I’m not going to bother reading this but GW Bush has been both. He has been a great and sometimes horrible leader. He made some bad decisions and allowed others too much leeway and they made bad decisions. He was better at sticking to doing what was right than making the case for doing what was right such as with Iraq. He spent a lot of money trying to prove he was a compassionate conservative, Africa loves him but what did it get us or him politically? Nothing. He began a debate in which he emphasized conservative divisions on immigration rather than uniting conservatives and moderate Republicans around a security first plan. He nominated two excellent constitutionalist judges Roberts and Alito and managed to get both confirmed. I also think by the end of his term he will have been vindicated on Iraq but at a much higher cost because he did not understand of appreciate the nature of the propaganda war at home.
There were good and bad things. If we can manage to pick up a few seats in the Senate and keep at least parity in the House and win the White House then some of the not so good things may yet be undone and we may yet get Kennedy, Ginsberg, Breyer, or Souter to retire. That would be a win so nice to have but just remember having a court is useless if you can’t get your legislation passed and into law while the court is favorable.
I have to agree... it’s been a real mixed bag.
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I think you may be onto something here but the bottom line is that George W. Bush will be rehabilitated by the hindsight of history from the worst president of modern times to something of a visionary. Where did he fail? One simple word: Communication. Bush failed to communicate successfully, his views convictions, the American imperative, the need for sacrifice, the vision thing as his father called it. He is every bit as convicted in his beliefs as Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan. The difference is, the other three mentioned were also great communicators. If you are unwilling or unable to define and communicate your positions and convictions, others will tar and feather you with their words. This is the main thing Bush was unable to accomplish.
Excellent post—thanks.