To: carranza2 who wrote (118275 ) 6/5/2005 12:10:03 PM From: Rarebird Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 794266 "By BUSH's second term the warning signals were getting louder."< Today, the Bush Administration is in the equivalent position of a gambler in Houston or San Francisco in the period just after the Civil War. This gambler is renowned for his wealth and well known for his great benevolence to his extended family (Americans in general). He is also known for his massive debts. Now, he sits at a gambling table and his bluff no longer works. Raising the stakes has made nobody back off. All the other players just rolled right with him. He has everything he owns, in terms of cash, on the table. He has borrowed immense amounts from other wealthy men and added these IOU's to his cash stakes on the table. The "game" has been going on for a long time and it is ending under the rules of the house. The gambler already knows that he cannot afford to lose. He has a Colt 44 on his hip and has behind him a legacy of other games where he has used it. But everybody at THIS table knows that and they are no longer impressed. He knows that he is not holding a good hand and he knows that if he has to show his hand, he'll lose. He also knows that if he loses, he has no way to pay off all the IOUs. He knows that if the Asian gentlemen at the table refuse to co-sign more of his IOUs, then he can no longer raise the stakes to keep the game going. He knows that he can be called at any time. But he still has the Colt 44. And now, he has to decide whether or not to use it. That is the decision now staring President Bush in the face. The gambler knows the gamblers' code. All IOUs are honored, if not on the night, on the next day before sunset. He knows he can't do that. He knows that he has to win, one way or the other.