Buchanan: Bush Broke United States As A Superpower
Pat Buchanan regularly serves as Morning Joe's lone conservative in the show's self-described 10:1 ratio sea of lib to conservative guests. But Buchanan this morning demonstrated that he is anything but a Republican partisan.
Sounding more like Barney Frank after a bad night's sleep, Buchanan blasted President George W. Bush, claiming 43 "broke the Republican party and frankly he broke the United States as a superpower." View the video after the jump.
I'll be back with a transcript, but in the meantime watch lefty professor Jeffrey Sachs gleefully agree with Buchanan's Bush-bashing.
PAT BUCHANAN: The great blunder was made by George W. Bush when he had the whole country and the world behind him, and he went up to Congress and declared now we're going after an Axis of Evil: Iraq, Iran and North Korea, and we're plunging into that part of the world instead of fighting al Qaeda and handling it the way he should have. And as a consequence of that I think he broke the Republican party, and frankly he broke the United States as a superpower. We are a diminishing superpower today and there's no doubt China is a rising one because of the last decade
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Wow.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Wow. Thank you, Pat!
SCARBOROUGH: I got to say, though. I got to say, though, in George W. Bush's defense.
JEFFRY SACHS: Hey, Pat: that's exactly right!
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Comments
Hey, Pat
Submitted by optimist on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 8:22am.
When you woke up this morning, I'll bet you didn't think that you'd make an in kind contribution to the Obama campaign.
optimist, Bush made it easier for Obama to get elected
Submitted by lrgon on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 9:54pm.
Obama capitalized on Bush's illegal wars and illegal bank bailouts.
Bush ran up the national debt by $3.4 trillion; created more bureaucracy with his DHS; Prescription Drug boondoggle and No Child Left Behind.
The open botrder amnesty position he doggedly pursued was co-partnered by Ted Kennedy for goodness sakes!
Bush was a liberal trying to out do liberals and he did out do them!
Grow up and accept that he was no conservative president. Put the bull horn BS aside and grow up.
Buchanan was right but some folks are still glinging to the trap that is called partisanship.
Bush is a liberal.
For the hate-filled Irgon
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:25pm.
Irgon, I realize nothing is more upsetting to you than the fact that, from time to time, the United States MUST defend itself, but please explain to me how Bush's decision to defend the country was "illegal".
I get the sense the one thing that most upset you about 11 September 2001 was the fact that the death toll wasn't high enough for your liking.
I hate to say this, but while I didn't care for Bush's plan for the border, it wasn't an "amnesty" bill that you claim it is. And I didn't care for Bush on the domestic front...but here you are, putting me in a position where I have to at least defend him in part. He sure is a whole hell of a lot better that who we have now.
Grow up and accept that he was no conservative president. Put the bull horn BS aside and grow up. This is laughable. Instead of constantly scolding and lecturing people on who is conservative and who isn't, you need to accept the fact that YOU, and YOU ALONE, need to grow the hell up and accept that YOU are not a conservative. And neither is Pat Buchanan. Buchanan is, in fact, a reactionary.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
What's the paleo-isolationist complaining about?
Submitted by CT on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 8:23am.
What is Buchanan complaining about, if Bush "...broke the United States as a superpower..." the asshat should be happy he got the isolationism he has preached all these years. Pat Buchanan serves no purpose save to be an MSNBC concept of a conservative stooge.
What isolationism?
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 8:41am.
We're in 3,4,5? undeclared wars now. How do you figure that?
I'd like to know where Pat thought al Qaeda was............Afghanistan?
It's all about the wars
Submitted by buttercup815 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 8:53am.
The military budget is what keeps the economy going. What we need to do is find a reason to declare war on Canada. They have lots of oil and fresh water..I think they speak french up there. That should be reason enough.
Oui...
Submitted by E.S.Blofeld on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 9:50am.
LOL
Ernst
"Isn't it pretty to think that way?"-EH
Huh?
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:47am.
If a nearly $800 billion stimulus package can't keep the economy going, a $500-600 billion military budget isn't going to do it either.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
You have to think BIG!
Submitted by buttercup815 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 1:36pm.
Just think of the possiblilties if we took Canada..all those natural resources..If you want something just take it!
edit: To any goverment agents watching..you do realize I'm just kidding right?
