not the kind of jobs that allow you to improve your situation.
294507
Clinton didn't accomplish anything as far as I could tell,\nhe was too busy with his sorted affairs. He couldn't even help Al Gore. He probably hurt him more than helped him. It really doesn't matter about his sex life; people were training over here to fly airplanes into buildings on Clinton's watch. Bush has taken the blame for all his shortcomings.