O‘DONNELL: But many people have made the impression that something in the Bush administration was done wrong. But there‘s evidence that the Clinton administration knew full well that bin Laden had the wherewithal and was planning to attack the United States. Who is to blame and did the president, Clinton, get this information?
SCHEUER: Certainly the president got the information. And most certainly his closest adviser, Sandy Berger and Mr. Clarke—Richard Clarke, had the information from 1996 forward that bin Laden intended to attack the United States. There‘s no question of that. And in terms of which administration had more chances, Mr. Clinton‘s administration had far more chances to kill Osama bin Laden than Mr. Bush has until this day.
O‘DONNELL: That‘s very interesting. I don‘t think that many Americans know that or think that everything that they‘ve heard—you‘ve spent your life tracking Osama bin Laden. From what we know now and what you know, how many missed opportunities were there to prevent the 9/11 attacks?
SCHEUER: Well, we had—the question of whether or not we could have prevented the attacks is one you could debate forever. But we had at least eight to 10 chances to capture or kill Osama bin Laden in 1998 and 1999. And the government on all occasions decided that the information was not good enough to act.

http://select.nytimes.com/2006/09/08/opinion/08friedman.html

Clinton was weak.

Glass parking lot with oil wells poking out of it would be a nice start.

http://www.mikehersh.com/Republicans_sabotaged_Clintons_Anti-Terror_Efforts.shtml

How exactly are the Democrats interfering with the Bush administration? After 9/11, he had the support of the whole country, both Democrat and Republican, and the Bush republicans have had their way on nearly every topic since that tragic day. Hence, record nation deficits and the poorly planned and executed invasion of Iraq. By invading Iraq, Bush fulfilled every goal Bin Laden had for the world trade center attack. He helped start a direct conflict between the Muslim east and Christian west, and tied up the US in a pointless and unwinnable land war in Asia. The destruction of Saddam Hussein, an evil man whose secular regime helped hold Iran in check was just a bonus. Thanks to this poorly thought out attempt to live the PNAC dream, we are about to lose Afghanistan back to the Taliban, and terrorism is a bigger threat worldwide than ever.

BTW – they are not my “beloved democrats”…I was a Reagan Republican, an actual member of the “Young Republicans”, but Its time for even the most ardent Republicans to quit drinking the Bush administration cool-aid and accept that the policies of the Bush administration have been a disastrous failure.

I’ll end my portion by responding to nwmike:

“Yes, I know it is not ALL Muslims, but then again terrorists do not respresent the thoughts and behaviors of all Muslims either. Right?”

My extensive exposure to the culture and social life of the muslim world has led me to believe that their culture, not religion is the root of all evil, period. They have twisted morals and they go out of their ways to make enemies with all other major religions and cultures. The world would be much better off if we go on a new crusade to kill every single one of those guys. I made my original comment in regard to the unfortunate fact that many muslims who did not wish to join “jihad” and were actually not pleased with hardcore terrorists have now educated their offsprings to remember the evil doings of US. It’s not only that, I know some who converted into islam simply because of sympathy. It’s like a time bomb. You need to be living outside the western world to see how it unfolds. Rather scary really and nobody can do anything about it. IMO, what Bush did was for the greater good but through the wrong reasons. Even the rational ones can’t forgive Bush (= US in their minds) for that.

I am referring to:

“The following are the six key points contained in the unclassified overview:

• Since 2003 Coalition forces have recovered approximately 500 weapons munitions which contain degraded mustard or sarin nerve agent.

• Despite many efforts to locate and destroy Iraq’s pre-Gulf War chemical munitions, filled and unfilled pre-Gulf War chemical munitions are assessed to still exist.

• Pre-Gulf War Iraqi chemical weapons could be sold on the black market. Use of these weapons by terrorists or insurgent groups would have implications for Coalition forces in Iraq. The possibility of use outside Iraq cannot be ruled out.

• The most likely munitions remaining are sarin and mustard-filled projectiles.

