As for the posts here, it astonishes me that there are two truths nowadays. The Liberals KNOW we invaded Iraq for oil and that W is an idiot, the Conservatives KNOW that it's all Bill Clinton's fault. I'm a staunch Democrat, so I'm closer to the former, but both sides have the "facts" to back up their opinions, even if the facts and opinions are completely contradictory. How did we get here?

Oh, and I'll bet he's going to call the movie "W."

Now to db-you are right; I may have been premature in my assessment of what Oliver Stone was going to do with this movie. I just know what I have seen from him in the past and feel that we will be subjected to more of the same. No- that is not quite accurate. I should say those who choose to see the movie will be subjected to more of the same. I will very likely choose not to spend my money to see this movie, if and when it comes out. That is what most people do when they do not like something. They choose to not give it any of their time, money, etc. Speaking of my money... I would love to be able to contribute to the list of the many pro-America movies that have been made in the past but I do not make nearly enough money to make a movie. I am no where near what you would call wealthy; in fact I am very middle of the pack salary-wise. That is not to say that I have always been middle of the pack. I have had to make changes in my life to even get to this point. I used to bring home a lot less money than I do now. I used to work for a relativeIy small company where I mostly enjoyed my job but had topped out wage-wise of what the owner/founder of the company determined a person in my position should make. I even endured a demotion from a position that I really enjoyed in the company that I felt was going to be my future career. That's fine. They were the owner and it was their prerogative to determine such things. It wasn't enough money for me to live how I want to live. I want to be comfortable and not have to worry about which bill should get paid over the others and fall behind on payments. I made some very poor choices in the past that put me in that led me to that point. I chose to quit going to college when I was 20 years old; I chose to run up my credit cards to points where they were difficult to pay down the balance with minimum payments (all I could afford); I chose to try to have things like expensive cable TV and new vehicles that were unaffordable on my salary. I made those choices. Then I finally made the desicion (with the encouragement of my girlfriend and now wife) that I needed to go back to school and get myself into a position to not have to worry anymore. That and I have learned to do without things I cannot afford without credit cards (I don't even have one of my own). I still drive the same vehicle I bought back then when I could not afford it; it is now 10 years old and probably in need of being replaced. But I have learned the hard way to make better decisions in my life and it has made my life better. I believe from my experience that I can say that anyone can do what I have done. My situation now isn't one of great wealth and my old situation wasn't one of the greatest despair; the type of despair that many in this country and the world face. But I feel that anyone can make their lives better if they make better choices and decide that they want to and NEED to. They do not need to take hand outs from the government to do so. In fact, they will probably never get there with hand outs because it will not teach them to do on their own. It would just be a temporary fix. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, he eats every day for the rest of his life. I know that is corny but it can be applied to so many real life situations. Sorry for BOTH of my extremely long rants.... I feel lucky that at least the first one got to stay on the site. I don't yet know if this one will but I'll keep my fingers crossed!

After reading each and every post on this issue, its clear that many feel that our President did a poor job, and many are quick to defend the office of the President.

I feel the job of the President is the hardest job in the world. Always under the microscope, never not second guessed, and the fate of the world in your hands.
That is a lot of pressure for any human being.

Now if we look at the office of President, and we see what has happened to those in office, a movie about any President will make good drama. It doesn't matter if you like the President or not. All the choices a President has to make daily about the fate of the world is interesting.

That being said....

I don't feel President Bush (current) has done a quality job in office. I do feel that fear has been used to control the masses. I don't feel he won the first election, and the Supreme Court made a mistake. The second election, the country made a mistake by putting him back into office. I don't disrespect the President, I bet he's a nice guy, a guy you wouldn't mind having a beer with and relaxing with. I don't feel he was the right choice, and I question the choices he made in office.

As for the always talked about Clinton's. President Clinton did many good things for the country, he also did screw up in office. One thing I did find refreshing was that he tried to listen to different points of view while making choices. In his second administration he had a rough time with the Republican Congress, who battled with him to get things done, and went after him. Still we came out in better shape after the Clinton Presidency.

In the up coming election, we have several tough choices, as people, as americans. What leader will be able to unite us and not divide us? Who will help the struggling middle class, will keep us safe, will reach out to those in the world both friend and foe. We have many things to think about, but the fighting two parties, the left and right, need to stop, need to wake up, and realize that were all americans, we all want a better tomorrow, and were only as strong as our weakest link.

Ha, ha.

