Ralph Sevush, all around good guy, wrote the following short essay which he calls “The Cultural Divide.” I thought it was an interesting take on the current status of things and decided to close out political blog entries for a bit with it:
Regarding the cultural divide
This morning, I woke up thinking…
… that, as Spalding Gray observed, I live on an island off the coast
of America;
… that we should have just let the south secede when they wanted to;
… that perhaps we could consider a new form of secession, a Northern
secession;
… that if Canada could just give up a strip of land along the northern
border of North Dakota and Montana, we could build a “Freedom Trail”
with an “underground railroad” that connected the northwestern corner of
Minnesota to the northeastern corner of Washington state, thus creating
an independent, contiguous nation consisting of the Northeast, the Great
Lake region, the northern midwest, and the westcoast (plus Hawaii) with
full autonomy from the United States;
… that we could then forge a union with Canada, and become the
Federation of North American States (FONAS);
… that we would then be Fonasians, with access to Canada’s national
health care, with religious and ethnic diversity and tolerance,
relationships with the rest of the world, economic justice, individual
freedoms, and great hockey teams;
… that we would then have a nation composed of the cultural, financial
and industrial centers of the former US, and have Canada as our farmland
and ranch, and still have great vacation spots in the south pacific;
… that we could learn a lesson from Israel and build a massive wall
along our southern border that would separate us from the belligerent,
imperialistic, crypto-Fascist military theocracy that continues to grip
the US government, as it presides over a small-minded citizenry steeped
in religious zealotry who love only their god, themselves, their first
cousins and their sheep, and whose leading export to the world is death;
… that I should just roll over and go back to sleep. Perhaps I’ll
dream of Fonasia, in repose on my island off the coast of America.
But when I wake up, I’ll still be here.
Shìŧ.
Did you ever have one of those mornings?
– by Ralph Sevush, Esq.
(a card-carrying member of the ACLU and the MMMS)
• 
“Kerry conceded. This is not about the election.”
Except it could be. A concession is merely a political gesture; it is not legally binding. If the FBI launches a full scale investigation, and finds singificant evidence of tampering that the results are in doubt, the election could indeed be thrown to the courts with Kerry’s concession meaning nothing.
PAD
I think this is an example where liberals and conservatives should be able to come to agreement. Everyone who can legally vote should be able to do so. All illegal votes must be eliminated (since every illegal vote is essentially the same as denying a valid one).
Hëll, yeah!
“remarkable results out of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. In 29 precincts there, the County
Agreed PAD. However, I don’t believe there will ever be a true, factual and valid accounting of this election because there is no way to get any kind of accurate recount. There will be charges of voter fraud in every election from this day forward if we cannot find a way to give the American people confidence that their vote counts. I also don’t think they could prove significant evidence of tampering. I don’t know much about the programming end of things, but even I could probably come up with halfway credible excuses as to why the software did not work properly, therefore they will be able to claim that there was no intent to fraud. And I don’t see the Kerry camp asking for a new election unless there are several convictions. I hate to be realistic about this, but that’s why I don’t think it’s about this election anymore. I doubt there will be any outcome in which this administration would be supplanted. But we should ALL fight for the future. If we don’t trust the process, then the country will remain divided with half always disputing the results.
Peter said A concession is merely a political gesture.
You want to see some more serious problems in this country? Let someone say that the election was a fraud and Kerry is actually the President. Or have Kerry take Bush to court over the election after conceding. If his career isn’t finished now (which I bet it is if the Democratic party is true to form), it will be after that.
Why don’t you just let it be. The election is OVER. Whether or not you and others agree with the results, it’s time to move on. Get over it already.
I can’t believe I heard on the radio today that Bush will do anything for money, including staging of the 9/11 attacks. They even said that he planned the attack on the Pentagon, not to mention that they think Cheney’s wife would eat her own young. Utterly amazing. Was that one of you guys that called today?
I’m still waiting for my gas prices to come down since we’re in control of Iraq’s oil now. Life is so unfair.
I’ve been following Olbermann’s coverage of the voting irregularities, which go far beyond what was quoted here about Cuyahoga County in Ohio — there are allegations in other Ohio counties, in Florida, in New Hampshire and other states. Even Nader is speaking up about it, and we know there’s no way any recount is going to come out in HIS favor!
