Thanks to the generosity of Aerden, heartnsoul, and Soulful Woman, I know have a whopping 2500 points for this contest. The gold now takes 1000, the silver 750 and the bronze 500!
PLEASE READ THE RULES BEFORE ENTERING. THERE ARE ONLY TWO.
1. Answer the question, "What would you have done differently if you were President Bush?
2. Please keep in mind that I prefer COLUMNS/ESSAYS because this is a complex subject that demands complex reasoning, so a poem has very little chance of winning unless it's amazingly thorough. A haiku is right out.
Because I have received a few entries already that have nothing to do with what I was asking for, I'm saying this again here at the top of the page -
AGAIN, your entry must be about what you would have done DIFFERENTLY if you were the president, NOT just a criticism of George Bush. Explain your position thoroughly. See below for details.
I know this is a poetry site but there are plenty of poets here who have been very vocal over the last eight years, either in poems/columns or in general comments, about their loathing of George Bush and/or America in general. However, something that is usually sorely and conspicuously lacking in criticisms of decisions President Bush has made is what the person criticizing would have done differently. It's always easy to criticize, but not so easy to be the one actually making the hard decisions.
So, if you are one of those people who think George Bush is to blame for everything from 9/11 to the pimple on your nose, my question to you is this:
What would you have done differently if you were the president to protect America after 9/11, or about Saddam Hussein/Iraq?
Muslim insurgents/terrorists have been flooding into Iraq to collect their 72 virgins since the liberation began. What do you think our answer to Al-Quaeda should have been after 9/11?
I'm holding this contest for several reasons -
1. To give Bush-haters a forum to vent their frustration.
2. To challenge Bush-haters to put themselves in his place and make a few very difficult decisions themselves. (As difficult as imaginary decisions can be, anyway.)
3. To fill in the part of the argument that, as noted above, is almost always missing from arguments that criticize Bush/America - alternatives to what has been done.
4. To hopefully learn something. Like most people, I'm neither 100% conservative nor 100% liberal, but a little of both, and never above learning something new.
5. To increase peaceful communication. Being divided into liberals or conservatives, or Democrats and Republicans, is not what the founding fathers of America had in mind. We're supposed to be able to share ideas without throwing bricks at each other. There's nothing wrong with a heated argument, but trying to silence each other with threats or violence, as often happens these days, is not what America is supposed to be about. So please try to keep it civil.
The trophies/points will be given to those entries I am most impressed with in terms of logic, not whether I agree or disagree ideologically. Grammar and spelling also count. We're adults who are supposed to be interested in writing, so don't expect a pat on the back if your column is full of misspelled words and grammar/punctuation mistakes.
SUGGESTION: For the sake of contrast, if you have written a poem or column criticizing Bush in the past, post it above your contest entry stating what you would have done differently.
I hope you accept the challenge. And remember, there is no need for anger or hostilities toward anyone. In fact, again, they won't be tolerated. If anyone else in this contest tries to slam you for your opinion, let me know and I'll cut them immediately. You're safe here. Speak your mind and have fun.
Mark
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 22, 2008
- Rewards: Gold: 1000, Silver: 750, Bronze: 500, Honorable mention: 5 people
- Final notes: As my contest description mentioned, I did not judge this contest on whether or not I agreed with anyone, but on how convincing the arguments were, and how eloquently and passionately they were presented. Sheer effort/length also turned out to be a factor.
Some of the reasons people were eliminated were Bush-bashing, which has nothing to do with the contest request, or for writing a poem rather than an essay, or writing too conversationally - i.e., chatspeak - rather than putting some effort into grammar, punctuation, etc. (Writing like an adult.) I even deleted one entry for two reasons - 1. It was a haiku and I specifically asked for an essay, and 2. It was a crude slam of the president and nothing more. In other words, it disrespectfully ignored all the rules of the contest so I disrespectfully deleted it the same way I would paint over graffiti.
Thanks to everyone who entered for your efforts, and particularly the winners, who deserve to be not only read but studied, even and especially if you disagree with them, for two very important reasons - 1. The old mind/parachute analogy - both only work when open. 2. America was never intended to be divided into Dems vs. Reps or cons vs. libs. We're supposed to be American first. (Apologies to non-Americans reading this. i.e., DP and Edna.)
Again, thanks to everyone for your hard work, and congratulations to the winners. I learned a few things. I hope you did, too.
Mark
Contest Winners
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“Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.” - Machiavelliby dp robertson 272 lines, 16 comments, on Jun 12 3:32 AM 2008. In Society, Thoughts
Gold trophy winner
• Viewed by judge. [remove] -
by Edna Sweetlove 18 lines, 20 comments, on Jun 2 11:36 AM 2008. In Politics, Essay
Silver trophy winner
• Commented on by judge. [remove] - Error: Unable to find finalist item 4295359, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
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I would like to preface this by saying,
I don't hate anyone. However, for the• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
A wise man listens and does not speak• Commented on by judge. [remove]
Bronze trophy winner
Honorable mention
Entries [15]
1 - 15 of 15
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nothing was required everything he did was wrongby LarryATilander 2 lines, 11 comments, on Jun 1 8:02 PM 2008• Commented on by judge.
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Does anyone not remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on that dark fateful day?by JWGoethe 48 lines, 9 comments, on Jun 1 10:26 PM 2008• Commented on by judge.
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Although I don't hate Georgie Bush
I'll be glad when he's given the push• Commented on by judge. -
If I were President Bush I would have followed through much more closely with Katrina,and demanded accountability to see the job finished.by Rheea 1 lines, 8 comments, on Jun 2 10:27 PM 2008• Commented on by judge.
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Challenges are an everyday occasion. You asked the question what would change if I was President Bush? I respect the President of the Uniteby Wilson Maxwell 0 lines, 2 comments, on Jun 4 10:59 PM 2008• Commented on by judge.
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Those planes that killed three thousands,
on that day of infamy.• Commented on by judge. -
I would have paid more attention to my Generals than to Donald Rumsfelt, I would have screened and put into training then service the disgruntled Iraqi troops who surrendered so easily. They could have been used guaby Sagerider 5 lines, 10 comments, on Jun 3 1:32 AM 2008• Commented on by judge.
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Gorgie, porgie, our great and fearless leader
Gorgie, porgie, a vision of wisdom or cheater• Commented on by judge.
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Comments
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I do not hate him.
As I im'd you, I do not hate George Bush, and I did not hate Bill Clinton. I do not approve of them but they were elected to be the President. I would like to see change in the way our government is run, but I do not anticipate it. I think that it is easy to criticize and I realize people will disagree but enough of the hate. That is what caused 911 and the other acts of terrorism. In many ways we are all part of why it happen because we were too complacent about our country. We thought we were too big to be attacked. We were wrong. -
I don't generally write political poems, so I think I'll stay outta this one. I'm curious to see what responses it draws, though, since I've come to dislike Bush and his actions over the past years myself.
Good luck with the contest, though; hope you get some good ones. And I bet you can expect one from David.
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Hmm... I may just enter this one... though, the last contest I entered similar to this used wild tOgGlE cApZ and asked me to bash Cona Lisa [sic] Rice
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Katrina
Mark, I will state here that one of the things I would NOT have done if I were in Office when Katrina was forecast was to go on vacation, I would have overseen the state of emergency. If hundreds of thousands of troops and supplies can be dropped into war zones by the military then those same planes could have been deployed to airlift people out of the emergency situation before Katrina hit, after it hit military choppers could have winched people aboard. Of course no man may control the elements but if I were in his shoes, I would have overseen everything humanly and humanely possible to assist and support my people. Peace from across the Pond, Yvette -
Many Americans get up in arms because Bush is criticised. They seem to view that as an attack on all Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is Bush himself, and his administration, who has attacked American ideals and values. Take heed America.
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You should provide some details in this.
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I am not a good enough writer to do an essay. there are others on here like edna sweetlove who have written marvelous essays that you should read. i see by the groups that you are in that you would support Bush and support war. you are allowed your opinion and i'm allowed mine.
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Of course you are. My opinions are based on facts, not emotions nor suggestive remarks by others including media who have adjendas to push. I just watch like all of us do the daily push to discredit all kinds of people in our country and it sickens me that these simple people are discredited only for reasons of greed and profit. People who have spent their whole lives working for us and once in office they are just so much trash to the media. What a horrible state of affairs to see.
My best.
Chuck -
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you are a strange man chuck. but i respect your right to your opinions.
my best to you
jovi -
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Jovi,
I said there was no slamming others for their opinions in this contest, and calling Chuck "a strange man" borders on that. There was nothing as disrespectful as that in his comment. Besides, the man is a career soldier who served two tours in Vietnam. What have you done for America? You need to respect your elders, and your betters. -
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i am sorry mark and chuck i didn't know you were so old. i didn't mean to be personal to chuck. perhaps i should have said his ideas were strange, not him. what chuck says is 'fact' has been openly admitted to be wrong by all security agencies and even by the bush administration.
the invasion of iraq was about oil and about israel. the vietnam war was about trying to stop the spread of communism. -
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Jovi,
If you're going to apologize, don't add an insult to it. ("I didn't know you were so old.") All that does is reveal your immaturity. Secondly, you're right - you should have said Chuck's ideas were strange if you don't agree with him, though that would still be a mild insult. There's nothing more strange about Chuck's opinions than your own. He's right that Bush had faulty intelligence about the WMD's. Everybody needs to get over it and stop accusing Bush of lying. Faulty intelligence and lying are not the same thing.
Re. oil, if that was all the U.S. wanted, since we get most of our oil from Saudi Arabia, the best thing we could have done would be to abandon Israel and kiss the asses of the Saudi royal family to appease Muslims. By Liberting Iraq, we pissed off the majority of Muslims in the Middle East, who think in terms of Muslim and non-Muslim, not right and wrong.
The U.S. supports Israel because it is a Democracy in a hotbed of fanaticism and intolerance, and because they have always been loyal allies of the U.S. If Israel was threatening America with WMD's, saying they had them, and not cooperating with inspectors (like Hussein did before the liberation) the U.S. would be attacking Israel instead. I don't agree with everything Israel has done, but America supports its allies, which is another thing liberals and fanatical Muslims just need to accept.
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chuck and i have sorted our differences and i find he is a gentleman and that he respects women. this is more than i can say about some others.
i won't be commenting anymore on this contest so could you please stop bullying?
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You're the bully. You're just upset that you got punished for it.
I give the treatment I receive. If you can't have an adult argument, the solution is simple - stop answering me. In fact, I'll make it easy for you and put you on block and ignore since you obviously haven't got the intellect to answer me intelligently.
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http://allpoetry.com/poem/546969
this poem was entered in my past contest before and i thought it was quite entertaining it was about bush -
the contest
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the contest
this is ozzie--please give me the particulars of the contest. Are here limits as to length, and i too wondered about essays. I refuse to hate, as it is only destructive in itself. Mr. Bush needs help--help out of that office as soon as possible. hehe -
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ozzie, yes please enter an essay or a column, there is no limit to length, in fact the more detailed your opinions as to what YOU would have done differently under the same circumstances as Bush, the better. Mark and I look forward to your entry.
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Ozzie,
There is no length limit.
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sorry I didn't write my poem the way you asked, but in all honesty you're not gonna get people to understand because there too busy hating Bush. Other then the fact 9/11 happened the way it did, look at the other stuff Bush does that he can control like gay marriage, and the homeless people on the street. Who built the houses after the bombs blew them away? Who helps the mothers working minimum wage jobs? Not George Bush! I can't rewrite another poem because it won't be up to par because if I was George Bush I never would've became president in the first place. I don't vote and I never will because how can I when I've never shaken their hands? Not trying to be mean, just being honest.
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Hi crazibunni, I am now co-judge in this contest and would like to reply. Yes, I have heard the song Dear Mr.President by Pink, it moves me to tears and I echo her sentiments and should like to say the same if it were possible.
I understand the points you have made and would be pleased if you would consider entering an essay or column as to what YOU would have done if faced with the same situations as Bush? You obviously disagree with his decisions, please could you explore and explain what you would have done differently? Please don't feel your entry may not be up to par, your opinions will be appreciated. Hope you re consider another entry, good luck, Yvette
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Haven't you ever heard the song by Pink-"Dear Mr. President?"
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This Contest
I clicked on this because I thought it was a poem that I could comment on. I can't enter the contest because although I enjoy writing and essays are great ways of expressing opinions, I really don't hate George W. Bush nor do I dislike him. He seems like a pretty decent person to me. I don't think he's done such a bad job as President either. He kept his promise to support the ban on partial-birth abortion which was the reason I voted for him in the first place. He supports the original definition of marriage which is a commitment of lifelong devotion between a man and a woman. He also was not afraid to stand up against the terrorists even when it seemed like the whole world was against him. To me, that translates into some kind of courage, integrity and value for the lives of all Americans (born and preborn). -
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Many Sparrows
Thankyou for at least taking the time to share your thoughts on the page. The contest isn't about inciting dislike for Bush but a forum for those that would like to explain why they dislike his decisions and to explain how they themselves may have handled the situations differently. I respect your right to feel satisfied on the issues that are most important to you, thankyou again for sharing.
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1st things 1st
The first thing I would have done was probably tried to have pulled my head out of my ass, but that's just me, and some people work better with it there. I know, I've worked that way myself from time to time. Secondly, I would have chosen someone who makes more sense when the talk. oh, never mind, this is nonesense, I know it, and I shouldn't be here. best wishes with your contest. Ms. Champ sent me here and now i feel silly. Peace and warlessness, ~ Ed
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Oh I don't blame him for the pimples on my nose, but I am suspicious that he might of had something to do with the fungus on my toes.
or not?
laurie
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Tough subject, looking in from the outside. I have been an American resident (AR1) and believe we are all citizens of the world anyway, that nationalistic fervour is dangerous no matter where, as it leads to denying the sameness of all people.
Where I now live, the government rules, and in the runup to an election, promotes, by fear. By inspiring fear in citizens. Traditionally those who vote are those who fear the most that they may loose things. the bling bling things, like pension funds, houses, job security, all the accoutrements to life.
Not life itself, but the things.