It wouldn't work out
Submitted by jpwcpa on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 6:19pm.
The moment we took possession of all those natural resources in Canada, the EPA would issue a moratorium forbidding us from doing anything with those resources.
Point?
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 9:07pm.
Why in the hell would I want to bring in 35 million or so whiny Socialists into this country? Not all the tar sands in Alberta are worth that...
By the way, is there a point to this or are you just being a smartass?
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
35 million whiny socialists?
Submitted by buttercup815 on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 7:51am.
Don't we already have that many in California? And we'll miss them when it breaks off and falls in the ocean..gonna happen someday..then we'll have to take Canada.
Admission
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 1:43pm.
I'll take this as your tacit admission that you are here to be nothing more than a smartass because your intellectual bankruptcy won't permit otherwise.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
al Qaeda is mostly Saudi
Submitted by Avitar on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 12:03am.
George Bush 43 handled the Muslims with a very gentle touch after 9/11 and it is yet to see if there is long term positive results.
Buchanan is no isolationist
Submitted by lrgon on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 10:15pm.
Trading with foreign nations to their mutal benefit (not some phony NAFTA); establishing diplomatic relations via congressional approval and setting up embassies for the benefit of American tourists and businesses visiting and doing buisness in a civilzed nation doesn't make you an "isolationist" but a sane man. Pat favors America reciprocating with foreigners in a civilized manner too. Do business with nations that are civilzed and terminate relations with uncivilzed nations that cheat, murder and enslave their own people.
Pat is the rational one regardless of which network or tv show he is on. Those who advocate interfering in a foreign government's internal affairs are advocates of interfering in someone else's business. That attitude usually is a trouble starter.
Like the country song Hank Williams sang says alot about how to not start wars: "Mind your own business. "
Irgon: NOT a conservative
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:30pm.
By saying "phony NAFTA", you continue to indicate you are not as conservative by any stretch of the imagination. NAFTA permits the United States, Canada and Mexico to trade with each other for their mutual benefit.
He, like you, is not sane either, for you both are completely unwilling to admit that there are times when our interests and goals sometimes require a TEENSY bit more that just having embassies to serve tourists.
Cutting off diplomatic relations with countries that do evil, or are "uncivilized", does NOTHING to alter their behavior. My source? History. Something you suck at, along with Pat "Stalin was a political genius!" Buchanan.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Phony NAFTA is Appliicble Because It Did Not Work
Submitted by Avitar on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 12:14am.
Mexico did not become a great southern industrial nation. The interests set it up as a transshipment point between China and the US>
Conspiro talk
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 1:46pm.
Spoken like a true Conspiro. Your mention of "the interests" seals the Conspiro flavor of your post.
Mexico, in the north, is quite industrialized. In the south it is very agrarian. Besides, last I checked, all NAFTA does is eliminate tariffs. If Mexico doesn't make something of itself with that...well, that's on Mexico.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Of course he couldn't back up anything he said...
Submitted by zenman1661 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 8:37am.
The debt did go up under Bush, but not to a point we are concerned about going bankrupt like today. And say what you will about Afganistan and Iraq, they projected our role as a superpower in the world. Also, when he used the Axis of evil phrase, he had already defeated Al Queda/Taliban in Afganistan.
Yes, 40% of Bush's "debt" was raiding SS surpluses
Submitted by merly1 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 9:04am.
And what with the perpetual lies on Iraq??? Iraq was an ongoing war from 1991-2003, with Clinton regularly bombing Iraq. Do we bomb friends or neutral countries?. While Bush wasnt fiscally responsible, ie he borrowed 3 trillion publicly in 8 years, Owebama will publicly borrow 4 trillion in less than 3 years = OUCH.
What's the $ numbers per year?
Submitted by E.S.Blofeld on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 10:02am.
The 1991-2003 containment of Saddam cost a few billion a year. Correct? It wasn't in the 100s of billions. Also, I don't think it matters who was in office after GWB, the money borrowed was not supported by any revenue. I'd like to know how this economy gets back on track with no manufacturing jobs and a population fighting over non-economic issues (i.e. gun rights and abortion.) Why not reward the companies who create manufacturing jobs here in the good old USA instead of outsourcing them to China and other impoverished countries? Of course, with more Americans out of work and looking for anything to feed their families, labor will be cheaper than the Chinese Prison workers. Just my two cents...
