On every major measurement, the Census Bureau report shows that the country lost ground during Bush's two terms. While Bush was in office, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased even more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. By contrast, the country's condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton's two terms, often substantially.
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"I know it sounds arrogant to say," (George W. Bush) told me, "but I redefined the Republican Party"
Both say more when put next to each other than ten thousand words could on the wreckage of the past eight years, imo.
I'll just add:
A health reform bill without a public option, because it will not be meaningful change for ordinary Americans, is inviting trouble at the polls in 2010.
I really don't want to go back to Bush's new definition of the GOP.
Eight years of a life is a long time. I don't know if I have the stomach for more of that anytime soon.
On the other hand, freeing America from the bondage of the murder-by-spreadsheet crowd, will, in addition to being the right and moral thing to do, pay huge electoral dividends down the road.
George W. Bush sure worked hard on redefining his party. And thanks to their total rejection of health reform, we have an opportunity to define it further still.
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Somewhere in this great land tonight, there is a project in a garage that is the Next Big Thing. But the woman behind it has to stay in a job she hates to keep her kids covered.