Little Hawk, agreed. And none of us are objective enough that we approach any subject without at least a few preconceived notions. I agree with both your and Peace's last statements.

Here, knowing what I currently know, is what I believe.

1) I don't believe that the 2000 election was "stolen", although I do believe that there were improprieties that deserve further investigation.

2) I believe that Bush and his pals saw Iraq as unfinished business since well before his election, and before 9/11. I believe they were looking for an excuse to provoke "regime change" there.

3)Despite the fact that the Bush administration had strong reason to suspect, and probably should have predicted based on the evidence, the 9/11 attack, I don't believe that they were involved in its planning.

4) I believe that, due to the importance of Saudi Arabia as our ally in the Mideast, extraordinary measures were taken to absolve them from any hint of blame in 9/11.

5) I believe that the Bush Administration sought out evidence to justify military action against Sadam Hussein, to the point of sighting intelligence reports they knew to be fraudulent.

6) I believe that the 2004 election, while very questionable things happened in the Ohio vote count, was also not "stolen" by the Bush administration.

7) I believe that the Bush Administration has used the War on Terror to justify actions that are not consistent with the traditional function of our government, and that Bush has extended the use of emergency powers granted him in the wake of 9/11 to a point that basic freedoms are under threat, and the independent balance of the three branches of our government are i jeopardy.

Peace, if you and Little Hawk don't buy the entire Bush-Hitler-Selfinflicted 9/11 scenario, I'm wondering how you view the extent of Bush's actions.