Nice memories. While I suspect this may be one of the kinder gentler replies you receive, I too admired W, warts and all, in no small part because he was the only alternative to Algore who would have been an unmitigated disaster.
George W. rose from what would no doubt have been a mediocre Presidency to lead the nation with strength and resolve at a time when we needed it most. He made mistakes and I wish he’d done many things differently, but I also know that hindsight is 20/20 and time has a way of coloring memory. That said, I am VERY glad we are hopefully at the end of the Bush dynasty, and wish W all the success in the world - at painting.
He has disappointed me at such a deep level when he wouldn’t fight back during his terms and when he kept quiet during Obama and when he fought Trump. I stopped contributing to the RNC during his terms and told them they had to fight in order for me to contribute. But, to me, he was infinitely better than AlGore and I shudder to think of Gore leading this country, as I do when I think how close we got to Hillary. I wish he had been better. I’m grateful he stood in place of Gore. And, yes, he should be quiet and keep painting.