Posted on 11/20/2008 5:33:31 PM PST by RobinMasters
IN HIS EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY of Abraham Lincoln, David Herbert Donald recalls a meeting he had with John F. Kennedy in February 1962, in which the young president complained about the way scholars ranked his predecessors. “No one has a right to grade a president—not even poor James Buchanan—who has not sat in his chair, examined the mail and information that came across his desk, and learned why he made his decisions,” Kennedy said.
With President Bush’s days in office coming to an end, the inevitable debate about his legacy is upon us. To his critics, his record of failure is self-evident: a costly and unnecessary war launched under false pretenses, an economy in tatters, and the protection of civil liberties eroded. To his defenders, Bush deserves credit for keeping America safe after the September 11 attacks by treating terrorism as part of a broader war rather than a criminal matter, and for targeting the state sponsors of terror rather than merely individual terrorists. Much like Harry Truman was maligned during his time only to be later vindicated for his early leadership during the Cold War, in this view, Bush will be remembered as the president who set the stage for the long struggle against Islamic extremism, and who toppled tyrants in Afghanistan and Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Sorry, JFK. In America we have freedom of speech and anyone can grade a President. I give you a "C-". OTOH, I give Reagan an "A". Btw, I'll be generous with Bush43 and give him a "B-", but he only deserves a "C+", at best. Incoming Obama, give him a "D".
See, that was easy.
If someone went over his 8 years and document the many catastrophes that have hit this nation beginning with 911, the move into Afghanistan in 02, Iraq in 03, Indian Earthquake with subsequent tsunamis, 04, Hurricane Katrina devastation & FL hit w/record # of hurricanes, 05, TX hit by heavy rains w/devastating flooding plus Israeli-Lebanon conflict, 06, Bhutto assassinated, Darfur, cont’d Israeli-Hamas conflict, rise of obamanation, 07, and finally the economic collapse, 08, Pres. Bush has held steady (maybe faltered somewhat). In 10 years, Pres. Bush will be looking like a hero.
place holder
I'm thinking it will be somewhat fewer than 10 years.
I think he was one of the most courageous presidents we have had, but he also wouldn’t fight against the liberals or for conservatism.
I think this piece was excellent and encourage Freepers to read the whole thing at the American Spectator site.
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