The Difference Between Presidents

I can't take credit for the following article.  It came from a forwarded email and the original author's name has been lost in a long progression of cut-and-paste.  But let me begin with a forward recounting a story about President George H.W. Bush.

In August 1990, a Utah-based consultant was invited to meet with President George H.W. Bush at the family property in Kennebunkport, ME.  The consultant was invited to bring his wife and their children.  Upon arrival the family was escorted to the swimming pool where President Bush was enjoying an iced tea while awaiting his guests.  Following a plane trip and long car ride to Kennebunkport the children were antsy.  President Bush and the First Lady invited them to change into their swimming suits and jump in the pool.  The children were excited to swim, with the exception of the couple's 5-year-old daughter who tugged at the President's pant leg and whispered in his ear.  President Bush replied,

"It's through that door, down the hallway, second door on the . . ."

As the President looked into the child's face he could see her confusion, frustration, and the dancing from foot-to-foot.

"Oh, nevermind."  Said the President as he took the girl's hand and gave her a warm smile, "I'll show you where it is."  As he led her to the bathroom in the residence.

 This to me is an illustration of people who recognize the Presidency is to serve the People of the United States, not to be served by them.  Unfortunately the following excerpts from Kessler's book will show Democrats in the White House saw themselves as royalty without regard for the People, while Republicans held office out of a love of Country and a respect for its People.

A final note:  when coins were to be minted for the fledgling United States of America samples were brought to President George Washington.  Those which bore his likeness were summarily dismissed by Washington with the admonition, "Do not put my face upon the coins of This Nation.  I am not a king."

President John Kennedy (D)

"A philanderer of the highest order."

"She [Jacqueline Kennedy] ordered the kitchen help to save all the left-over wine during a State dinner, mixed it with fresh wine and served again during the next White House occasion."

President Lyndon Johnson (D)

"It's good for him.  And, if you've ever followed dogs, you like to hear them yelp."
 -- Actual quote from LBJ.

"Another philanderer of the highest order. In addition, LBJ was as crude as the day is long. Both JFK and LBJ kept a lot of women in the White House for extramarital affairs and both had set up early warning systems to alert them if/when their wives were nearby. Both were promiscuous and oversexed men."

"She was either naive or just pretended to not know about her husband's many liaisons."

Lyndon Baines Johnson could be extremely abusive to his aides, even to the Secret Service officers sworn to defend him with their lives. Once, while driving across a field at the LBJ Ranch in Texas, Johnson stopped to
relieve himself. According to one historian,

"One of the Secret Service men standing near him 'felt warm water on his leg.' He looked down and said, 'Mr. President, you are urinating on me.'  Johnson's response, 'I know I am... it's my prerogative.'" 

President Richard Nixon (R)

"A 'moral' man but very odd, weird, [and]  paranoid.  He had a horrible relationship with his family and was almost a recluse."

"She [Pat Nixon] was quiet most of the time."

Gerald Ford (R)

"A true gentlemen who treated the Secret Service with respect and dignity. He had a great sense of humor."

"She [Betty Ford] drank a lot!"

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter (D)

"A complete phony who would portray one picture of himself to public and very different in private: e.g., would be shown carrying his own luggage but the suitcases were always empty.  He kept empty ones just for photo ops.  He wanted people to see him as pious and a non-drinker but he and his family drank alcohol a lot!  He had disdain for the Secret Service and was very irresponsible with the "football" [carrying] nuclear codes.  He didn't think it was a big deal and would keep military aides at a great distance.  Often did not acknowledge the presence of Secret Service personnel assigned to serve him."

"She [Rosalyn] mostly did her own thing."

Ronald Reagan (R)

"The real deal, moral, honest, respectful and dignified. They treated Secret Service and everyone else with respect and honor, thanked everyone all the time. He took the time to know everyone on a personal level. One favorite story was early in his Presidency when he came out of his room with a pistol tucked on his hip. The agent in charge asked: "Why the pistol, Mr. President?" He replied, "In case you boys can't get the job done, I can help." It was common for him to carry a pistol. When he met with Gorbachev, he had a pistol in his briefcase."

