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History will remember Bush well
Wall St Journal ^ | Marc Thiessen

Posted on 01/20/2009 9:26:58 AM PST by jbwbubba

In August 1951, with a little more than a year left to Harry S. Truman's presidency, historian Henry Steele Commager published an essay in Look magazine with this prediction: "By all normal standards, [Truman's] Administration has been one of almost . . . unparalleled success . . . the verdict of history will not be the same as the verdict of contemporary critics."

At the time, Truman's popularity hovered in the low 20s and most Americans considered his presidency a failure. Look's editors even published a note declaring "doubts" about "whether history will accord Harry S. Truman as generous a place as Professor Commager assigns him." History eventually sided with Commager.

Today, President George W. Bush leaves office with approval ratings only slightly higher than Truman's. And I will make this prediction: The verdict of history on the Bush presidency will not be the same as the verdict of contemporary critics.

While Mr. Bush made mistakes during his time in office, like Truman he racked up a record of unparalleled success that will be increasingly appreciated in the years to come.

Like Truman at the start of the Cold War, Mr. Bush set our nation's course at the start of a new and unprecedented war. And like Truman, he responded by laying out a clear doctrine to guide America through the conflict. Mr. Bush created the institutions necessary to prevail in this struggle. He created the Department of Homeland Security and a new director of national intelligence. He transformed the FBI and the Justice Department to fight terror. He established new military commands. And he transformed NATO from a defensive alliance into an expeditionary alliance that is now leading the fight in Afghanistan.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; bushlegacy; presidents; truman
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To: Alexius

‘He seemed to throw the election.’

I noted that at GOPACHY.

Last February.


41 posted on 01/20/2009 12:48:47 PM PST by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
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To: dfwgator
I think in the end, it was more the GOP members of Congress that did that, they never had President Bush's back.

I disagree. The problem was that they drank the kool-aid of 'compassionate conservatism' which translates to 'big government conservatism' which is neo-conservatism and is the kin of liberalism.

The House GOP showed some life by originally resisting the theft of middleclass wealth to give to Bankers. In the end they too showed that they were not conservatives but big-government liberals.

42 posted on 01/20/2009 12:52:48 PM PST by Alexius (An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man. - St. Thomas More)
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To: Badeye
I noted that at GOPACHY. Last February.

I think there might be something to it. He just didn't seem too upset about losing.

I think the GOP would be smart to vote en mass against all of Obamas agenda and then nominate a Palin/Sanford ticket.

43 posted on 01/20/2009 12:56:46 PM PST by Alexius (An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man. - St. Thomas More)
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To: Alexius

Depends on what the new President actually proposes in writing, as compared to what he was proposing while running for the job.

I think he’s more of a pragmatist than anyone suspects. We’ll see.


44 posted on 01/20/2009 1:00:04 PM PST by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
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To: Badeye
I think he’s more of a pragmatist than anyone suspects.

I hope so. Maybe the knot in my stomach will go away.

Anyway, great talking to you. Have a wonderful day. I am off for Mexican food. ;)

45 posted on 01/20/2009 1:01:57 PM PST by Alexius (An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man. - St. Thomas More)
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To: Alexius

Enjoy!


46 posted on 01/20/2009 1:03:21 PM PST by Badeye (There are no 'great moments' in Moderate Political History. Only losses.)
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To: Alexius
George Bush: "I betrayed free market principles to save the free market."

Commander in VietNam: "We destroyed the village in order to save it.",/p>

47 posted on 01/20/2009 4:32:00 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Deb
No, it never had a chance of working, but it did work in Texas and a lot of Bush people credited the Hispanic vote with putting him in office because they came out in such huge numbers compared with other Republican candidates. That's what influenced his thinking.

You're right. I lived in Texas during that time and it did influence his thinking.

His being able to work with Dems in TX made him think he could do so on the national level.

Needless to say, he was mistaken.

He's out of the White House now and I wish him and all of us the best. I think we're gonna need it now.

Amazing << Hear this. Feel this, and tell me that this isn't music.
And dont sleep on these two, either.


48 posted on 01/20/2009 5:09:58 PM PST by rdb3 (Oh, my. Uhh... No, it's... What's.., What's the word?)
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To: Alexius

“Again, do you know what conservatism is..”

What do you consider the differences between conservatism and ‘neoconservatism’ in regards to foreign policy? Also, since you claim that you would have voted for the Constitutional Party, does this mean you supported Chuck Baldwin?


49 posted on 01/20/2009 6:45:49 PM PST by death2tyrants
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To: rdb3

It really makes me sad that he gets no credit for his humanity and optimism in dealing with the other side. It was a misconception in Washington, but all he gets is contempt for trying. Thanks for your post.


50 posted on 01/21/2009 9:25:12 AM PST by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: death2tyrants; annalex
What do you consider the differences between conservatism and ‘neoconservatism’ in regards to foreign policy?

True conservatism has a realist foreign policy approach with an emphasis on furthering the US National interest. It follows our greatest Presidents advice and keeps us from entering into foreign entanglements. Neoconservative foreign policy has a Trotskyite view of bringing revolution to the world (they call it bringing democracy). This of course has been used to encircle Russia and make an enemy of them when they need not be. Neoconservatives like Kristol, Krauthammer and others have pushed to invite the world here through open borders and invade the world. That is suicidal. Lastly, neoconservatives are just as comfortable with an Obama administration as a Bush Administration.

I miss the days when conservatives protested against nation-builing follies.

Also, since you claim that you would have voted for the Constitutional Party, does this mean you supported Chuck Baldwin?

Only as a protest against the liberals in the GOP. I have read Mr. Baldwins articles on Vdare and he is certainly more of a conservative than Bush/McCain. I was underwhealmed by his appearance with Ralph Nader in the third party debate but he would be better than McCain or Bush. Lastly, Ron Paul and my dear friend Annalex supported him so he can't be all bad.

51 posted on 01/21/2009 11:32:48 AM PST by Alexius (An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man. - St. Thomas More)
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To: Alexius

I wrote in Baldwin last November and have no reason to regret my vote. Thank you for the kind words.

By the way, Bush did pardon these border agents. He did quite a few things in the last month that he ought to have done in the first, too.


52 posted on 01/21/2009 11:48:09 AM PST by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: Alexius
I have read Mr. Baldwins articles on Vdare and he is certainly more of a conservative than Bush/McCain.

VDARE?

Amazing << Hear this. Feel this, and tell me that this isn't music.
And dont sleep on these two, either.


53 posted on 01/21/2009 11:51:00 AM PST by rdb3 (Oh, my. Uhh... No, it's... What's.., What's the word?)
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To: jbwbubba
1) Single digit vetoes.
2) Doing the jobs Americans won't do.
3) Islam is the religion of peace.
4) I looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul.
5) The Angela Merkel back rub.

54 posted on 01/21/2009 11:54:11 AM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: annalex
By the way, Bush did pardon these border agents. He did quite a few things in the last month that he ought to have done in the first, too.

Yes, he finally did the right thing. Too bad they had be be beaten badly in prison and rot in jail while he pandered to La Raza.

I voted for Bob Barr and do not regret it. I am happy that I voted against McCain, especially as he is showing his true colors more and more now that he does not have to worry about getting conservative votes.

55 posted on 01/21/2009 11:58:46 AM PST by Alexius (An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man. - St. Thomas More)
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To: rdb3
http://www.vdare.com/index.asp

They have some excellent articles by solid conservatives like Peter Brimilow, Steve Sailer, Pat Buchanan and Michelle Malkin. They were able to track the insanity of the Bush Immigration policy.

56 posted on 01/21/2009 12:01:01 PM PST by Alexius (An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man. - St. Thomas More)
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