The author makes the Bush Presidency seem like not a failure in some respects, but ignores its biggest failing. I think Bush is as inept at domestic politics as Carter was in foreign policy. His inability to communicate, his rope-a-dope tactics when smeared and betrayed by the Demonrats, his failure to exercise any restraint on spending, his expansion of entitlements, and his globalist stance on immigration and Chinese trade cost the GOP control of Congress and gave all the momentum to the Left. His bad decisions began with selection of the aging Cheney for VP. VP is an opportunity to groom a younger man to lead the party in 8 years, not a place for an “elder statesman.” That choice led to this year’s mess, with aging “maverick” McCain left to pick up the pieces.
The author makes the Bush Presidency seem like not a failure in some respects, but ignores its biggest failing. I think Bush is as inept at domestic politics as Carter was in foreign policy. His inability to communicate, his rope-a-dope tactics when smeared and betrayed by the Demonrats, his failure to exercise any restraint on spending, his expansion of entitlements, and his globalist stance on immigration and Chinese trade cost the GOP control of Congress and gave all the momentum to the Left. His bad decisions began with selection of the aging Cheney for VP. VP is an opportunity to groom a younger man to lead the party in 8 years, not a place for an “elder statesman.” That choice led to this year’s mess, with aging “maverick” McCain left to pick up the pieces.You have to be elected to do that. For better or for worse, Cheney was a bone to the conservatives that worried about Jorge's inexperience and compassionate conservatism.