We must eliminate not only any improprieties but any appearance of improprieties in our electoral processes. I am in full agreement with those that say that this is a non-partisan issue — had Kerry won under similar circumstances, I’d make just as much noise about it. We simply have to know that our votes count and count accurately.
This is the second Presidential election in a row in which there was the appearance of improprieties. I’m not saying that there were improprieties, just saying that something appeared fishy in each case. And isn’t it funny that they were also the only two elections in recent memory where the outcomes didn’t match the exit polls?
There is an FBI investigation pending based on evidence being provided by a Congressional candidate in Florida. There are also allegations that a test-run at fixing the Florida election happened during the 2002 Florida Democratic Primary, causing Bill McBride to get the Dem nomination for Governor over the better-known Janet Reno (supposedly a politically advantageous match-up for Jeb Bush, though I think Reno would have had a hard time beating Jeb here after the Elian Gonzalez debacle — she alienated a lot of the South Florida Dem base).
Five Congressmen have filed an urgent request with the GAO to look into the possible problems.
My gut feeling, though — and this is not based on any inside info, it’s just a feeling — is that nothing is going to come of this before the electoral college votes are certified in early January, meaning that Bush will still be President. I think investigations will continue after that date. Most two-term Presidents end up with some scandal in their second terms (Lewinsky, Iran-Contra, Watergate), and this has the potential to be Bush’s. Whether it ends up being minor or major depends on whether any improprieties are proven and whether they can be tied directly back to his campaign. If all that happens (and I consider it doubtful), we could have another Watergate on our hands, and Olbermann just might be recognized as the next Woodward or Bernstein.
Not bad for a guy that started out as a sportscaster.
Oh, one more point: on his show tonight, Olbermann mentioned that there is word that Kerry wants to run again in ’08. If any of these allegations prove true or a large percentage of the population begins to get the general feeling that something went wrong in ’04, I’d say he’s a lock not only to win the nomination, but the presidency as well. Kerry has made the right move here — he’s stayed out of the fray and is well positioned to reap the benefits if these allegations are found to be (or are generally believed to be) true.
“If any of these allegations prove true or a large percentage of the population begins to get the general feeling that something went wrong in ’04, I’d say he’s a lock not only to win the nomination, but the presidency as well.”
That’s a logical point but then again, how much did it help Al Gore 4 years later?
That’s a logical point but then again, how much did it help Al Gore 4 years later?
I guess you could say that Gore didn’t benefit by this being the second time that the election has been this close, and the results are being even more closely scrutinized this time around.
In the end, there may be nobody else for the Dems to nominate other than Kerry – Dean might take the DNC position, people are still iffy on Hilary Clinton, Vilsack will only have 2 terms as Iowa’s governor under his belt (but he’s putting a self-imposed 2 term limit on the job), Obama needs more experience.
I did read something too about what Julio was talking about, and possible voting irregularities in Florida.
I mean, if this report is accurate, is is VERY fishy – almost everywhere, exit polls were matching up in terms of who was voting for who. We’re talking that 90% or better of each party was voting in-party for president.
Yet, you’ve got alot of counties in Florida where the votes are showing like 50% of people voting for the other party. And this is happening with optical scanning machines, NOT the touchscreen machines that everybody was worried about.
Oh, and when I refer to exit polls matching up – I mean that for all the stuff about how everything was being called for Kerry early, and then how it was all “wrong”, why is it only happening in these past two president elections that these exit polls are all so far off, when they were not in years past?
When nothing is being done differently?
Actually looking at past elections shows that the phenomona of democrats voting for Republicans goes back a bit–many districts with majority registered Demmocrats went for Dole over Clinton.
This is mostly seen in the South and should surprise nobody, since conservative Democrats have been voting for Republicans for president for some time now.
But when all is said and done, this is an issue that should have been settled a long time ago. Jokes about dead people voting in Chicago and more votes than voters in Philadelphia really aren’t all that funny. I doubt that many, if any, presidential elections would be changed but what about mayors? School board? Dogcatcher? Elections where the margin is small enough that even a little fraud can change the outcome.
I’m deeply suspicous of folks who want to bury the issue of voter irregularities, or want to delay looking into it. Dammit, it’s important! Move on it quickly, or you’re a problem–you’re more interested in the letter of the law than the spirit.
