We will never understand what has happened to us without understanding the 12 years of Bushes.”
I think the 8 years of W is the key to understanding just how this level of corruption can take hold here.
The first thing that W did was unilaterally declare a “New Tone” in D.C. And with that ‘new tone’, W would not investigate, much less hold accountable, anyone from the previous (Bill Clinton) administration, when there were HUGE things to investigate (giving the Chinese ICBM capability in exchange for campaign contributions, for starters).
Once it became clear that Republicans were unable, unwilling, or simply afraid to investigate, then it became MUCH EASIER to ratchet things up, to the point of wholesale corruption under Obama...and so they did. The Obama people simply had NO FEAR of being caught, much less prosecuted, considering what they got away with under Bush. Regarding Trump, he was going to lose, and lose big time anyway - so no problem with him - and, most likely, if he did somehow win, it would be made clear to him that investigating prior (particularly Democrat) administrations is simply not done in DC.
As to the ‘new tone’, it STILL blows my mind that we could elect someone as STUPID as Bush Jr. was. He should have figured out in week that the Democrats had no intention of abiding by this ‘new tone’ - it took Trump about 3 steps down the stairs in his hotel (in June 2015) to figure out who the Democrats are. To this day, I doubt anyone in the Bush family has ANY CLUE as to who they are and what they want to do to this country.
...thank you for your post...best summary I’ve read in a while...I don’t think Gwb was that dumb, though...I’m sure GHWB mentioned to him he still has friends in the swamp he wanted left alone...
I agree - using the word “stupid” without qualifications falls right into the hands of the Left. Where W was stupid was his understanding of DC Democrats. He figured they could be tamed and work with him, as the Democrats in Texas did, to a reasonable extent, when he was governor.
Totally different in DC, though (although now the Democrats in Texas are just as radicalized, having driven all of their conservatives and moderates out).
Bush also introduced “power sharing”—the appointment of Democrats to lead some of agencies and head up committees.
Supposedly, this new tone was to lead to rational cooperation between the parties for the benefit of the nation. We know better now. They were the guests and America the Christmas Goose. And after 9/11, despite majorities in the House and Senate, Bush never met a spending bill he didn’t like.
The results of the 2000 election were perhaps even more contentious than those in 2016, as Florida hung by a thread, electorally, and it took the the US Supreme Court to rule in favor of Bush over Gore and finaly begin the transition to the new administration.
The Clintons didn’t go quietly, either. The White House was looted of silverware and small, concealable treasures of the residence that the Clintons returned later when those items were noticed to be missing. The administrative offices were trashed, with many a keyboard missing the letter ‘W.’ At the inauguration, a photo captured Hillary whispering to George W. Everyone could guess what she was telling him, “See ya in four, George!” (It might have been in eight, but Obama won the minds of the DNC and the designated loser obliged him in 2008.)
2000 was the year the Republicans were fully neutralized as a party, despite successive wins through 2004. It wasn’t until 2016 that the People pulled themselves out the predictable and nation-destroying cycle with Trump’s election.