Frightened people are easy to manipulate.
Change starts at home, in our own backyard, at grassroots. -
While I read every entry , I feel my comment is better left to the contest than individual pieces. Some I agree with, some not.
If any common folk was chosen to be President, I feel they could do a better job. Not just a better job than Bush, but a better job than any politician.
If you spell it out in laymans terms... anyone could run the country and make decisions to better the united states and the world. i think the more we as a people collectively sit back and let the "politicians" make and break the laws, we will get left with nothing but what "they" want to give us. For years now this has been building. we collectively did nothing. with all the things going wrong now... we can only say what we would have done, should have done, could have done but did not.
REVOLUTION. bring EVERYONE together. SAY NO! SAY YES! SAY SOMETHING! .... -
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I so wish that the job of a President could be so lacking in complexity that the average person could accomplish great things in office. Unfortunately, the position is one of the most complicated duties, if not the most, in our world. Decisions to take life or not, decisions which effect the very foundation of our economy, our educational system, our financial banking, our security, our ...I could go on an on. Each person who acquires the position is faced and expected to be an instant expert in these fields and their mistakes are compounded by the mistakes of others who advise them. I've run 3 corporations, owned two businesses, and now I run an HOA. I've found that the daily grind of emotional people, self seeking, factions within, personal wants, needs, and desires are so combative that just trying to handle the 78 condo's is a full time job. And that’s just 78 condo's. Nothing compared to a nation at war.
On Sept 11th 2001, we were attacked an action not caused by us, but received by us and a newly elected President, with no war experience, was faced with the astounded reaction of us all, in front of children. His reaction there to the news could have sent our nation into a panic, certainly it could have caused a panic in the small children in front of him. He retained his composure, he knew that even as tragic as a crashed plane was compared to the strength of our nation, there are no 2 buildings or even thousands of lost lives which should make a President panic in front of his people. I applaud his reactions that day.
Then he received an assessment, from the spy agencies we have (supposedly the best in the world) about who attacked, where they may attack again, why they attacked, where they were, etc. Details flooded his brain as agency after agency (the same agencies which were wrong about the attack to begin with and failed to predict it) kept saying that the Terrorists were from the Middle East, including association with Iraq. Over and over the next oh so few days, he was briefed by the people and soldiers responsible for our safety that we would be attacked again if we didn't do something quickly. The nation of average people was on the verge of panic.
How complex it was to weed through this maze of information and try to do the right thing for just a simple man now elected to be our President. Only one other President in history (200+ years) has had to deal with this issue (Pearl Harbor).
He tried his best, based on the faulty intelligence he received and got it wrong. I do not fault his reasoning, nor the decisions, but I regret that we got it wrong. All of us.
Now we are faced with that wrong decision and guess what, we actually accomplished something right out of this entire mess. A nation of millions of people are no longer repressed by a murderous dictator. They are holding free elections, have a constitution, and are rebuilding their political ties to each other (this takes decades). For the first time in the history of the oldest nation in the world, that nation is now free.
As a retired military man, I have two tours in SEA and I can tell you our motivation was just as proud. We wanted to extend freedom our most precious gift to others. Our motivations were good, our intentions were good, but instead of doing what had to be done to end it, it was allowed to drag on and one. Vietnam was a eyesore to America, but it was the press (media) who lost the war, not your soldiers who never lost a battle in 14 years.
Our Media daily assaults us with dire predictions, hopeless addictions, and dire strats. A musical of drama over played in the face of our "surge" success.
My best to you my fellow American, please remember, no one man gets it right "all the time."
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"The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions"
I was going to enter, but on reflection I could only express a viewpoint of an outsider looking in with no real knowledge of American politics and having read Mr Robertsons entry anything I submit would pale to nothing.
I wish you well in this contest and look forward to reading more of the entries.
I'm sure Mr Bush & his administration had the best intentions for the American people (benefit of the doubt being given here), but as the quote in the subject says, the best intentions are not always the best method. -
Since I donated points to this contest, I won't enter. Though I like President Bush, I do think the Katrina situation was badly mishandled--mostly on the local level, which I think had the greatest responsibility for ensuring hurricane preparedness. However, FEMA was apparently also being run badly, and Bush does bear more responsibility for that. He should never have appointed an (apparently unqualified) friend to head up FEMA. I think he learned that lesson.
Putting forward his personal lawyer as a nomination for Chief Justice was idiocy. If it was, as I've heard argued, a ploy to get in the nominee he really wanted, that was pretty rude treatment of his lawyer, who was patently unqualified for the job.
I would also like to see much more visible evidence of us developing and manufacturing alternatives to fossil fuels as well as a strategy being implemented to lower the outrageous price of gasoline. If we don't want the oil companies to make such huge profits, why can't Bush challenge Congress to either permit drilling or come up with an effective, sustainable, solution?
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