If this lingers, it tends to disillusion the folks new to the voting process or those who were formerly cynical about the process–and you don’t want that, no matter what side of the ledger you’re in.
This is mostly seen in the South and should surprise nobody, since conservative Democrats have been voting for Republicans for president for some time now.
Well, I think that’s why the focus is on Florida in particular, where people aren’t as likely to vote in such a manner.
Although, this also means that fraud is easier to get away with in other states in the south because the results are expected to be a given. 🙂
Interesting artcle today from ABC–it might put to rest some of what has been reported.
“In the battleground state of Ohio, where conspiracy theories abound, a Web site for Cuyahoga County seemed to show more votes than voters in some precincts.
The county’s Web site was confusing
“Peter said A concession is merely a political gesture.”
“Why don’t you just let it be. The election is OVER. Whether or not you and others agree with the results, it’s time to move on. Get over it already.”
Interesting rant. Two things come to mind. First, up yours, anonymous boy. Second, you didn’t say I was wrong, you just bìŧçhëd about my being correct.
“I can’t believe I heard on the radio today that Bush will do anything for money, including staging of the 9/11 attacks. They even said that he planned the attack on the Pentagon, not to mention that they think Cheney’s wife would eat her own young. Utterly amazing?”
What’s utterly amazing is your problem with short term memory, as if GOP flacks, pundits and rabble rousers didn’t spend eight dámņëd YEARS on the radio trashing both Clinton husband and wife with absolutely everything they could come up with, without regard to accuracy, fairness or simple human decency. Were you out there howling that you were shocked–SHOCKED!–that they could say such vile things? I’m thinking not.
As for Cheney’s wife, that would be the one who excoriated Democrats for saying flattering things about her daughter while at the same time using her grandson in a Halloween costume to criticize John Kerry. Oh yeah, that got her major points in my book.
PAD
while at the same time using her grandson in a Halloween costume to criticize John Kerry
Oh? I didn’t hear about that one.
Ðámņ that liberal media!
As for Cheney’s wife, that would be the one who excoriated Democrats for saying flattering things about her daughter while at the same time using her grandson in a Halloween costume to criticize John Kerry. Oh yeah, that got her major points in my book.
Same one who wrote a lesbian potboiler in her writing career…
COME ON, PEOPLE! That’s the sort of thing that just cries our for punditry commentary!!!!
Peter, just to clarify, that was the Cheneys’ granddaughter in the Halloween costume, not grandson.
Just so those who aren’t into campaign minutia know what is being talked about, here’s the associated press:
“At a campaign rally Sunday, Elizabeth, 7, wore a scary Halloween costume as the Grim Reaper. To howls of laughter, Lynne Cheney introduced Elizabeth as “John Kerry’s health plan,” highlighting one of the many contentious issues of the campaign.”
The “lesbian potboiler” is called Sisters. Hard to find, if you bought it your $2.50 investment could bring you several thousand dollars. Judging from the reviews at Amazon.com I’m not sure that very many have read it (The reviewers seem more fixated on the idea that Cheney must herself be gay since, as we all know, you have to be gay to write about gay people, in much the same way that Marvel repeatedly gives the writing chore for The Hulk to noted gamma ray survivor Peter David).
“…that would be the one who excoriated Democrats for saying flattering things about her daughter…”
So flattering that people in the press room gasped when he said it. The reaction among focus groups was incredibly negative. There are reports that people within the Kerry campaign knew it was a mistake when they heard it. As others have pointed out, it’s not that what he said was bad, it was just that he said it–“He claimed to know the mind of someone else’s child as a way to hurt the parents.” as Jonah Goldberg wrote.
Well, this a fight that’s already been fought. Of more interest to me is this table at http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2004-2000.html . Basically it shows that of all 50 states and Dc George Bush increased his vote percentage over his 2000 showing in all but 2 states. Wow. Money well spent by George Soros.
So, let’s meet our new Attorney General, shall we?
Let’s start with his biography:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/gonzales-bio.html
And we’ll follow this with a couple of articles displaying how there are worse people in the world than Ashcroft:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4999734/
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20030620.html
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/30/Columns/The_man_behind_all_th.shtml
Oh, and when I refer to exit polls matching up – I mean that for all the stuff about how everything was being called for Kerry early, and then how it was all “wrong”, why is it only happening in these past two president elections that these exit polls are all so far off, when they were not in years past?
