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The Bush Legacy (Thomas Sowell)
Jewish World Review ^ | January 16, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 01/16/2009 4:50:57 PM PST by jazusamo

Whatever history's verdict on the Bush administration might be, it is likely to be very different from what we hear from the talking heads on television or read from the know-it-alls on editorial pages.

President Bush's number one achievement was also the number one function of government— to protect its citizens. Nobody on September 11, 2001 believed that there would never be another such attack for more than seven years.

Unfortunately, people who are protected from dangers often conclude that there are no dangers. This is most painfully visible among those Americans who are hysterical over the government's intercepting international phone calls, in order to disrupt international terrorist networks.

Many, especially among the intelligentsia, are also obsessed with whether we are being nice enough to the cut-throats locked up at Guantanamo, some of whom have already been turned loose to resume a life of terrorism. The rights of the Geneva Convention do not apply to people who neither obey the Geneva Convention nor are covered by the Geneva Convention.

That a President of the United States protected us from deadly enemies may not seem like much of an accomplishment to some. But it may be more fully appreciated when we get a President who eases up on that protection, in order to curry favor at home and abroad.

We can only hope that it will not take the sight of an American city lying in radioactive ruins to wake people up to the dangers that George W. Bush protected us against, despite an unending chorus of carping.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; bush43; bushlegacy; digg; legacy; presidentbush; sowell; thomassowell; wot
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To: jazusamo; Diana in Wisconsin

Attention:

Best be nice to Diana in Wisconsin. Methinks she has the mod’s ear :)


21 posted on 01/16/2009 5:52:55 PM PST by upchuck (Get ready for 2009: Pray; Raise/conserve cash; Pay your debts; Pray; Stockpile; Buy ammo; Pray)
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To: the invisib1e hand
Yes. I totally agree. And, I doubt that we would have to wait for history to come up with an accurate verdict on his legacy. We would know it from day 1 and be grateful he chose to be chosen.
22 posted on 01/16/2009 6:00:47 PM PST by GBA
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To: jazusamo

“What did you do to him? LOL!”

I’d tell ya, but then I’d have to kill ya. ;)

Actually, nothing. I didn’t even READ his post until you pinged me. I was busy posting about farming and chattin’ with my Freeper girlfriends! Honest.

Guess my ‘Guardian Angel’ is watching out for me. :)


23 posted on 01/16/2009 6:03:59 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin; upchuck

A likely story, Diana. ;-)


24 posted on 01/16/2009 6:06:15 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

Yes, well...a girl can’t reveal ALL of her secrets on the First Date now, can she? Hmmmmm? Hmmmm?

(That troll must’ve been bothering others besides me. That was one of the fastest ZOTS I’ve ever seen!)


25 posted on 01/16/2009 6:12:16 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: jazusamo
Going along with the McCain-Feingold bill restricting free speech was perhaps the Bush administration's biggest dereliction of duty.
Hear, hear! And, IMHO, McCain-Feingold was a precondition for the victory of McCain in the primary.
A mixed bag? Aren't we all? But an honorable man.
Yes.

26 posted on 01/16/2009 6:23:47 PM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion (Change is what journalism is all about. NATURALLY journalists favor "change.")
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To: jazusamo

mark


27 posted on 01/16/2009 6:28:57 PM PST by Christian4Bush (Role of the press: Republican scandal - prosecutors; Democrat scandal - Defense attorneys.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

Right on the money, cIc!


28 posted on 01/16/2009 6:30:28 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo
He is absolutely right about the Geneva Convention. My undergrad degrees were in History and Politcal Science. As an ROTC student who would be commissioned upon graduation we studied these laws with an eye towards the environment in the 1965 and after era. We were in Viet Nam and might just be captured so...

Terrorists are not covered by or accede to the Rule of Law. Under the geneva convention a POW must olny divulge NAME, RANK, and SERIAL NUMBER.

Since terrorist have neither and uniforms ore NRS, when they are captured on the field of battle they can be considered SPIES!

There need be no torture. They can be given three options when they are found to be spies.

Option 1 - Firing Squad

Option 2 - Hanging.

Option 3 - Tell us all you know or take your place in Line One or Two

29 posted on 01/16/2009 7:06:58 PM PST by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: jazusamo

Thank you Thomas Sowell!


30 posted on 01/16/2009 7:12:27 PM PST by BlueAngel
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To: SuziQ

I don’t think I can recall an occasion when Dr Sowell didn’t utterly nail it. And this time is no different.


31 posted on 01/16/2009 7:24:53 PM PST by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: jazusamo
Whatever history's verdict on the Bush administration might be, it is likely to be very different from what we hear from the talking heads on television or read from the know-it-alls on editorial pages.

