Posted on 09/17/2008 8:05:54 AM PDT by meandog
CBS) For as long as he's been asked about it, George Bush has publically professed to not care much about his legacy.
"I'm reading about George Washington, still," President Bush said in 2006. "My attitude is, if they're still analyzing number one, 43 ought not to worry about it."
And why would he want to, given the long list of targets he's presented to his critics, CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reports.
The tragically weak response to Katrina, which will always overshadow the administration getting it right - like the last few days with Gustav.
No Child Left Behind, the president's education initiative that even some supporters concede is a failure.
An economy in shambles.
"He's in the bottom 10 to five presidents in the history of the United States," James Thurber, an American University historian, said.
But the president could take heart that none of those will be his defining issues.
"I think the assessment of President Bush begins not with Inauguration Day, but with 9/11, and then it goes to Iraq," said Ken Duberstein, former chief of staff for Ronald Reagan.
And there, even Democratic critics like Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institute, say the success of the surge in Iraq will help the President's legacy.
"He went to war in a deliberately cavalier way," O'Hanlon said. "But let's also be fair. Iraq now seems to be a quasi-functioning Democracy without weapons of mass destruction, without genocides against citizens or attacks against its neighbors. So to some extent, we gotta give our president his due."
Still, presidential legacies are by their very nature an exercises in comparison. If you want to understand the signature of this two-term Republican president, compare it to the last one.
"In 1988 with Reagan in the mid-50s in popularity, everybody was clamoring for a third term with Ronald Reagan. And now the only people who are talking about a third term for President Bush are the Democrats," said Duberstein.
It seems indisputable that George Bush will address the convention, greatly diminished from his previous appearances. If the first draft of history is written by reporters, the historians, like James Thurber, are about to get their turn.
"Well all presidents think that history will change perceptions of their activities," Thurber said. "I think history will be unkind to this man."
And it would seem they won't offer the president much comfort.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fuel prices at record levels...
Explain how fuel prices are the responsibility of the POTUS please? I haven't found that item in the Constitution.
Oh, and you're a bit behind on the news. Crude and fuel prices are dropping. Except for an inconvenient hurricane, they would be even lower today.
Economy on the verge of a collapse...
Plenty of blame to go around here, and very very little of it belongs to GWB.
A war that has no end in sight...
OK, now you're just being stupid.
Do you even read the news? Do you know anything about the war, or the history of war in general?
This war is nothing less than the most lopsided victory of any extended conflict the USA has ever been involved with.
More people are killed every month in Los Angeles than are killed in Iraq during this war.
Troop withdrawals have already commenced.
We won, and we won big.
Foreign policy that is laughed at by the rest of the world…
...and we care, why? The rest of the world are largely socialist and/or dictatorial regimes who would give their right arms to be half as successful as the USA. Their hatred is largely envy.
Oh, and most of them have received continual foreign aid from the USA for decades. They sure don't mind our money.
Immigration crisis that has been ignored...
Agree with you there.
Capitalism before patriotism has emerged on his watch (record earnings for big oil while the American people suffer)
What kind of socialist, lefty blather is THAT?
"Record earnings for Big Oil"??? LOL! Explain why that's a Bad Thing.
American people suffer? Puh-LEEZE! SUFFER??? That's just absurd.
...GWB is an embarrassment.
Umm... You are the one who should be embarrassed.
LOL...Thanks, I needed that bit of humor this morning!!
And I'd say with 100% certainty, you wouldn't be able to handle the pressure of what this man has dealt with for the past 7 years 24/7....for less than one 12 hour shift....
And President GWB has done so with resolve, seriousness, adultness and dignity every day in office....
lol...Thanks again for the laughs.
A 30 year in the making problem....of which those problems this man has talked about for 8 years now.
Economy on the verge of a collapse...
