Hazen

The Bush presidency has been the worst in my lifetime.

By pandering to the religious right, Bush came into office and proceeded to take our country from a surplus into the worst deficits our country has ever had. In a senseless, mismanaged war he has squandered lives and billions of dollars. While our country is facing the highest energy prices ever, he has done nothing to push us toward energy independence. As health care prices spiral out of control, he has enabled the drug companies to enrich themselves by prohibiting the federal government from negotiating for lower drug prices.

Single-handedly, his administration has destroyed the United States' standing in the world by instituting torture as part of the American way of doing business.

Bush has vetoed health care for the young while billions go up in flames in Iraq.

As China and India come onto the stage to become major competitors in the world, Bush has done nothing to stem our trade deficits which now leave us vulnerable to the whims of the leadership of China. If China refuses to fund our debt, our economy will collapse.

Bush's oil friends and the wealthy have reaped a bonanza, while this president has taken the country backwards.

For the first time in history, we have funded a war on credit, rather than raise taxes on the rich. Our children will suffer for decades because of this one man and the national debt he created. Bush has refused to address the environmental crises the world faces. No area of policy has been immune from his distruction.

The question is, are we going to make the same mistake again by voting with our emotions rather than our intellect? Bush came to power by playing on people's fears and emotions. Will the electorate allow this to happen again or have we learned something from the eight years Bush has squandered? We need a president that will take on the special interest rather than one that is their lap dog.