I love reading Dr. Sowell, but i am skeptical of this statement. The pseudo-intellectuals who are teaching in the public schools and writing the history books will be writing the saga of the Bush administration for future generations to learn (if there are future generations, which is in question at this point in time).
32 posted on 01/16/2009 7:27:13 PM PST by Canedawg
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To: jazusamo

Be sure to get Dr. Sowell’s newbook, “Applied Economics.” You might want to read his “Basic Economics” first, however.


33 posted on 01/16/2009 10:05:03 PM PST by TAdams8591 (Anyone who believes the West is not in the midst of a great culture war is in complete denial!)
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To: jazusamo
"A mixed bag? Aren't we all? But an honorable man."

Though he has made it evident in prior pieces, it is always comforting to note, Dr. Sowell is wise enough to avoid purist and negative thinking. Despite the things that irked me about the Bush administration, I remember the good things as well, and agree that over all President Bush is an honorable man, who will be deeply missed by many including myself.

34 posted on 01/16/2009 10:13:44 PM PST by TAdams8591 (Anyone who believes the West is not in the midst of a great culture war is in complete denial.)
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To: jazusamo

God bless you, Thomas Sowell.


35 posted on 01/16/2009 10:56:55 PM PST by amyjane
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To: jazusamo

Interesting synopsis. After reading the essay, my view of Bush as a globalist solidified. And, he will likely own the title for quite some time. I anticipate his successors will be preoccupied with national concerns, and less engaged in global deliberation.


36 posted on 01/16/2009 11:40:43 PM PST by Gene Eric
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To: Ramius
I don’t think I can recall an occasion when Dr Sowell didn’t utterly nail it. And this time is no different.
There was one occasion when Sowell was on the radio talking to his friend Walter Williams, who was filling in for Rush. And a caller made what I thought was a pedestian, not-particularly-good, point which somehow roused enthusiasm in Professor Sowell. And Sowell then proceeded to write a column about that idea, too. So the man is human.

But in general, if Dr. Sowell says it you can take it to the bank - and bank on the fact that it actually matters, too.

There was an occasion when jazusamo said something over-the-top about my own writing, actually comparing it to Dr. Sowell's. Naturally I quoted and linked it on my home page, with the annotation, "Hey - if your writing was mentioned in the same sentence with Thomas Sowell's, wouldn't you want to frame it and put it up on the wall?"


37 posted on 01/17/2009 1:56:18 AM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion (Change is what journalism is all about. NATURALLY journalists favor "change.")
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To: jazusamo
A mixed bag? Aren't we all? But an honorable man.

Dr. Sowell is pretty much right on the terror aspect. But I disagree almost 100% on the "honorable man" assessment.

I say pretty much on the terror front because IMO we have been damn lucky that our porous southern border has not facilitated a major terrorist hit. Sorry, but Bush's actions/lack of actions on that tell me he is [at least] disingenuous or pretty damn stupid in that regard. And I do not believe he is stupid.

Compean and Ramos have been ignored and abandoned by the "honorable" GWB. Duncan Hunter and others have made numerous formal requests to the WH to deal with hundreds of armed incursions over our border by Mexican drug dealers AND the Mexican military. Notice the forceful and dynamic response to this by GWB?

I do not have a crystal ball to tell me what motivates Bush in this regard, but it certainly isn't honor as I define it.

Flame away folks. And while you are doing that, be sure to explain to agents of the US government and the AMERICAN CITIZENS working and living on the border how the honorable GWB has executed his Constitutional duties in defending and protecting them.

38 posted on 01/17/2009 5:38:01 AM PST by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s........you weren't really there)
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To: jazusamo; PureSolace; netmilsmom; StarCMC; narses; fanfan; murphE; Mjaye; GodGunsGuts; ...
Thanks for the ping, jazz!

digg

.

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off the Digg ping list.

39 posted on 01/17/2009 6:58:02 AM PST by jan in Colorado (In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11)
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To: Young Werther
He is absolutely right about the Geneva Convention. My undergrad degrees were in History and Politcal Science. As an ROTC student who would be commissioned upon graduation we studied these laws with an eye towards the environment in the 1965 and after era. We were in Viet Nam and might just be captured so... Terrorists are not covered by or accede to the Rule of Law. Under the geneva convention a POW must olny divulge NAME, RANK, and SERIAL NUMBER. Since terrorist have neither and uniforms ore NRS, when they are captured on the field of battle they can be considered SPIES! There need be no torture. They can be given three options when they are found to be spies. Option 1 - Firing Squad Option 2 - Hanging. Option 3 - Tell us all you know or take your place in Line One or Two
If only our troops could adopt this policy.
40 posted on 01/17/2009 9:29:15 AM PST by dbz77
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