When nothing is being done differently?
Do we actually know nothing is being done differently? Exit polling requires that a sample of the people leaving the polling places be asked for whom they voted. It’s not hard to suppose that the organization doing that could have some sampling error built into their selection process. It’s worth noting that the pre-election polls by at least one pollster look a heck of a lot like the final results. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/State%20by%20state%20comparisons%202004.htm That’s less suggestive of election fraud than of simple incompetence in the exit poll organization, which was basically a repackaged version of the organization that did oh so well four years ago.
Rereading Mr. Ries’s comment that I quoted just above, I suppose my answer to his question is, “the people doing the exit polls for the last two elections appear to be incompetent.”
Why on earth should anyone be surprised that some early exit polls–and the operative word here is “polls”–were off? If ANYTHING was learned this year it’s that polls are to be trusted only a bit more than the guy who reads chicken bones scattered on the ground.
Polls can be accurate if done properly – sampling area, sizes, accurate representation of the population and so on. The most common reason I’ve heard for the inaccuracy is that the pollsters are not doing a good enough job of sampling the rural areas which skewed the results towards Kerry.
Another thing about polls…the people answering the questions must be depended on to tell the truth. It wouldn’t be suprising that a large number of people simply answered what they thought the poll takers wanted to hear.
PAD posted:
“…that would be the one who excoriated Democrats for saying flattering things about her daughter…”
Bill Mulligan responded:
“So flattering that people in the press room gasped when he said it. The reaction among focus groups was incredibly negative. There are reports that people within the Kerry campaign knew it was a mistake when they heard it. As others have pointed out, it’s not that what he said was bad, it was just that he said it–“He claimed to know the mind of someone else’s child as a way to hurt the parents.” as Jonah Goldberg wrote.”
Well, Bill, the “people in the press room gasped”, but WHY? Gasping doesn’t really mean a whole heck of a lot without the proper context. Exactly WHO gasped? How many were in the press room at the time? 2? 20? 200? How many of those people gasped? The gasping could also reflect simple surprise as well as shock, but again the *context* of the people’s reaction is needed.
The “focus groups”. Um, who were these “focus groups”? Republicans? Democrats? Conservative Christians? Focus groups aren’t much better than “exit polls” (or Nielsen ratings, for that matter) in determining actual numbers. You take exit polling to task in another post, but you use “focus groups” as a justification? Um, okay.
Jonah Goldberg? You quote Jonah Goldberg as some source of authority in the matter? Sorry, but it’s a bit like relying on Osama bin Laden as your sole source of information on Islamic thought. The man’s an admitted conservative, and has absolutely no love for anything that John Kerry would have to say (unless Kerry were to suddenly and wholeheartedly embrace conservative ideology).
What I want to know is where the effin’ hëll Lynne and Ðìçk Cheney, and their other daughter, Liz, were when Alan Keyes went on record to flatly state that Mary was a “selfish hedonist”. Don’t you kind of think that having a fellow Republican calling your daughter a “selfish hedonist” is just a bit more repulsive than John Kerry acting under the presumption that Mr and Mrs Cheney love Mary without any regard for her sexuality? It’s amazing that the Cheneys offered no sort of public outrage over Keyes’ comment; of course, I suppose that it’s easier to use your lesbian daughter as a political toy when the “opposition” mentions her than when your “allies” mention her.
Both Lynne and Liz Cheney owe John Kerry an apology for their overreaction to his comments while completely failing to react to Keyes’ words. Of course, we know that’s never going to happen. Lynne Cheney just isn’t noble enough to do it.
JosephW,
Everything you say about Jonah Goldberg is true…but entirely irrelevant to the discussion. I did not, as you say, quote him as a source of authority. I thought his point was a valid one ad I made sure to give him credit for it, lest it appear that I was just swiping it as my own words. Whether or not his point is valid is unrelated to his political leanings.
I don’t know how anyone could put a positive spin on people gasping at something a politician says…I suppose it could be that they were just so carried away by his rhetorical brilliance that they were unable to express it in words.
Look, you may be right. I certainly can’t prove that most people thought that Kerry was being crass. The polls can be wrong; the focus groups may be skewed. But I think you’d be on safer ground claiming that those mean republicans manipulated people into thinking ill of Kerry than to claim that the negative reaction to his statement was limited only to partisans.