Ernst
"Isn't it pretty to think that way?"-EH
Wow. Some lame leftie talking points...............
Submitted by merly1 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 10:33am.
Well, containing OBL in the 1990's probably cost less than Saddam....how did that work out on 911?
Most people do think it matters WHO was into office after GWB, ie Owebama and his massive Dem majorities blew the proverbial roof off spending. I do believe the USA is still #1 in manufacturing GDP---> correct me if I am wrong, Ernie. In case you missed the Tea Party and the 11/2/2010 election curb-kicking, it just isnt guns and abortion people have been debating. I think "your two cents worth" accurately summarized your insights in this post. ;o)
Containment of OBL? Historical facts...
Submitted by E.S.Blofeld on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:57pm.
OBL, a Saudi, was upset at the infidels (the US), occupying his country after the first Gulf War. The US supported the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan fighting the Ruskies in the 80's. OBL was part of the fighting force in Afghanistan. The US withdrew support of the Mujaheddin after the collapse of the Soviet Army, OBL created Al Qaeda. OBL was operational through the 90's, a few cruise missles didn't get him, a few trillion dollars more and we finally get him. As for the TEA party, the support at this point isn't all that great, correct me if I'm wrong. As for the 2010 election and curb kicking...it's the economy and the anger.
Ernst
"Isn't it pretty to think that way?"-EH
Really?
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 9:10pm.
A few trillion dollars more, eh?
Sorry, not a fact.
Before you whine again about how I have pegged you as a Statist/Socialist...well, read your comment on the 2010 elections.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
He dropped his mask!
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:57am.
Your Statism/Socialism was bound to come out sooner or later.
Actually, revenue exploded under the evil Bush tax cuts. Government has never figured out to do with less or to spend less than it earns. No matter what party, so save it.
The economy has NO manufacturing jobs? Really? Are you absolutely positive a nation which has a manufacturing sector larger than the entire German economy has no manufacturing jobs? And why the obsession over manufacturing jobs anyway? Are they the only ones that exist in your world? Do we have to make every single thing known to man?
Finally, I love seeing a Statist/Socialist whine about China. Et al. Maybe if the government wasn't poking its finger in the chests of business owners, dictating what they must do to comply with ever more burdensome and capricious regulations, maybe we'd have a much lower unemployment rate right now. Boeing can't open up its plant in SC, for instance, because the NLRB is running interference. No matter that the opening of that nonunion facility in SC will even lead to more union jobs in WA. You cheerfully endorse crap like that, and support politicians that make things like this possible, and yet in the same breath whine about why manufacturing jobs are going elsewhere.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
~Uns
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:17pm.
Blowhard here is Syrius, a retread with over a dozen ID's here since 2007. You may remember his OddJob ID, that one was around during the winter of 2008-9. He's been trying to fit in but he can't help slipping now and then.
Very curious on why you think I'm a socialist?
Submitted by E.S.Blofeld on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 2:10pm.
"Government has never figured out... to spend less than it earns."?
Up for debate but GWB had a surplus going into office. I would have to say in the most simplistic terms the Government spent less than it earned thereby creating a surplus for GWB to spend. I know logical rationale seems to have eluded you on that point.
9 million manufacturing jobs to 30 million government service positions. That's out of whack. I agree we have too many government positions. Comparing Germany (pop. 81 million) to the US (pop. 312 million)...well...It is the second largest exporter in the world (US is 3rd).
Whine...?!? I think jobs going to China is not okay. I hate supporting those commies. You?
Ernst
"Isn't it pretty to think that way?"-EH
If logic has eluded me,
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 9:36pm.
If logic has eluded me, history has thoroughly eluded you. You may have been too busy stroking your kitties and plotting world domination to notice (or perhaps more accurately couldn't pass an opportunity to bash the EVIL Bush, further exposing your Leftism), but right around 2001, some key things happened. Namely, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Also, the original class of Republican Reps and Sens began calling it a career in droves, and they were replaced by those who simply wanted to use the Republican party and Congress as a patronage-dispensing tool.
