What Bush Inherited, and What He Left Left Behind

NRO ^ | November 13, 2009 | Victor Davis Hanson

[RobinMasters]

George W. Bush inherited a recession. He also inherited the Iraq no-fly zones, a Middle East boiling after the failed last-minute Clintonian rush for an imposed peace, an intelligence community wedded to the notion of Saddam's WMD proliferation, a Congress on record supporting "regime change" in Iraq, a WMD program in Libya, a Syrian occupation of Lebanon, Osama bin Laden enjoying free rein in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a renegade Pakistan that had gone nuclear on Clinton's watch with Dr. Khan in full export mode, and a pattern of appeasing radical Islam after its serial attacks (on the World Trade Center, the Khobar Towers, U.S. embassies, and the U.S.S. Cole).

In other words, Bush inherited the regular "stuff" that confronts most presidents when they take office. What is strange is that Obama has established a narrative that he, supposedly unlike any other president, inherited a mess.

[RobinMasters]

[RobinMasters]

Ping.

[IGOTMINE]

VDH nails it. Again.

[SueRae]

Thank you for the truth Victor!!!!!

[rbosque]

So true.

[4rcane]

obama once mentioned that regular presidents have 3-4 issues to deal with, he has 7-8. He has short memory

[ilgipper]

This is exactly right. I just shows how much of a wuss we have in office now. It also offers a stark reminder to many here how much Bush did get right in his 8 years. Many here have fallen for the leftist narrative of ‘8 failed years’’, and this points out the real situation. I have problems with some things be did too, but he got so many things right and addressed a lot of the problems facing him when he entered office.

[DoughtyOne]

I heartily agree that Obama is now on his own.

He has had time to make strategic moves that should have impacted our economy favorably by now. He hasn’t.

He has had time to heal the international relation wounds he thought existed due to Bush being president.

He thought the terrorists in Afghanistan would simply lay down their weapons, what with a Muslim ass kisser in OUR Oval Office. Low and behold, they hate him too.

Well Barry, you’re on your own now. So far your single most declared enemy is your citizenry who thinks you should adhere to the U.S. Constitution.

War in Afghanistan: Ho hum, a decision this year maybe
Economy in the toilet: Lies to the effect it is turning around
Terrorists in Gitmo: We’ll move them to New York, making it Ground Zero AGAIN!

In short, all the genuine problems and enemies of the U.S., ho hum

In short, the only enemies of the U.S. in his eyes, are good citizens and FoxNews

[Gator113]

I will go to my grave missing that man... warts and all.

[Radix]

History (and the voters) will make evident just how bad Obama really is. Bush will be cheered down the road.

Unfortunately, it was Eisenhower who started this policy of appeasement toward our enemies. They (We) never should have abandoned the Hungarians (in 1956) and perpetuated the Cold War. Better a hot war and be done with it.

[reefdiver]

We are ALL in the cross hairs of the left. They are at war with America. The muzzies are at war with America.

We recognize one enemy, But we fail to see the other. Just as dangerous.

They both want US dead

[ClearCase_guy]

In short, the only enemies of the U.S. in his eyes, are good citizens and FoxNews

Not to nitpick, but I think Obama hates Israel and the UK also.

[alecqss]

...and Carla Bruni, not us forget that.

[EGPWS]

In short, the only enemies of the U.S. in his eyes, are good citizens and FoxNews...

How long before us voters vote out of office what good citizens should vote out to maintain personal freedom?

[DoughtyOne]

I agree.

[DuncanWaring]

He probably likes Carla; it’s Michelle that doesn’t like her.

[smoothsailing]

[EGPWS]

It also offers a stark reminder to many here how much Bush did get right in his 8 years.

A divisive change of heart for many.

ilgipper = nail + head and strike with force.

[Ann Archy]

I don’t remember Bush COMPLAINING about what mess he inherited like the man-child CRYBABY we have now.

[FrankR]

If obama had been handed the clinton leftovers he would still be having lunch with Saddam Hussein, and buying those "poor terrorist" who rammed the USS Cole a new rubber boat.

This assclown can't even start to decide to send friggin' REINFORCEMENT to our embattled Army to protect the troops in theatre of a war that he claimed as a "just war".

Bush had his stumbles, but he also had a hell of a lot thrust on him in the first 6 months of his first term.

All EEO pres-ent obama can do is see how many entitlement programs he can ram down our throats, and how much our of tax money he can steal, and STASH away to buy his way through the next election.

He never fails to throw Bush under the bus to make himself look like the victim, but when it comes to heavy lifting and leadership, obama is the 90-pound-weakling making sand castles on the beach, and Bush is Charles Atlas.

Many of your younger Freepers probably won't get that.

We are NEVER going to have a president that we agred with on 100% of the issues...not possible in a country of individuals. But there are a lot of single issue voters out there to muddle the mix. For example, IMHO anyone who says obama wasn't elected solely on color, is full of it. He is the "symbolism over substance" president that caps off MLK's dream. That means they've made it to the mountaintop, and racism is over....doesn't it?

Slam Bush all you want, I got pretty PO's at him a couple of times myself, but when he was there other countries knew better than to muck with us, and there was honor and prestigue in the White House.

The current paper tiger in the oval office would have folded like yesterday's NY Times if he had inherited half of what Bush did...and Bush did it without a single CZAR and no bail outs...until the end, anyway.