Bush Has Made Us Vulnerable

WSJ Online ^ | 19 dec 08 | MARK HELPRIN

[rellimpank]

In his great Civil War history, "Decision in the West," Albert Castel describes the last Confederate hope of victory. If in 1864 the Confederate armies continue to exact a steep cost from the North, "the majority of Northerners will decide that going on with the war is not worth the financial and human cost and so will replace Lincoln and the Republicans with a Democratic president and Congress committed to stopping hostilities and instituting peace negotiations." He cites the resolution of the Confederate Congress that: "Brave and learned men in the North have spoken out against the usurpations and cruelties daily practiced. The success of these men over the radical and despotic faction which now rules the North may open the way to . . . a cessation of this bloody and unnecessary war." Plus ça change .

[Perdogg]

Mark Helprin can go to Hell.

[2001convSVT]

He is already there, the problem is that he wants to take the rest of us there.

[Stentor]

Put this guy’s picture next to the Monday morning quarterback definition.

[jveritas]

What is an a**hole liar.

If not for President Bush the terrorists would have controlled the whole Middle East by now, they would have hundred of billions of oil revenues under their disposal, and millions of terrorists to conduct terrorist attacks they are hundred of times worse than the 9/11 2001 terrorist attacks. If not for President Bush the world right now will be living in new Dark Ages.

[Perdogg]

The biggest mistake Bush made was relying on the American public to see the war-on-terror through. After only a few weeks of the fighting in Afghanistan, the public was already war weary. The biggest mystery to me was the urgency in Iraq and why hasn't the Administration presented the full case.

[wny]

Mark Helprin: fool

[Eye of Unk]

Dear Mr. President, please send a final message before you leave to our enemies, please send a message of shock and awe that only that only you have the power to do.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

After only a few weeks of the fighting in Afghanistan, the public was already war weary.

So the MSM reported ...

[demshateGod]

“.........If not for President Bush the world right now will be living in new Dark Ages.”

Even IF some of what you said is exaggeration, enough of it is true to say we owe Bush at least some gratitude. And I think Bush has been a rotten president overall.

[sickoflibs]

GWB lost the political war at home and it wasnt just the ‘treasonous press”. After his high pressure sales pitch fall 2002 when he got his vote he just let the public come to it’s own conclusions, while watching daily disasters in Iraq and dark predictions even on FNC. And the conclusion they came to was dont trust a republican president on national security. Even the successful surge could not save McCain in 2008 (even with Obama opposing it and McCain on winning side on surge.)

You have to stay in touch with the public, especially as costs climb. I know this view is not popular here.

[Laverne]

Mark is just setting the story line that when/if we get attacked again under Obama, the blame should be layed at the feet of President Bush. The media hate Bush, Helprin is no exception, he hates him as well.

I believe history will be kinder to Bush than is the current speculation, and I hope that history will be honest about the role the media played in aiding and abetting the terrorists, the lies they played (making Joe Wilson a hero instead of the liar he is, and will pronounce the media as having truly been the propagandists for the enemy) and history will reflect that the media during the Bush administration threw all objectivity and honesty and integrity under the bus. I don’t remember where I first read the term — but it is spot: Helprin and all the rest are indeed the “enemedia”.

[Perdogg]

Let me re-phrase this. I misspoke. Bush laid out a plan in his SOTU address in which he called Iraq-Iran-North Korea the axis of evil, and people said “yeah Go Bush”. But it was clear by 2004, that American public seemed weary of more conflict.

[tatsinfla]

true, the msm pounded this untruth to the sheeple every day until they believed it and turned the war against bush such as they did during vietnam....they want this country brought to her knees and she is kneeling on 1 of them as i type...i just had a few minutes ago a 30 something yr old woman in my office say she wishes she had been the one to throw the shoes at bush, i told her she needs to blame congress and the senate for the condition of this country the past 2 yrs not bush....the young are so blind to the truth at hand...and they will be the ones chosing our nursing care....

[sam_paine]

Their one great accomplishment -- no subsequent attacks on American soil thus far -- has been offset by the stunningly incompetent prosecution of the war.

Yes. Well. Other than accomplishing Bush's primary goal that no one thought possible on 9/12/2001....

[Grampa Dave]

BDS with AIDs dementia is a terrible affliction.

What is itabout the so called opeders who push the Gay Agenda and their hatred of President Bush and now Governor Palin:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-hptb5&p=MARK%20HELPRIN%20%20%2b%20gay&type=

[sam_paine]

if we get attacked again under Obama, the blame should be layed at the feet of President Bush.

Clinton never really took any heat via Gorelick or even having him on tape explaining why he didn't get bin laden.

Bush will not get such a pass.

[brytlea]

I agree. Many Americans are supremely uninformed, and glad to stay that way. They would rather be cool, and hating Bush has been made cool by the press.

[brytlea]

The press apparently convinced the public that if we didn’t win the war in 15 minutes it was a disaster.

[Pietro]

It amazes me that the WSJ publishes this drivel. Aren't there already enough liberal rags in thsi country?

Whatever happened to market differentation?