• The purity of the agent inside the munitions depends on many factors, including the manufacturing process, potential additives, and environmental storage conditions. While agents degrade over time, chemical warfare agents remain hazardous and potentially lethal.

• It has been reported in open press that insurgents and Iraqi groups desire to acquire and use chemical weapons.”

http://santorum.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.View&ContentRecord_id=1891&Region_id=0&Issue_id=0

However, in response to your comment here, I think we can make the argument that Clinton, Reagan, or Carter didn’t necessarily provoke the Muslim terrorists either in the same fashion you say Bush Jr did. But that didn’t stop them from bombing the Marine barracks, the Trade center the first time, the USS Cole, and the Trade center the 2nd and final time. The biggest problem people have in dealing with this war, is that they are trying to apply rational thought to irrational people. It’s assumed that we must have provoked them in some way, otherwise why would they do such a thing?? Rationally speaking, sure. But is bombing and murdering thousands of people a rational response? No. They are irrational people and will continue with irrational behavior until we stop them. Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are guilty of complacency. Not doing anything about the problem has allowed it to escalate to this level. Clinton and Carter are not to blame for this mess, the fanatics are. But it sure would be a nicer world if they hadn’t been complacent. September 11th was planned far in advance of George Bush ever deciding to run for president. The only way to stop these fanatics, besides genocide and complete annihalation, is installing a government that is accountable to the people so that they may have an economy that will provide wealth and education. Without wealth and education, all they have is religion. That is why I support this war.

“but at least he didn’t provoke muslims around the world into hating US by preemptive strike”

Who are you kidding!? Have you been living under a rock? When have the militant muslims EVER like the USA? Why did the muslim terrorists strike at the US during Clintons presidency if they only do so in response to ‘preemptive strikes?’ Have you been paying attention to the news of what’s going on in Europe? I would hardly call France an ally to the US in the war against terror but Muslims are the ones causing problems over there as well. Yes, I know it is not ALL Muslims, but then again terrorists do not respresent the thoughts and behaviors of all Muslims either. Right?

The 1st World Trade Center attack – 1993.

Khobar Towers bombing.

U.S.S. Cole attack.

He did nothing.

He was offered Bin Laden and refused.

What else do you need to know? The number one job of the President of the United States is to protect America.

He failed at that job.

For all those who shy away from politics and freak out whenever I or someone else posts something poltical, relax, and join in. We are facing many problems with this country due in part to so many people not wanting to hear or be involved with politics. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican, just do your research and vote these dumbasses out that are giving us wonderful laws such as required tire pressure sensors, outrageous EPA standards, refusing to allow new refineries, refusing to allow nuclear power in this country that will have a direct effect on how prolific electric cars become, and tarrifs that directly effect all of you import buyers. Politics is everywhere when you open your eyes.

As for Bill being the recipient of a new hybrid… ??? Like he has driven himself anywhere in the last 20 years.

/yes, I used the same joke at the autoblog we won’t name later

typical. People from both sides of the isle make politically relevant jokes to the thread and for no reason you get all kinds of butt hurt that nobody is bashing bush.

Had this thread been about Bush, your comments would still be incorrect as no charges have ever been filed agains our current President. I can imagine, however, that that there would be numerous jokes about our ‘blood-for-oil, oil tycoon-turned-President’ being given a hybrid…

while you were at it, why did you not complain about our 2 term elected President ‘stealing’ the election? That is nearly as knee-jerk leftist butt-hurt as the drivel you did post.

Look at the man on the right give the Ford guy the crooked eye… what is wrong with these peasants. Our former president only takes Cadillacs or better.

35mpg seems like a lot. Didn’t Motor Trend test the Escape Hybrid and the fuel economy they tested was unchanged from the regular Escape? And then Ford wrote them a nasty letter which they then posted.

Back to the VEHICLE.

Does it have typical Secret-Service level armour plating? That would make it rather heavy for a hybrid…