"She [Nancy] was very nice but very protective of the President and the Secret Service was often caught in the middle. She tried hard to control what he ate. He would say to the agent, "Come on, you gotta help me out." The Reagans drank wine during State dinners and special occasions only otherwise they shunned alcohol. The Secret Service could count on one hand the times they were served wine during family dinner. For all the fake bluster of the Carters, the Reagans were the ones who lived life as genuinely moral people."

George H.W. Bush (R)

"Extremely kind and considerate, always respectful. Took great care in making sure the agents' comforts were taken care of. They even brought them meals. One time she brought warm clothes to agents standing outside at Kennebunkport.  One was given a warm hat and, when he tried to say, "No thanks," even though he was obviously freezing, the President said "Son, don't argue with the First Lady. Put the hat on."  He was the most prompt of the Presidents.  He ran the White House like a well-oiled machine."

"She [Barbara] ruled the house and spoke her mind."

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (D)

"Presidency was one giant party.   Not trustworthy.  He was nice mainly because he wanted everyone to like him but to him life is just one big game and party.  Everyone knows about his sexuality."

"She is another phony. Her personality would change the instant cameras were near. She hated with open disdain the military and Secret Service. She was another who felt people were there to serve her. She was always trying to keep tabs on Bill Clinton."

One [Secret Service] agent, who politely explained to Mrs. Clinton that his duties did not include toting suitcases from their airplane to their limo, was shocked when she replied, "If you want to remain on this detail," get your fucking ass over here and grab those bags."

Bonus:  Albert "Al" Gore (D), Bill Clinton's Vice President

"An egotistical ass who was once overheard [by his Secret Service detail] lecturing his son that he needed to, 'Do better in school or he would end up like these guys.', pointing to the agents."

George W. Bush (R)

"The Secret Service loved him and Laura Bush. He was also the most physically in shape who had a very strict workout regimen. The Bushes made sure their entire administrative and household staff understood that they were to respect and be considerate of the Secret Service."

"She was one of the nicest First Ladies, if not the nicest. She never had any harsh word to say about anyone."

Barack Hussein Obama (D)

"Clinton all over again - hates the military and looks down on the Secret Service.  He is egotistical and cunning.  He looks you in the eye and appears to agree with you but turns around and does the opposite. He has temper tantrums."

"She [Michelle] is a complete bitch who basically hates anybody who is not black, hates the military and looks at the Secret Service as servants."

 I have no dog in this fight, but I appreciate a great book.  You can find Ronald Kessler's book here.

Another good read is Jack Valenti's This Time, This Place about his rise from local marketing in Texas for Lyndon Johnson to his establishment of the MPAA.  You can purchase it here.

Did the United States Vote for a President and Get a Queen?

It is reported Michelle Obama's entourage has secured 60 rooms for her 4-day vacation in Mirabella, near the Spanish island of Mallorca.

This is a playground for the rich in Europe. Rooms at the Villa Padierna rent for $2,500.00 per day, for a total of $600,000.00 dollars. Besides her daughter, she is accompanied by her "40 closest friends" and 70 Secret Service agents. Michelle and her friends traveled to Spain via Air Force Two. The UK Daily Mail is now calling her "Marie Antoinette". (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1300604/Michelle-Obama-modern-day-Marie-Antoinette-First-Lady-slammed-lavish-Marbella-holiday.html?ito=feeds-newsxml)

A few points:

* Wasn't this presidency supposed to rebuild the United States reputation with other countries,
* With the state of the U.S. economy and jobs, this money would have been better spent at a resort within the United States,
* The mainstream media used to bitch about George Bush retreating to his ranch in Texas for a week, which he owned and didn't spend a HALF-MILLION dollars to rent for 4 days

Hope and change?

What's the Difference Besides Party Affiliation

The following was released by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi:

Pelosi: Where Are the Jobs, Mr. President?

