Posted on 11/06/2008 12:50:28 PM PST by meandog
It's tempting right now to say President Bush will go down as one of the worst presidents ever to dis-grace the White House. But is that fair, or even accurate?
Historian renderings of a legacy are often at odds with fluctuating public opinion polls that gauge the heat of the moment. Take Truman. The man had a 22 percent approval rating toward the end of his presidency--due in large part to a highly unpopular Korean War--yet he's among the most popular presidents in history.
I'm going to play the devil's advocate and argue that it is at least in the realm of possibility that history will not lambaste Bush as the fool he's so widely assumed to be. I'll do this because it's useful, because W's reign is nearly at end, and because it might be kinda fun.
Look at what he walked into: 9/11. A presidency in its infancy presided over the most devastating foreign attack on domestic soil in this country's history and suddenly became a war-time presidency. In the wake of the attacks, Bush enjoyed a 90 percent approval rating. An ABC News/Washington Post poll showed 62 percent of Americans cheerleading the invasion into Iraq. The Senate and the House both approved resolutions for the invasion with wide margins.
It proved a costly blunder. But besides the fact that occupations are costly and often doomed to failure, we have learned that the American people rode a wave of emotion into Baghdad, but had neither the tolerance nor the fortitude for the prolonged conflict it would require.
If nothing else, Bush has shown massive cajones in pushing through a hugely unpopular surge that's proven incredibly successful. Whether by blind luck or through the vigilance of the Homeland Security Administration and reorganized intelligence services, we haven't seen another terrorist attack even as they continue to erupt across the globe. In that regard, it's not a huge stretch to say he's not unlike Truman, who developed the NSA, CIA and Department of Defense.
So that's my devil's advocation. Will Bush remain the punchline in history-book perpetuity, or will our collective derision soften as hindsight brings into clearer focus the narrative of his dual-term presidency?
"Either you are with us or you are for the terrorists."
~~George W. Bush
Here’s the terrifying thing. All those wonderful things from the Patriot Act? Now Obama is going to have all of those tools at his disposal.
NEWSMAX.COM Why McCain Lost
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2127485/posts?page=1
Great ideas, why dont you accuse newsmax of being disloyal too. Look we swallowed their crap for 3 years or more and it brought ruin, it’s over, come to terms, over is over. time to fix it , geeze, I remember Magda Goebbels crying about how everone betrayed the fuhrer in 1945 then had Joseph shoot her to end the pain. They were nuts.
Huh?
I re-re-read it and it still doesn’t make sense. But what I think you’re saying is that it isn’t disloyal to question the leadership after a disaster like what happened this week.
That’s true. It’s not disloyal, but it IS not-too-bright to do it in public. Dismantling GWB in public only strengthens the Libs. It does nothing of any use for Conservatives, who all-too-well understand the President’s limitations.
NEWS-MAX, apparently is disloyal like ME:
“Barack Obama is president-elect of the United States because the Republican Party and John McCain handed him the presidential election on a silver platter.
The Republican Party and the Bush White House walked away from Republican ideals, and they walked away from Republican values. “
Stop the loyal stuff, election is over.
> Stop the loyal stuff, election is over.
Fingerpointing isn’t helpful. “Loyal” or “Disloyal” are concepts that have no meaning in that context.
NEWSMAX! Yes understanding our gross mistakes IS helpful.
I stand with President George W. Bush, still. He did better than both his father and his brother. I almost wish he had run for re-election instead of graciously holding to tradition.
It’s so easy for a crowd to ridicule someone from the sidelines; so easy to splinter and lay fractious blame when the GOP has lost the recent election.
I say that President Bush has served well; his good stewardship is likely to contrast starkly with the incoming administration.
> NEWSMAX! Yes understanding our gross mistakes IS helpful.
If you find fingerpointing and picking over the scabs of a painful defeat to be therapeutic, then knock yourself out... I don’t think it is helpful because the gross mistakes are all well understood by everybody.
It’s time to regroup and resolve to limit the damage to a very short four years. Otherwise it will certainly extend to eight.
I do and I am not alone. However I am hopeful that this loss forces the cleaning that 92 did with republican party. I knew this weeks loss was most likely and I know Obama will drop in polls but what I am not sure of yet is whether the bad ecomomy will continue to favor Ob and Pelosi. Study Ob and lets see how he lets down his believers.
On opposition, study Pelosi ,I watched her the past few years and she really played all her cards. We must in short term act like we want Ob to succeed. then wait till they try something crappy looking that can be slowed and turned public against, then again, and again, each victory becomes easier as middle democrats get more and more angry phone calls and letters. In fact the crazier stuff they try, the better, slow progress at first. Bob Dole ran a great opposition senate 1993-94, its possible.
Clinton demonized Newt Gingrich successfully in 95, but Bush/McCain strategy 2007 was to work with democrats, and a get a few vetos, but Pelosi was left unknown, and so there was Tuesday,
Rrrrrright /s Incidentally, I've been here 8 years longer than you have! I was anti-Bush before it wasn't cool as I knew his "Read My Lips" old man's seed would be rooted in the same sort of wishy-washed up incompetence that brought about the rise of Bill Clinton!
George W. Bush reminds me of Herbert Hoover the most.
Obeying the constitution is “gracious” now? (Amendment 22)
I feel the same way and completely agree.
There has been a President who ran for a third term - FDR. Are there times when obeying the law can be termed as gracious; why not?
I do see now that the 22nd amendment was passed /after/ FDR’s terms.
I didnt know about this there was no warning, my deleted post at link said “Go now Mr President, you have done enough” very respectful. I am worried GWB will cut another deal with Pelosi with lame duck session and said so. I honestly think the failure of some to grip reality will get the best of us. Dont make the same mistake I made. If he had passed away I wouldnt have put him down but he can still cause trouble until January.
#15
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2128854/posts?page=8#15
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