And I hate to break your heart, but we simply do not need to manufacture every single thing on the planet. The only jobs you seem to remotely care about are manufacturing jobs. But if you did, you'd be on the President's case for not reigning in the NLRB and allowing Boeing to hire thousands of people in SC at their SC facility. Your silence speaks volumes about who you really support and whose policies you truly endorse.
It's wonderful that you bothered looking at the populations of Germany and the United States - but the fact remains that this country has a larger manufacturing base than you realize. I'd argue, in fact, that much of it is heading South - into the southern United States, that is, because state and local governments do not have the adversarial attitude towards business that many northern states (and CA) now have, and because unions are largely absent from the scene there.
And you, like many a populist shrieker on NB, has your panties in a bunch over freaking China. Replace every time we see China mentioned here with "Japan" and we have 1990 all over again. Is it that you hate commies - or are rather a complete Sinophobe?
F*** CHINA. That is my attitude towards China and the populist shrieking about China. So the EVIL Chinese made the toaster over I have. Great. They turned around and sent that money to Everett, WA, as my visit to Beijing attests. Taxiing at Beijing Airport showed me lots of Chinese jets built in WA by Boeing. That's just one example I can think of.
Your Sinophobia is so pronounced that you simply don't care if a job in the United States winds up in a maquiladora or deeper within Mexico, or within Ontario, or elsewhere in the hemisphere, or elsewhere in Southeast Asia - the ONLY jobs you care about are ones sent to EVIL CHINA!
What I DON'T see is how you would like to see conditions changed so that companies feel better about hiring within the United States - which many companies would love to do, simply because it makes their lives easier, IF they don't have to deal with regulations and union bullying. It's easy to bitch and whine, and much harder to offer a solution to the problem.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Unsane
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 12:34am.
I thought I was the only one who was sick and tired of hearing about China - especially from that blowhard Trump!!!
Ronald Reagan
Amen, amy!
Submitted by Unsane on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 1:49pm.
Amen, amyshulk. You know what concerns me about China, more than anything else? The one-child policy and the after effects thereof. Not how many Treasuries they have, not how many toaster-ovens (and other items) they make...all of that is just populist shrieking that reminds me of the populist shrieking about Japan I endured in my teenage years.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Agreed. They do tend to focus
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 4:10pm.
Agreed. They do tend to focus on things they *think* they can control, thus they beat up Christianity yet treat Islam with kid gloves. Butt in in Egypt, while ignoring Iran. And on and on. This pattern screams control to me.
Ronald Reagan
not the only one,
Submitted by Agnostic on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 1:58pm.
No you are definitely not alone. Too many people seem to think if others get more there is less left for them and it works well into the class warfare of the liberals.
The syrius troll LIES again.
Submitted by The Vet on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 2:44pm.
syrius aka plugs aka oddjob aka e.s blofeld: The 1991-2003 containment of Saddam cost a few billion a year.
The Congressional Budget Office assigns average personnel costs of
about $250,000 per person-year to overseas peacekeeping operations,
yielding $7.5 billion per year for troops.6 Accounting for operating costs
and depreciation of ships and planes adds $5.4 billion, so the direct costs of
containment are about $13 billion per year.
+++
They estimate that the annual costs for containing Iraq without a war would
run approximately $19 billion dollars per year. Even allowing for the Hussein Regime to
end on its own, they calculate that the present discounted cost to the U.S. of containing
Iraq at $380 billion. Hence, the cost of war is deemed to be far less than the cost of not
going to war and just containing the Hussein regime.
+++ cost of containment versus going to war in Iraq +++
In total, our estimated U.S. cost of containment becomes $630
billion.
++++
Professors Davis, Murphy and Topel have revised their figures in a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, "War in Iraq Versus Containment." Their estimated war costs have increased to a range of $410 billion to $630 billion, reflecting reality there.
+++
Yeah, Stupid 50 time retread troll, YOU CAN'T GET THE SIMPLEST OF FACTS RIGHT, but you demand we hang on your every little word you try to present as fact when you just pull crap straight out of your ass. YOU DEMAND IT. You demand we respect you when you do nothing but tell one lie after another.
Too True!
Submitted by NC Boy on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 8:45am.
