Why Bush Will Be A Winner

The Washington Post ^ | July 15, 2007 | William Kristol

[Stars&StripesNE]

I suppose I'll merely expose myself to harmless ridicule if I make the following assertion: George W. Bush's presidency will probably be a successful one.

[Stars&StripesNE]

Let's step back from the unnecessary mistakes and the self-inflicted wounds that have characterized the Bush administration. Let's look at the broad forest rather than the often unlovely trees. What do we see? First, no second terrorist attack on U.S. soil -- not something we could have taken for granted. Second, a strong economy -- also something that wasn't inevitable.

[Stars&StripesNE]

Ping

[Kaslin]

Great editorial by William Kristol. Thanks for the ping

[marvlus]

I hate to admit that I have to be reminded by people like Kristol to keep the faith, amid the negativity of the MSM. He does have good points. I should print this out and keep it posted so I can look at it everytime I start having doubts.

[SolidWood]

Kristol is right, as he mostly is. Except his comment on “immigration reform”, which IMO has to be stopped now and in future, he is spot on.

A lot of FReepers abused and cursed Kristol when he was critisizing the Rumsfeld-Abizaid-Casey strategy in Iraq and supported a troop surge. He has now been vindicated. We have enlargened our presence and we have more success.

Kristol was also right (and pretty close regarding the sear numbers) when he predicted the outcome of the 2006 elections... and I sure hope he is right when, as he predicted, an Democrat victory in 2006 will ensure a Republican victory in 2008.

[Stars&StripesNE]

We have been imbued with negatives through the media. A good dose of facts is always refreshing.

[CaliGirl-R]

Read later

[tgusa]

Agree. On balance, GWB will be judged a winner.

[nj26]

Kristol misses a very important issue: BORDER SECURITY.

Bush has been an utter failure on border security.

[Verloona Ti]

with respect to the two second-term proposals that failed -- private Social Security accounts and immigration -- I suspect that something similar to what Bush proposed will end up as law over the next several years

Over the dead bodies of many of us here (not to mention the 25 Americans who lose their lives to invader thugs daily ; 12 by murder, 13 by accidents-primarily DUI).

As for the lack of terrorist attacks: If he means on the scale of 9/11, yes-but there've been quite a few of what we here call Sudden Jihad Syndrome, PLUS the open MX/TX border has let in a lot of OTMs since 9/11. We can hope large-scale attacks continue to be prevented or fended off....But I think we're on borrowed time.:-( Look at what has happened because of 9/11 : All over the country, we see stories of how schools, businesses, and municipalities are bending over (backwards OR forwards, however you want to look at it) to cater to moslems. Footbaths in KCI and a few universities; women allowed to retain hijabs for driver's licenses in Ohio; prayer times for moslem children only in SF; a "broker watchdog" merger is going to change its name because SIRA sounded like the islamic word for a mahomet bio ; the attempts at forcing sharia in MN on Target shoppers and airport users was fended off, but the ones who tried are not being subject to penalties...That's just a few things I remembered off the top of my head. WHO on 9/12/01 would have believed we'd see dhimmitude like this in the USA ? With all these rewards for 9/11, they WILL try again-count on it.

[rlmorel]

There is one, key thing that sets President Bush apart from nearly every other politician in our system out there, and I support him for it.

He does not govern by opinion polls. He may be right. He may be wrong. But he doesn’t put his finger in the air to figure out what to do.

I think the use of polling data (the way it is being used) is one of the biggest cancers on American politics today.

[ricoshea]

Bush will not be judged a success if Bin Laden attacks the US again.Some articles I have read believe two of Russia missing nuclear suitcases are already in America smuggled in through the borders Bush did not want closed.I voted for Bush so it upsets me that I am saying this but if he gets Bin Laden on his watch..success. if Bin laden strikes here again Bill Kristal and all the others who insisted he go into Iraq will be finished.

[tgusa]

History will judge GWB. That’s beyond my competence. His failure to secure our borders is very worrisome to me.

[jammer]

Let's step back from the unnecessary mistakes and the self-inflicted wounds that have characterized the Bush administration.

LOL. You could do the same thing with Carter, LBJ, or anyone else. Forget the bad things and look at the good things. Anyone would look like a statesman.

I can't believe anyone would say that in making an assessment, even Pollyanna.

[Paladin2]

Binnie seems to be among the disappeared, not that AQ has gone away.

[apocalypto]

As many have pointed out, Kristol is far more often wrong than right.

There is the amnesty fiasco that makes President George W. Bush look like an idiot. No border protection! Incredibly and dangerous! Amnesty for millions of criminals! Offensive! The White House mocking conservatives and Christians! What liberal elitist attitude!

[srmorton]

This great article carries more weight when, as you point out, you consider that Bill Kristol has been a frequent critic of the Bush administration. He used to make me so mad on FNS with his “snarky” comments about President Bush, but in this article he was trying to state the facts objectively and to explain his reasons for his opinion which he does not always have time to do on FNS. Lately, he has really been responding aggressively to Juan Williams’ insistence that we get out of Iraq ASAP. I love it!

[ricoshea]

Binnie seems to be back by new tape.Check Drudge Report.

[raybbr]

George W. Bush's presidency will probably be a successful one.

Well, there's a solid, ringing endorsement. Even Kristol is hedging his bet.

[TalBlack]

“Agree. On balance, GWB will be judged a winner.”

At present this is ALREADY true, however George Bush is governing in interesting times.

The open border and his failure to take AMERICA to war (he only sent the military) against Islamic extremeism are things that by their very nature (long term)can throw his legacy into the ash heap.

I don’t think the president has been looking ahead in these matters, rather, he has been reacting to them in the moment and as though one moment merely leads to another and little changes between them

Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees.