Analysis: Bush's personality shapes his legacy

AP via SFGate ^ | 1/3/9 | BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- President George W. Bush will be judged on what he did. He will also be remembered for what he's like: a fast-moving, phrase-mangling Texan who stays upbeat even though his country is not.

For eight years, the nation has been led by a guy who relaxes by clearing brush in scorching heat and taking breakneck bike rides through the woods. He dishes out nicknames to world leaders, and even gave the German chancellor an impromptu, perhaps unwelcome, neck rub. He's annoyed when kept waiting and sticks relentlessly to routine. He stays optimistic in even the most dire circumstances, but readily tears up in public. He has little use for looking within himself, and only lately has done much looking back.

Bush's style and temperament are as much his legacy as his decisions. Policy shapes lives, but personality creates indelible memories — positive and negative.

Call it distinctly Bush.

___

. . .

[rabscuttle385]

His age and his college status are relevant. He has no real-world experience. He lectures people three times his age on their party loyalty and their pragmatism.

A lifetime's worth of "real-world experience" is worthless if it's spent betraying one's core beliefs, blindly following others, and whoring oneself out in the name of "pragmatism."

He disrespects George Bush with the cliches and trite slogans of the left.

Bush is part of the American establishment, a grouping that spans all political parties.

He voted third-party in the latest presidential election. He's an Obama enabler.

When have I directly aided and abetted Obama? Don't give me that Bushbot tripe about "you're either with us or against us"; such a naive and grossly oversimplified view of reality overlooks the possibility that I might be against both Democrats and Republicans, considering that they are both part of the American establishment and, will, in the interests of "pragmatism" and their own self-preservation, voluntarily and unhesitatingly throw me to the wolves in order to save themselves, as evidenced in the bailouts—pushed by both Republicans and Democrats— of the past fall.

[Gondring]

His age and his college status are relevant. He has no real-world experience.

Definitely relevant! That is, I'd say he's very bright if he understands so much without a lot of real-world experience!

[roses of sharon]

God Bless you Mr. President, you are a good man who loves his country and its people, and you have taken excellent care of your office.

We will not see this again...for many, many, many, years.

If ever.

[Impy]

"I simply see no reason to pile onto someone who is being viciously attacked by the MSM, Democrats, "

Yeah they hate him for their own reasons and I don't give a crap about that.

He should have used his veto pen more in dealing with Congress.

[Chunga]

Definitely relevant! That is, I'd say he's very bright if he understands so much without a lot of real-world experience!

Neither you nor babspuddle has an inkling about how politics work, how foreign policy works, what President Bush knows or why he's done the things he's done in office.

Bush-bashers are stunningly ignorant.

[Gondring]

LOL!

[Peter Horry]

“He should have used his veto pen more in dealing with Congress”

That I will agree with, Pres. Bush (with a responsible Congress) could have committed himself to restoring government to a more reasonable, efficient, and effective institution ... maybe along the lines of original intent. They made some half hearted attempts but didn’t seem to have the stomach for it, perhaps we aren’t ready for a revival .... I still hope one is possible. The responsibility for governmental failures lies as heavily on the citizens as it does their representatives. It seem that we choose our representatives based on the fad and fancy of personality than policy and vision.