I found out how many of my neighbors, even old friends, like torture, or do not care, or do not take it seriously. This surprised me. I am sad about it, ashamed to be an American.

If it were only Cheney and W. Bush and a few CIA people, it would not be so bad. But when I find out half of Americans pretty much like torture... Sad. I'm too old to get over it.

Maybe you Americans should consider swimming across the border and doing some of the jobs us Mexicans don't want.

Hey, but at least your Presidents were against gay marriage and reproductive rights. Aren't you happy? Don't tell me you aren't happy?

Tee hee... The worm rarely turns, but it sure is nice to see when it does.

It is amazing to me; just how much damage one individual can inflict on what was once the most influential bodies of land on the planet!!!!!!! I would like to know how this poor excuse for a human being got away with all that was done, without some action taken by parties that could have stopped this insanity. On any level of measure; GEORGE w. BUSH is just as much a criminal to mankind as ADOLPH HITLER was to the Jews and the Polls. I truly believe that there is a place for low life scumbags that destroy the very fabric of a nation-- its called GITMO prison!!!!!!!! Maybe we need to bring it to a national vote. I would also say this: George W. Bush had help in his pact of carnage to Democracy and all of those jackals that ran in the pack with him should be HOUSED IN CAGES much like the rabid dogs they are. The devistation inflicted on the average middle class worker in this country cannot be measured soley by economic loss alone. the strain on famalies and their children will certanly be felt in future generations. I will conclude my diatribe by saying this; Lord help Barrack O'Bamma and this country.

I remember the quote of someone who dealt with W. in the oil business when he was running for president: "GWB's only achievement: making money with someone else's money, he being the only one to gain"

I read seen the 400 dead figure throughout the last few weeks, but let's say for argument's sake it was your figure of 22 (I've seen lower reported). Hamas has for 8 years launched quassam rockets indiscriminately into southern Israel, and done so from heavily-populated portions of Gaza. They were eager for Israel's reprisal, they knew it would be disproportionate, and they had no hesitation to allow innocent children, women, and men die to further their cause; recall, Hamas is an extremist religious organization publicly dedicated to destroying Israel, not co-existing with it.

You do not know me. I have been very vocal in my criticism of Israel, from their use of torture for decades to their occupation of Palestinian territory and also to their slaughter of innocents. This is the first time I have not criticized them because in this instance, I firmly believe Hamas is to blame. That said, the killing by both sides must end now, and Israel now has the greater obligation to cease its military operations, at least those that are no very, very carefully targeted against Hamas militants.

You ended with this: "When it comes to murder and terrorism, Israel's army tops them all."

Bullshit, and you know it. I can think of many Arab nations that murder and torture and terrorize -- within the confines of their own borders. China does very well in that regard, as does Burma and Sudan and Zimbabwe and Congo and Haiti and Russia. However, the greatest perpetrator of murder and terrorism throughout the years has been, sadly, the USA.

Bush - lacking the intellectual capacity to lead a world that was highly sympathetic with America after 9/11- fell prey to the neocons. The neocons' agenda has always been to use America's resources to fight Israel's wars in the Middle East (under the guise of democratizing the Middle East and by lying about WMD and Iraq's links with terrorists). 9/11 was the neocons' golden opportunity and they took advantage of it. W. couldn't see through this.

"I was surprised (although I really shouldn't be) that there was no economic number given to the international embarrassment that he has caused. I know good will is hard to assign a value to but it will cost us dearly in the short/long term. The GITMO fiasco and the Patriot act are both embarrassments economically and politically"

On the matter of the outside world losing its affection and respect for America I offer this. The bitter irony is that the low information warmongering rightists wouldn't give a shit, but the good Americans would. This song lamenting the state that America has fallen into was a huge, long lasting, much played hit in Europe a couple of summers ago. For those of you who are "Good Americans" my apologies for providing a link to a song that were I also an American would make me blush with shame to roots of my very being.

Sample lyric: "You took advantage of a world that loved you well"

Going to a Town, Rufus Wainright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUIsQo4K70Y

Let's say that all the info in this article was known by every voter before the 2008 general election...heh, heh....

I dare say that, maybe, only 5% of those who call themselves 'Republican', or 'Right Winger', or 'conservative' would have changed their vote.

BE AFWAID......BE VEWY AFWAID...

I was surprised (although I really shouldn't be) that there was no economic number given to the international embarrassment that he has caused. I know good will is hard to assign a value to but it will cost us dearly in the short/long term. The GITMO fiasco and the Patriot act are both embarrassments economically and politically. The last should be easy to assign a dollar value to.

The other items the article mentioned seemed to have an underlying theme to them about and that was how to screw the average to poor person and hand the money to rich "friends" (read political supporters). The easy number on that is to take how much we spent on Halliburton and say multiply that times 10.

We will also pay dearly for his total disregard to the environment. That is hard to put a dollar to but think hundreds of billions.

We will go broke in the not to distant future just from Bush alone.