It's interesting to look at the people who are being vindicated by events. Ron Paul (economics) and Pat Buchanan (foreign policy). These have not been my favorites by any means, but need another look. Maybe Paul for President, Buchanan for VP - and Paul promises not to "interfere" with Buchanan's foreign policy!
Scary
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:59am.
They are both idiots. A reactionary and an ostrich. What a great combination.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Proof Positive
Submitted by txradioguy on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 9:29am.
The foremost member of the John Birch society (umm that's you Pat) proves that BDS isn't limited to just the Libtards.
Off topic, but........
Submitted by nanabanana on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 4:53pm.
I love your quote, loved Audie Murphy - a true hero (and not that bad an actor - also loved his movies).
Why is this news? Pat hates the Bushes
Submitted by frank14 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 10:08am.
Pat ran against Bush's Dad in the 1992 primaries...remember?
Pat Buchanan
Submitted by NotFondOfLibs on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 10:45am.
What a jerk this guy is. Buchanan is like a hemmorhoid that never goes away. This guy never stops pandering to the liberals on Morning Joe. He and Scarborough are just plain a** kissers.
The old buzzard, Pat
Submitted by jdhawk on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 10:52am.
The old buzzard, Pat Pukecannon, if likes Bush's record he must be estatic about O'bummer's record so far. I mean, he has kept the war in Iraq going, doubled down in Afghnistan and is at war with at least four other countries in the middle east all while completly dropping the ball in regards to North Korea and Iran.
Meanwhile, our superpower status will go the way of little Britain as we get more and more in debt and shift more of our local, state, federal objectives to that of redistribution of income through massive entitlement programs.
My prediction is that if we don't address the above issues, the 2012 defense budget will be the highest we will ever see taking into account inflation. Clintoon nearly broke our military with massive underfunding and troop reductions - over 100,000 personnel positions were eliminated during his terms.
I sort of agree with Pat.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:11am.
Bush continued a trend that several former presidents started (with the exception of Reagan).
We started wars that we didn't finish. To our enemies that's called losing.
We are fast becoming a second rate military by cutting our own throats. Clinton gave the PRC everything they needed to catch up with us technologically. They were well behind us when Bubba took office, but pulled dead even in a hurry with our help.
Bush just continued the crap. Too much fighting without even wanting victory, and too much spending.
What Pat failed to point out is that Bambi, our current CINCPOSRFB, did. He made the others look downright cheap by out spending EVERYBODY combined in just two short years! He toured the world bowing to dictators, kissing rings, and telling anyone who would listen what a piece of crap the USA was and is. He has the entire Middle East in an uproar that will not turn out good.
I have to give Bambi props (whatever dat be) for one thing, however. Instead of starting wars and getting our troops killed and THEN walking away, He just gets the hornets nest buzzing and walks away without even engaging. Leading from Behind, I think it's called.
Of course, the next president will have to deal with the hornets, which may get a hell of a lot of people killed. I just hope we can the ROE and go for victory early.
Nuke early and often
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:15am.
.
The ROE makes me ill, as did
Submitted by amyshulk on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 5:18pm.
The ROE makes me ill, as did Clinton's dismantling of the military.
Ronald Reagan
Your Recommendations are in the Solution Space
Submitted by Avitar on Tue, 08/30/2011 - 12:22am.
We are so sick of politicians who nerver solve any problem that Ron Paul and Pat Buchanamm are looking very good right now.
Buchanan
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:03pm.
Please. Buchanan hates the United States for BEING a superpower. In fact, I think of him as a fairly unhappy guy altogether.
But then, I simply don't understand why this idiot gets ANY airtime or why any of his books get published. His WWII history was laughable. I have a severe problem with anyone who goes on for pages upon pages considering Stalin a genius. He used brute force to achieve his objectives. That does not require genius.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Stalin a genius
Submitted by Agnostic on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:07pm.
Pat read it in the NYT - so it must be true
Not The First Time For Pat
Submitted by stratman on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 1:32pm.
Buchanan occasionally tracks so far to the Right that he ends up Left, which the Left immediately applaud.
No surprises here.
Lest we forget
Submitted by retrocon on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 1:54pm.
For whom Buchanan worked and advised from 1966 to 1974.
Oh, yeah, those days left the Repulican party, and this country, far better off...
Thanks, Pat.