Give 'em Hell, George

The American Thinker ^ | 2/1/2006 | Steve Marmer

[saveliberty]

Give 'em hell, George
January 31st, 2006

 

 

One of the great ironies beneath the hatred by Democrats of President George W. Bush is that the president whom Bush most closely resembles is one of the great heroes of the Democratic Party, President Harry S Truman.  The similarities between Presidents Bush and Truman are so obvious that it is a wonder that they have not been highlighted earlier. 

These two men, disdained during their presidencies, faced plummeting poll numbers, presided over unpopular foreign military actions, and were committed to using American power to promote and defend democracy even when other countries objected.  Each won reelection and pursued his policies despite fierce attacks from opponents and eroding political support within his own party.  

Like President Bush, President Truman was regarded as an intellectual lightweight.  Both were thought of as inarticulate and bumbling in their speech.  Each shared a combination of Southwestern and Midwestern twang to go along with the geographic values of their home regions. 

The mainstream media reviled both President Bush and President Truman.  Yet each won highly controversial elections.  Fortunately in 1948 even oppositional mainstream media did not accuse Truman of electoral fraud.  Can you imagine what David Boies, Warren Christopher, and Al Gore could have made of the infamous “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline had they been working for candidate Thomas Dewey? 

Truman and Bush both believed in the projection of American power throughout the world.  In the pursuit of that power each used the United Nations when the UN was useful to the United States – Truman in Korea and Bush in Afghanistan.  Yet each did not hesitate to create alternative coalitions of the willing when the situation demanded.  Think of NATO for Truman and Iraq for Bush. 

And at times each was willing for the US to go it alone, as with the Truman Doctrine to save Greece from a Communist takeover. 

Each involved the United States in what became in political terms an unpopular war.  In Korea there are still nearly 35,000 American troops over fifty years after the cease-fire.  General Eisenhower ran against the war by saying that if elected he would “go to Korea,” and part of his success came from campaigning against that war.  Currently the opposition party believes it can defeat or weaken Bush by running against the war in Iraq. 

Truman was president when another nation – The Soviet Union – developed nuclear weapons, partially with the help of Leftist scientists in the West.  Bush is president while another hostile and dangerous opponent – Iran – is attempting to develop nuclear weapons, also with the help of sympathetic scientists outside their country. 

No president had lower job approval ratings than President Truman, 22% at their lowest, yet he demonstrated his greatest political strength when he campaigned directly against the opposition party – The “Do Nothing” 86th Congress.  President Bush’s job approval ratings declined after attempting to win opposition leader Senator Harry Reid’s approval with the Harriet Meirs nomination to the Supreme Court.  He too has been at his strongest when engaged in a campaign directly against the opposition party, as in 2002 and 2004, and weakest when he has attempted compromise with them. 

Finally, no presidents have been greater friends and supporters of Israel than President Harry S Truman and President George W. Bush.  Truman made the United States the first nation to recognize the State of Israel.  Bush has supported Israel’s efforts to protect itself with the security fence and had been the first president to demand real reform from the Palestinian Authority. 

Some may say that differences in domestic matters eclipse their foreign policy and national security similarities.  President Truman was a liberal while President Bush is a conservative.  Yet President Truman angered the unions when he used the Taft-Hartley Act to end the steel strike, and President Bush initiated the largest increase in Medicare since its inception, each angering many members of their respective parties. 

In retrospect President Truman is now a revered figure.  His inarticulateness is now seen as “plain speaking.”  His stubbornness is now seen as determination.  His actions in Korea helped spread democracy and produce all the “Asian Tiger” economies of that region.  And his initiatives outside of the UN, such as NATO and in Greece, are regarded as huge American successes that contributed greatly to peace and stability. 

Time will tell whether President Bush, like President Truman, will be as revered by history as he was reviled while in office.  I am inclined to believe he will.

Dr. Steven Marmer is a psychiatrist in Southern California.

 

Steven Marmer
 

[saveliberty]

ping

[jamesm51]

bttt

[saveliberty]

:-) Thank you

[JoeFromSidney]

I was in college when Truman was president. I distinctly recall thinking that he turned out to be a much better president than I expected.

I wish George had "given 'em hell" in the SOTU. He keeps extending a friendly hand and drawing back a bloody stump. He just won't learn that his opponents are EVIL.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

Bush owns lots of property and his own home, Bush has children, Bush has had several profitable businesses.
That being said, I am a Truman fan. This article was very interesting.

[Miss Marple]

The difference in how history treats President Bush vs the late President Truman will be based on the fact that President Bush is a Republican and a Christian. As long as the left holds the reins of history departments, he will be the Bushitler, Chimpy, frat boy.

It is our duty, as supporters of the President, to archive the true story both here on FR and in our homes. I have an extensive collection of books, magazines, and DVD's which I am keeping to hand down to my grandchildren, along with my personal recollection of these years.

We MUST make our children and grandchildren understand how the left will twist history, and how it is their responsibility to pass on the truth about this good and decent man to future generations.

I am serious about this, because the President hasn't asked for anything except history's judgement. And I know who currently controls history.

[VOA]

Dr. Steven Marmer is a psychiatrist in Southern California.

IIRC, this is the same Dr. Marmer that appears occassionally
on the Dennis Prager radio show, during Prager's "Happiness
Hour" on Fridays.
Dr. Marmer sounds pretty level-headed for a shrink.

[Mr_Moonlight]

I'd seen this comparison between Bush and Truman before, only it was right before the 2004 election. Both Bush and Truman were portrayed as unsophisticated country bumpkins running for reelection against fast talking Northeastern intellectuals, (Kerry, Dewey), the only difference is that their political parties are reversed now.
It was an interesting comparative article, and I may have bookmarked it ... sure would like to find it now for the sake of this thread

[Cicero]

Yes and no. Truman did some good things, but his actions in the Cold War were mixed.

He axed MacArthur and let North Korea fester. He let Mao take over China, perhaps the single worst mistake an American president has ever made.

[saveliberty]

I think that President Bush has a solid grasp of strategery and I could note the various times where he had a look of victory on his face.

[saveliberty]

:-) And I am a Bush fan, the universe is in balance. LOL!

[saveliberty]

What a great post, Miss Marple! Thank you!

[saveliberty]

Yes he does seem to be level headed :-)

[saveliberty]

Oh wow! Thanks! I hope that you can find it, and I really appreciate that you are trying to. :-)

[Trajan88]

ping for later.

[saveliberty]

Good points. Except another President let some crazy mullah take over Iran over 20 years ago. That may be a close second

[tje]

bump

[JasonC]

Ah but he overlooks the critical difference. Republicans in 1952 were critical of Truman for not winning the war in Korea. Democrats in 2006 are critical of Bush for not losing the war in Iraq.

[Digger]

I wish George had "given 'em hell" in the SOTU. He keeps extending a friendly hand and drawing back a bloody stump. He just won't learn that his opponents are EVIL

One minute we hear just how smart he is & then these instances happen. IMO this is done because this is what the elites that run Congress want to happen. No true conservative agenda can flourish because it goes against this. And remember GW is not a true conservative. Where are all of you FReepers who let him get away with this illegal invasion & the unbelievable Sr prescription boondoggle