“Don’t you kind of think that having a fellow Republican calling your daughter a “selfish hedonist” is just a bit more repulsive than John Kerry acting under the presumption that Mr and Mrs Cheney love Mary without any regard for her sexuality?”
As for Keyes, I no more expect the Cheney’s to acknowledge him than I would the Queen of England to respond to Lyndon LaRouch. The fact that the Illinois Republican Party thought that wackjob would save the day shows that idiocy is most certainly not limited to the left this year.
And finally in the interest of accuracy, looking at what Kerry actually said–
Peter said Interesting rant. Two things come to mind. First, up yours, anonymous boy. Second, you didn’t say I was wrong, you just bìŧçhëd about my being correct.
You know what, for someone who seems to be intelligent, you keep slamming me for not revealing my name. I could say it’s Jack Monroe and you would have no freaking idea if it was correct or not. So what’s the big deal? Why do you need to know who I am beside my screen name? Are you going to look my name up, try to figure out where I live, so you can picket my house or something? It’s none of your business what my name is. What does that have to do with anything?
I still can’t believe that you made me appoligize to you or you would shroud me and tell others to do the same (i.e. you threatened me) and you can’t stop the Mr. Anonymous stuff or appoligize to me for telling me to go to Hëll.
JosephW said Lynne Cheney just isn’t noble enough to do it.
Not noble enough? Are you aware that Mrs. Cheney writes children’s books? That shows high moral character and generosity doesn’t it? What has Edwards wife or Kerry’s wife done for the world?
Let’s see. Kerry’s wife gave us ketchup and tells reporters to Shove it. I have no idea who Edwards wife even is. The only thing I’ve ever heard about her is the fact that she has cancer now, which is tragic and I hope they found it fast enough to stop the spread.
What Kerry said in the debate was totally freaking wrong. When I was watching the debate and he said that, my jaw dropped to the floor. I am sure that millions of people watching the debate had the same reaction.
It was totally inappropriate and a political attack. Some people said Cheney didn’t react when he was presented with the question in his debate with a similar question about his daughter. The difference is he was asked a question. Did anyone notice that he only thanked Edwards for his comments? He didn’t say anything else. So, wouldn’t that give them a hint where his family was off limits. I guess not. It was wrong and he paid for his comments.
Craig said So, let’s meet our new Attorney General, shall we?
I wonder if you would put this much effort into this if he was a Democrat.
Do you find fault with everybody in office now or just people that Bush appoints?
Just how do you recommend getting information from a terrorist who tries to kill innocent people? You think they should be pampered and offered protections agaist interrogations? Hëll no, I say. If some person attempted to kill innocent people, I say they should have no rights whatsoever. If they have to be tortured to find out who their contacts are, who paid them money, what the terrorist plan was, then so be it. Forget this Geneva rights BS. Anyone who thinks a terrorist deserves equal protection under the law has a screw loose.
We need to feret these people out, make them scared to death to ever mess with us, and make sure we get the information out of them to stop any and all future attacks from occurring. Plain and simple.
Forget this Geneva rights BS.
Another reason I want to get the hëll away from the people in this country.
Because, if it’s ok for this kind of treatment toward terrorists, it’s ok toward those that speak against Bush, against gays, against minorities, and against those evil liberal bášŧárdš, right?
Craig, at least if you quote me, don’t quote me out of context. I said the Geneva Convention should not apply to terrorists.
Another thing that bothers me. Saddam Hussein knows so much information that he will not, and never will tell us about weapons he had, things he had planned, etc. Because of the Geneva Convention, he is entitled to certain rights.
Don’t you think that someone who is a proven terrorist should have every resource we have used against him to get whatever information we need to prevent innocent people from losing their lives? What rights should a mass murderer like Saddam be given? I say none whatsoever. What rights did he give the people he slaughtered? You have to show these people the same mercy they would show you or other innocents.
I bet you think Osama Bin Laden should have rights too once he’s captured. Forget that. If he has to be tortured to find out what all of his plans were, who his lieutenants are, etc., then so be it.
rant over
I hope every Veteran here and abroad had a Great Veteran’s day. All of you deserve great respect and honor for supporting and defending this country, regardless of when it occurred.