Pure hyperbole nonsense. Foolish, pathetic nonsense. The U.S. economy is still the envy of the world. GWB will go down in history with the lowest unemployment average of any President in history. Of course in a multi-trillion dollar economy there are going to be issues (some serious) but the notion that our economy is near collapse shows you are not a serious person. You are a mental child.
A war that has no end in sight
The WOT likely does not end. Get over it. However, since Sept 11th, 2001, this CinC has seen to it, with undeniable resolve that we are systematically taking the fight to our enemies...... In which are enemies have suffered one STRATEGIC defeat after another........We have not suffered one......
We've seen the values of freedom and self-worth begin to take root throughout Stan and Iraq.....These values being our true allies in this WOT.....and they are spreading.....Understanding this reality, that is true leadership. Being willing to fight for such is leadership (regardless of polls)....The world is better off because of our actions in Iraq and Stan....(there is not denying this by anyone who is willing to be intellectually honest).
Of course it came with a cost, but this man, this leader, this CinC GWB was willing to pay that cost......God bless him.
Foreign policy that is laughed at by the rest of the world…
And? Good! The rest of the world is envious of us, they don't want what is best for this Nation. They want weak, pathetic leadership like that of Obama....
No. History will be incredibly kind to President GWB. Just watch.
I wonder if you rethought your arrogant ignorant flaming post to me?
Can you say deregulation or is that irrelevant to our circumstances at present?
Seems my post is more relevant today than last week.
Since you seem to be so brilliant on the facts...what time line is there for troop withdraw from Iraq? The real war on terror lies in in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran or I am I missing something one who knows all?
capitalism before patriotism
Three letters smart guy AIG
HMMMM?
Proponent of more big government.....
Have you rethought you post to me?
History will be incredibly kind to President GWB. Just watch
Obtuse is the only word I can think of to describe your thought process. I probably sailed right over your head with word...look it up if you have the mental capacity to use a dictionary.
We are the richest, most productive, most innovative country this world has ever seen. We will only continue to thrive in years ahead......You think our country is near collapse because Wall Street has lost 2000 pts? Are you serious? You think that is what runs main street. Our growth rate last Qtr was over 3.3%!
Go curl up in some corner wishing away the bogey man if you must......The rest of us do'ers will keep on doing.....and living life to the fullest.....
And yes, history will be very kind to GWB. As it has been to past leaders, who weren't tremendously liked during their days.....but were treated very kindly after.....
I'll ping you 10 years from now, and we'll see. The ME will be vastly different and much of that credit will go to GWB.
Why would I do that? You're still just as wrong as you were then.
My comments stand.
Can you say deregulation or is that irrelevant to our circumstances at present?
What does all your hysteria over "Big Oil" have to do with "our circumstances at present"?
Seems my post is more relevant today than last week.
Really? If so, why can't you answer the questions I asked? ...or are you just ignoring them because you cannot?
Since you seem to be so brilliant on the facts...what time line is there for troop withdraw from Iraq? The real war on terror lies in in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran or I am I missing something one who knows all?
I never claimed to know it all.
You are the one who came here spouting off, and I've asked you to prove your claims. I'm still waiting.
You can try to change the subject to any one of many other inflammatory subjects which you will not analyze, but it won't do you any good.
You're just being snarky, and are clearly not interested in thinking about your accusations.
capitalism before patriotism
Capitalism is nothing more nor less than the liberty of money. It's the freedom to buy and sell to whom I wish, at terms we agree to.
Explain to me, how is that un-patriotic?
Three letters smart guy AIG
Three words, bone head: What's your point?
HMMMM?
It's a term used by the Soviets, particularly the KGB, when referring to those they persuade into supporting Socialism and Communism for them. They, like you, become true believers and blame Capitalism, or "The Wealthy", for all the world's woes. It becomes a very emotional, nearly religious matter, with little analytical thought involved, so reasoning with them (you) is useless.
Here are some thoughts for you to chew on:
Do you think there are greedy Socialists?
Are there generous, giving and caring Capitalists?
Ponder on those two and get back to me.
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