Personally I can't even look at Bush's face without feeling sick.

-John, Lincoln, NE

The "evil" Democrats aren't the ones smearing veterans (John Kerry, John McCain), it's the Republicans. Take a look at how both were treated in Bush's campaigns. Bush dodged Vietnam while those two guys were over there and for he and his people to criticize them is repulsive.

It always gets me that those hard core "bushlovers" who buy into the propaganda of fear live in the part of the country that would never get hit by the terrorists. This is not the first time our government allowed 9/11 to happen in order to line up public opinion behind the war. Now if you paid attention in your history class you'd know that every war in the history of men was always about money. So fear not Mr. Red as long your beloved bush has his war that makes his buddies rich we are OK – trust me I take subway to work everyday and my only fear is – what is this unfortunate man going to come up with next. Arrogance and ignorance combined eats this great nation from the inside and we allowed that to go on for 8 years.

“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. ...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” ~ Herman Goering, second in command of the Nazi Third Reich.

Seem very familiar?

What make-up and prosthetic feats will be needed to get the just-so nearly pointed ears, the beady, slightly crossed, convergent (and vacuous) gaze, the west Texas upper lip overhang for the actor playing the part?

Two hours (+/-) of the uniquely, exquitely, fumbling, unending stream of gramatical, lexical, geopgraphical, historical, economic and social malaproposims that even a beginner speaker - say, a three or four year old - would fail to surpass, would tax the efforts of phalanxes of screen writers never before assembled for the making of a film. (A practical solution might well be to simply lip-sync creatively compiled speech for the leading part from rich archival resources.)

Finally, what collection of Hollywood heavies will be assembled as supporting cast? Who will play "Shooter"? "Scooter"? "Slam-dunk" Tenet? the disgraced Powell? The now-Secretary of State named for a Chevron oil tanker? "Hand-jive" Rumsfeld? AGs "Trashcraft" and "Gonzo"? The "Flowers and chocolates" fraternity of neocon attorneys, Zionist ideologues, facilitators, loop hole deliverers and recycled ex-felons working out of the basement of the Pentagon? The Shock and Awe niche media cheerleaders? Plantation-boss Bremer? What vignettes of Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, Faluja, the rendition-and-torture gulag will be delivered?

In this case, even the redoubtable Oliver Stone might be biting off more than he can chew and deliver on. He might better opt to bring it out as a full-length animation, adult comedy. In that way, the wealth of opportunity to charicature, exaggerate and overstate a reality that can only be expressed in over-the-top burlesque might succeed as a creative endeavor. Take a page from Mel Brooks, who, presented with the challenge of rendering the Third Reich as an entertainment topic, arrived at a musical spoof featuring a character named Adolf Hitler.

I didn't know Bushy boys cheerleader college roommate was gay! Interesting. I also enjoyed reading that part of Reagan's diary which states in so many words that G. W. was a useless bum.

Yes, I agree – daddy, Cheney and Rove ran the show. Gee, I hope they are all rich and happy. They were the most miserable group of people I have ever witnessed..crooked, and full of .greed, greed, greed. Just how stupid do Republicans think the American people are? What? They think they can tell us anything and repeat it enough and we'll begin to believe it?

Well they managed to ruin the stock, job, and home market. They allowed financial and insurance corporations to run rampid and rip off people.

I think Stone should make the movie.. so we learn not to make the same mistakes again and demand accountability...I hope the voting machines are working correctly in 08.

My personal opinion – I think only Hillary can take on Romney or McCain.. and we need very badly to win!

To be honest, it's not so much because I don't think America's high price in Iraq isn't worth the effort but it's more because my Canadian countrymen are fighting the Taliban, the real enemy on their home turf and the same sort of surge that has recently proved successful in Iraq would IMO be more useful in Khandahar.

IMO, it's time for the US to step in and help Canada finish the Taliban once and for all. After all aren't they the bastards that attacked Americans on American soil, not to mention Canadians and others. From what I understand we can still do this job despite the cowardice of the rest of the NATO nations who only want to "appear" to help. (Hello... Italy, Netherlands, France and Spain)

As for Stones' movie. It's a movie. That's all. Watch it or don't watch it. Agree with it or don't agree with it. But, be thankful you live in a country where he's allowed to make it.

It's interesting how some portions of the media keep chanting "recession, recession, recession", and how "poor Christmas sales" in 2007 supposedly were.

Because the facts show otherwise.