Novafan
Not noble enough? Are you aware that Mrs. Cheney writes children’s books? That shows high moral character and generosity doesn’t it? What has Edwards wife or Kerry’s wife done for the world?
Stop being partisan and, at least, do some homework. Jeezus.
Roger said Stop being partisan and, at least, do some homework. Jeezus.
I have no reason to.
And, my name is Novafan, not Jeezus. :0)
Novafan:
>Not noble enough? Are you aware that Mrs. Cheney writes children’s books? That shows high moral character and generosity doesn’t it?
Yeah, Madonna has proven that.
By the way, Novafan, look up Teresa Heinz and philanthropy.
Also look up Lynne Cheney and lesbian novel.
There are some things to be debated on this issue, but what you said sure doesn’t add anything.
Yeah, Madonna has proven that.
I didn’t know she wrote children’s books. Very interesting.
So, you’re saying it’s not noble to write children’s books?
I don’t agree with everything Madonna does, but I like her music and applaud her if she wrote Children’s books.
Novafan:
>>Yeah, Madonna has proven that.
>I didn’t know she wrote children’s books. Very interesting.
Yep. She just did a public reading in the U.K for her 4th book.
So, you’re saying it’s not noble to write children’s books?
I’m not saying that. I’m saying that one not need to be noble to write children’s books, nor do they necessarily write children’s books for noble reasons.
How about you do a search on real job for her comment made to the press? Teresa’s mouth gets in the way of any accomplishments she’s made. Compare the search results of your request to my request.
oops…. I mentioned that they need not be noble. Your original point focused on high morals. Writing children’s books doesn’t show anything of one’s moral character.
Just curious here:
How many of you think Arafat was a terrorist?
How many of you think Arafat was a peacemaker?
I say terrorist. What sayest thou?
I bet I can guess what some of the responses will be from certain posters without you having to respond.
I bet I can guess what some of the responses will be from certain posters without you having to respond.
How many of you think Bush is a terrorist?
How many of you think Bush is a peacemaker?
I bet the answers won’t surprise anybody.
Not noble enough? Are you aware that Mrs. Cheney writes children’s books? That shows high moral character and generosity doesn’t it? What has Edwards wife or Kerry’s wife done for the world?
Actually, to be fair I think we have to concede that Teresa Heinz Kerry has been running a charitable foundation for quite some time, and I’ve never heard or seen anything to indicate she’s been anything but an asset to Western Pennsylvania because of that. I think she’d have been a nightmare of a First Lady, primarily because a Kerry victory would be a precondition of that, but let’s not belittle her legitimate accomplishments.
Roger said Stop being partisan and, at least, do some homework. Jeezus.
I have no reason to.
Dude, we’re about to kick you out of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy. You’re making us look bad.
I have no reason to.
And, my name is Novafan, not Jeezus.
You’re apparently one of those right wingers that justifies all of Michael Moore’s comments–ignorant and proud of it. You’re showing that you REALLY need to be doing your homework.
But apparently you prefer someone who writes a lesbian romance to a philanthropist. Hmm….if Teresa Heinz had Lynn Cheney’s writing background, I’d bet you wouldn’t be quiet about that….
Let’s see. Kerry’s wife gave us ketchup and tells reporters to Shove it.
You do know that Teresa Heinz-Kerry has absolultely nothing to do with the operations of H. J. Heinz Company, right? Did you know that she is very active in charitable work in Western Pennsylvania?
Yes, her first husband was a member of the Heinz family, but the entire family owns less than 4% of the company’s total stock. None of the living members of the family even sit on the board of directors of the company anymore.
You do know that Teresa Heinz-Kerry has absolultely nothing to do with the operations of H. J. Heinz Company, right? Did you know that she is very active in charitable work in Western Pennsylvania?
Novafan doesn’t care. He doesn’t need to do homework.
Hm. That’s the very same thing that led to Teresa Heinz’s rather stupid comment about a real job.
Obviously, it’s OK when HE does it…but when a Democrat does it, it’s a mortal sin….
Craig J. Ries wrote…
How many of you think Bush is a terrorist?
Okay, fine, I’ll bite.
I don’t think you can make a case for Bush being a terrorist, if only because he is the recognized (easy set-up for bickering if you guys are interested) leader of a nation, and has an army at his disposal.
Of course, all that really means is that instead of a terrorist, you could probably find a case for him being a war criminal…