Experts Agree: Anyone But Bush

If you are still considering voting for George W. Bush on November 2nd, I implore you, please read all of the following statements first. Not just my selected quotes; please follow the links and read the entire statements.

The Bush administration must be stopped before they destroy this country. It is beyond politics, so don't listen to me; I am an unabashed liberal and damned proud of it. Listen, instead, to these non-partisan groups of experts in fields from economics to national security, urging regime change in no uncertain terms:

698 world experts on foreign relations and national security:

Although we applaud the Bush Administration for its initial focus on destroying al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan, its failure to engage sufficient U.S. troops to capture or kill the mass of al-Qaida fighters in the later stages of that war was a great blunder.

Many of the justifications offered by the Bush Administration for the war in Iraq have been proven untrue by credible studies, including by U.S. government agencies. There is no evidence that Iraq assisted al-Qaida, and its prewar involvement in international terrorism was negligible.

163 tenured or emeritus professors of business economics:

As professors of economics and business, we are concerned that U.S. economic policy has taken a dangerous turn under your stewardship. Nearly every major economic indicator has deteriorated since you took office in January 2001.

The data make clear that your policy of slashing taxes -- primarily for those at the upper reaches of the income distribution -- has not worked. The fiscal reversal that has taken place under your leadership is so extreme that it would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.

60 scientists, including 20 Nobel laureates:

When scientific knowledge has been found to be in conflict with its political goals, the administration has often manipulated the process through which science enters into its decisions. This has been done by placing people who are professionally unqualified or who have clear conflicts of interest in official posts and on scientific advisory committees; by disbanding existing advisory committees; by censoring and suppressing reports by the government's own scientists; and by simply not seeking independent scientific advice.

Intelligence Community veterans:

Whatever Rice's or Powell's credibility, it is yours that matters. And, in our view, the credibility of the intelligence community is an inseparably close second. Attempts to dismiss or cover up the cynical use to which the known forgery was put have been-well, incredible. The British have a word for it: "dodgy." You need to put a quick end to the dodginess, if the country is to have a functioning intelligence community.

25+ senior diplomats and military commanders:

Over nearly half a century we have worked energetically in all regions of the world, often in very difficult circumstances, to build piece by piece a structure of respect and influence for the United States that has served our county very well over the last 60 years.

Today we see that structure crumbling under an administration blinded by ideology and a callous indifference to the realities of the world around it. Never before have so many of us felt the need for a major change in the direction of our foreign policy.

We will be among the first to recognize that the nation currently faces unprecedented threats. We recognize too that the Bush administration is now reaching out to allies. But everything we have heard from friends abroad on every continent suggests to us that the lack of confidence in the present administration in Washington is so profound that a whole new team is needed to repair the damage. Repair it we must, we believe, as the future security and well being of the United States depends on it.

Church leaders:

Partnerships between religion and government must be undertaken with great caution so as not to undermine the very integrity and freedom that allows both the followers and the institutions of religion to practice and keep faith in our nation.

We urge you to protect the sacred role of religion in our nation by rejecting this avenue of infusing government funds into America's religious institutions.

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At the same time, let's look at some of the groups endorsing
John Kerry for president:

• 10 Nobel-laureate Economists
  
• Military generals and admirals
  
• John Eisenhower
  
• 48 Nobel laureates
  
• 80 former ambassadors
  
• Five 9/11 Widows