In reference to name calling, the one slinging dirt, is losing ground.

Errr... I hate it that you can't reply directly to someone's "reply" to a comment. (eddie, ya listening?)
Oh how refreshing to feel like you can speak honetsly and exchange idea's with someone who see's things different than you do. You said:

"Of course we're still friends!!! Isn't that what America is all about? Being able to disagree and still respect and care for one another?"

Sadly that is not the experience I've had from "tolerant" people on the left. You made my day, your a good man Jim, I wish you lived next door. (I could keep a better eye on you )
I actually laughed out loud when you called me a pig-headed conservative. That's a good sign of a long rich friendship.

AS a teacher, I completely believe in what you said. "No Child left behind" is a ridiculous idea and in high schools it sort of means loosely "all kids must go to college." Truth is not all kids will go to college. A lot will go to technical or trade schools or get into their dad's plumbing business or own 2 mini-marts. Come on, this has gotten out of hand and the powers aren't smart enough to see it. Worse than that, they've never been in the "trenches" and have no idea about the reality of the situation they've created!

I hardly know where to begin. Add Supreme Court appointees and all those disgraced cronies to GW's legacy. I feel a regurgitation session coming on.

I got your back, Jim. My Obama vote is all ready prepared. I just wish that preacher would spend a long vacation in Antarctica.

It will take a generation to rebuild our country's esteem in the world. It will never be rebuilt in the moslem world. GW Bush wasn't big enough for the job or the times. His number One misstep was to rehire his dad's old cronies. That doomed his administration. I'm afraid that a McCain administration will maintain that lock-step and we will slide even deeper into it. Good comment-raising post!

Cool. I'd be in... I don't like any of em...
AND I totally believe that your average Joe citizen can make a difference. For sure!

Jim, I think you covered the bases very well. Our country is in a terrible mess, and worst of all, we're dragging the rest of the world down with us. I feel despair at the moment for all of the reasons you mentioned. I know that those who stand up for Mr. Bush mean well, but I can't do it. I think the job was way too great for him. Many of his original advisers left because they could no longer tolerate his actions or because they were too complicit with his views. I do hope we're able to disentangle ourselves in time to be safe and secure. Many do become disenchanted with our leaders after a time, but this is just too much of a quagmire to ignore.

I truly don't understand how anyone can even defend Bush--but then I don't understand how anyone voted for him a second time. And, even more unbelievable, there are those who would vote for him again!

Oddly enough, my last really good "liberal" friend was named Jim so forgive me if I'm a little timid here because though I had known him for twenty years he ultimately told me to basically "eat sh*t and die" during the first "Clinton years". I Do really like you (I really liked him too) and want to know you better, you seem like a reasonable man (although a flaming liberal ) so, all that being said, I'll say this.

I don't like everything W. has done while in office. I do believe, though flawed, his primary concern has been to keep all of us safe. I'm sure he has second guessed himself many times over, but I believe he has tried his best, I truly do. This would not have been an easy eight years for anyone. Please Jim, I'm asking, please stop demeaning him. Stop with the "chimp" and "idiot" stuff. Of course you can say whatever you want on your blog, it just seemed to be-little you somehow in my eye's to see those comments above. Still love ya and all, and hope ya don't tell me to eat.....

The damage done by George Bush to our country and to its reputation abroad is so horrendous that I don't believe we will ever recover. I feel ashamed and I didn't even vote for the SOB.

I agree, but then I also think that by the end of a Presidents term we ALL complain about this, that and the other thing... ya know? I remember I liked Clinton a lot for the first few years and then there was soooo much smack talk about him it was unreal. I really think the trend is to notice all the wrongs of the current administration, then by the time the next one rolls around we'll all be like "Well at least Bush didn't do *this*!"
I think Bush has been a nightmare. But I also remember being thankful after September 11th that he was the president because he had a cabinet that had previous experience with foreign governments. So there is a plus. That might be the only plus, but to me, that was a bonus.

I do, however, agree with every single thing you have said here and I look forward to a new President. Although I don't like any of the candidates. looks like at least I will be unhappy for the next 4 years...

Wait until Hurricane Barack hits Crawford, Texas! I will be that the new FEMA Director will be there in two hours. Also, the ultimate Child Left Behind: G. W. Bush.