For example, "Holiday Online Receipts Are Strong, but Reflect a Decline in Rate of Growth" by Matt Richtel in the New York Times (December 28, 2007) states that

"The sales growth of 19 percent, while enviable for traditional retailers was down sharply from the 25 percent to 30 percent growth rates of recent years."

What does this mean? It means that on-line retailers sold 19 percent MORE than LAST year. It means that retailers sold THE SAME AMOUNT PLUS MORE than last year.

Suppose at Christmas 2006, you gave your child FIVE toys, and he was happy with them.

Then a year later, at Christmas 2007, you gave your child SIX toys. Your child is unhappy, and you ask why. "I was expecting EIGHT toys this year," he says.

Merry Christmas!

Now look at how CNN also spins it in this sentence written in the CNN in this article "Rebates: No big deal for stores” by Parija B. Kavilanz, January 21, 2008:

"With 2008 expected to show the weakest growth for retail sales in years, Americans sorely need some incentive to keep shopping."

In other words, the weakest GROWTH. That doesn't mean retail sales are LOWER, nor does it mean that retail sales are FLAT. It means that retail sales are ABOVE, but the percentage above previous years doesn't satisfy some people.

There's definitely an attempt by the news media to make the situation seem worse than it is - by using slightly misleading sentences that careless readers will misinterpret. Of course, this has a domino effect of making the "consumer confidence index" fall because everybody thinks "the economy sucks".

The sales have been growing, just not at exorbitant rates of previous years.

First: I am a veteran. I will take you at your word that you are as well.

Second: Call you names? Please go back and read my post again. I did not call you a single name. Not once. Do you think you saying so in your post would somehow give your post more credibility? I guess I have never understood that kind of thinking.

Third: No, I don't think we went to Iraq to create freedom. I think we went to Iraq because of Iraq's repeated violation of United Nations Security Council's Resolution 1441. I think we went to Iraq on the recommendation of the president and the approval of both the House and Senate. I realize that these facts have been lost to rhetoric over the last three years, but they are facts just the same despite liberal revisionist history.

Lastly: You can say you respect the office all you want. Your disrespectful insults are there for all to see that you do not truly feel that way. It's like the many Democrats in the Senate who said how much they supported the troops but then voted against providing them with the tools and equipment they needed to do their jobs just to show their disapproval of this president and this conflict. This is another fact. If you are truly a veteran how can you possibly justify this?

adidas boy

Despite having nothing that resembles a brain, he managed to fix the result of the 2000 election and then convince 59million Americans to vote for him in 2004.

Despite being a foul-mouthed war-monger, Bush has convinced most American Christians that he is a great man of God; a latterday saint and defender of the Faith.

Despite his dubious share deals in the Eighties and Nineties, Bush was entrusted by Americans to run the US economy (and, hey, what a mess he has made of it).

Despite never fighting for his country, Bush somehow managed to convince America that he was a man of patriotism, of honour and of bravery.

* * *

George W Bush has disfigured American history. He is the worst two-term president of all time and, probably, the worst of the 42 men who have held the office (yes, even worse than Harding, Hoover, Coolidge and Pierce).

Oliver Stone does not need to exaggerate about Bush because the story of this wretched president is already stranger than fiction.

It would be funny if it was not so tragic.

Hail to the Thief!!!

Sadly, a lot of people feel that we have been living under a dictatorship for nearly eight years. It is difficult to comprehend a Godly dictatorship.

Perhaps after a long period of healing, Americans might be open to seeing a humane side of a our President. Right now is not the time. By the way, who is potraying the countless Americans suffering because of the decisions of our Godly President?

President Bush is a Praying President. Prayer is good, Godly actions are also good. Why are so many individuals from all walks of life asking so many questions about the credibility of our President? I don't feel that stating that his heart is in the right place is going to give anyone a spiritual uplift.

"What a waste of energy it would be to pursue this film project. Bush was a terrible governor of Texas, and probably the worst President of the last 150 years… yes, even worse than Nixon. Most of our citizenry just hope that this idiot doesn't get us into another war before his term expires."

now, isn't that exactly why we the people should find out How in the world such horrible miserable alchoholic loser ever got elected twice to lead this nation and the world?????????????

no curiosity is a hallmark of midiocre intelligence. just look at bush. for our children's sake, THINK for once in your life!

"One of the greatest presidents" (????)

"- Declared 'mission accomplished' 2 years ago, the war is still ongoing"

2 years?? Try 5 years.

That was May of 2003 he declared that!