August 1, 2003

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' announcement that 470,000 people abandoned their job searches in July and that 3.2 million private sector jobs have been lost since President Bush took office:

“The fact is that President Bush’s misguided economic policies have failed to create jobs. Since President Bush took office, the country has lost 3.2 million jobs, the worst record since President Hoover. And today we learned that in July nearly half a million people gave up looking for a job.

“Job losses are taking a real toll on the financial security of American families. While Democrats are fighting for opportunity, jobs, and economic security for working families, Republicans continue to focus on helping those who need help the least.

“According to today’s survey, while the national unemployment rate dropped slightly, it still stands at a near record high. In addition, the unemployment rate for African Americans was still over 11 percent in July, and the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 8.2 percent in July.

“It is time for President Bush and the Republicans to get to work for all Americans, not just the elite few.”

If this was such a supposed outrage during the Bush administration when the unemployment rate was 6.1%, Nancy Pelosi should be apoplectic with the current 9.7% unemployment.

For those interested, this represents a 59% increase in unemployment in 6 1/2 years. In January 2009, the last actual month of the Bush administration, unemployment rose to 7.2%. October 2008, the last month reported prior to the Democrats taking over the White House, Senate and Congress, the unemployment rate was 6.5%.

In September 2008, I had a good job making a great annual income. In October 2008 it became clear who would be elected president. Business owners and corporate CEOs became nervous, halting all capital expansion and hiring while "waiting to see" what would happen. As the president-elect had promised "change" in the form of higher taxes and wealth redistribution, businesses began layoffs to protect income and operating capital for 2009. Just one day prior to the inauguration of President Obama, I was laid-off. I took 10-months for me to find new employment. When I did, it was 1/3 of my previous salary and bonuses. Every company I had directed marketing, sales, or both previously had experienced an increase in annual income -- yet I couldn't find employment. Positions that previously would have received a dozen resumes now had stacks 2 - 3 inches thick.

Mind you, I love my new job. The people are great and I'm representing a product for which I am quite proud. But I do it knowing that I'll get 10 calls a day from creditors whom I can no longer pay. I pay my mortgage, but only because they have modified my rate. I keep up the payments to the credit union on the things I can't sell, and try to keep current on utilities. The Goldwing has been sold, Katrin's truck, the ATV rack, and guns. We seldom go out to dinner and the last movie we saw was Avatar, and some dear friends picked up the tab for that adventure.

This is the result of "Hope and Change". Nancy Pelosi was quite eager to point the finger at Republicans in 2003, saying, "It is time for President Bush and the Republicans to get to work for all Americans, not just the elite few." This was 23 months following the single deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. One that simply snuffed some companies out of business with the crumbling of the Towers. Others simply died a slow death due to the grinding halt of the U.S. economy following 9/11.

Now the Democrats have been in charge for over a year, and we have an unemployment rate 59% higher than President Bush and a Democrat-controlled Congress. There have been no terror attacks or significant external pressures upon the U.S. economy. There are troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, but history tells us that this should spur on the economy and put people to work manufacturing guns, ammunition, supplies, vehicles, and offensive and defensive weapon systems.

What we have seen is a tripling of the national debt by the Obama administration. They have poured 87 billion dollars into AIG, taken over GM, and sold off Chrysler to Fiat. In doing so, they arbitrarily mandated the cancelling of dealership agreements. Instead of allowing the free market to decide which dealers would remain in business, they dictated which would be closed. This cost tens of thousands of jobs. From service technicians (mechanics) to sales people and administration, suddenly they joined the ranks of the unemployed.

So when you hear the pundits claim the Obama administration has saved or created millions of joins, remember the unemployment rate has significantly increased under the current administration. Regardless of the 1984-styled double-speak, that means more American's are unemployed (statistically) than any other time in our Nation's history with the exception of the Great Depression of the 1930's.

Remember this when you vote in November. It may seem way off in the future, but it's not. In the next 8 months you will be told how great things are getting. The media will continue to quote "experts" who will say the recession is over. Well, it ain't. Since the Democrats will not hold President Obama responsible for putting 8,700,000 Americans out of work, then we need to hold them responsible. Real change will only come when we vote for new Congressmen and Senators.