Interesting questions pstern. The way the current Administration has led us since 2000, how can we even discuss why he has done anything? Behind closed doors and against the rules of the Constitution is not what our founders had in mind for a Commander in Chief. Off hand, I would say the answer to your questions can be found in who financially benefited from his actions. His end game being an American Empire for Christians. His handing the churches grants and his ridiculous notion of "No child left behind" served only to leave them all behind. Or was the term "Left Behind" a clue using the books of that title to have the parents home school the kids under Evangelical books?

It is impossible for me to think as a Republican again to even try to figure out what this deranged leader had in mind. I doubt we will ever know his agenda but we should realize that McCain shares the agenda all the way to the appointment of pro-life only Justices. This alone will put the Evangelicals in the Administration for another 4 to 8 years. Did Bush make a contract with Jesus? Is this how he justifies the deaths of so many of our soldiers for an unwinnable conflict in Iraq?

I think their basic governing philosophy is 'If I'm not using it, I'm not paying for it'. That's why they promote toll roads, now a profit opportunity with the trend toward privatizing toll roads. That's why they promote things like NCLB. It fulfills their need to demand behavior, while not paying for it. Leave that to others because, for the most part, their children don't attend schools covered by it. Privatize Social Security, no bid contracts to favored partners, poor support for troops in harms way and after, are all examples of satisfying the desire for profits while failing to support the stated purpose of the laws. If you look at the history of the progressive era programs, ypu'll see that, if conservatives couldn't defeat the program, they could often deprive it of necessary funds to run properly, then sit back and carp about the failure of the program.

Considering just how badly the average American lets himself be screwed over by both government and a dealership - and then loudly brags about what a great bargain he made - I'd say your analogy was quite accurate.

Most sincerely,

T. J. Flapsaddle

I just hope you recognize that Barack Obama is simply another used car saleman with a deeper tan.

We are not the brightest bulbs burning.