“You say that my “standards are low” because I consider President Bush to be our best national leader since Reagan. If you disagree, which intervening president do you think showed better leadership? George H.W. Bush or Bill Clinton?”
Your standards are low because we haven’t had a national leader since Reagan.
“President Bush made the right decision on the surge, stood behind it, and saw it through to a successful conclusion. Well done.”
After how many years? The war isn’t actually OVER, so I’m not sure about the “conclusion” part....
“I don’t believe President Bush “stole” money from the American people to give to Africa and “other foreign aid” - unless one’s definition of thievery includes a large percentage of federal expenditures.”
Yes, it is theft. Much of it. Charity with the public purse is criminal.
“President Bush was vastly better than his principal opponents in ‘00 and ‘04. The country and the world are better off today because of his service, than we would be had his opponents been elected.”
That’s not saying much at all.
What I meant by “successful conclusion” was that at the close of President Bush’s administration, Iraq was in pretty good shape. It will take a very long time - probably generations - to actually change the culture so that representative democracy takes true root. But it’s not impossible.