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The Dignity of George W. Bush
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He won’t criticize Obama’s policies, his popularity polls are rising, and Democrats are hailing him as a “statesman.” Nicolle Wallace asks, is Bush becoming history’s classiest ex-president?
George W. Bush is the classiest former president in history. Don’t take my word for it: ask the Democrats.
In the last two weeks, half a dozen Democrats have commented to me about what a “statesman” George W. Bush has been in his post-presidency. One of those individuals is a senior Obama administration official and two others are former senior Clinton administration officials.
It strikes me that Bush’s admirers in the Democratic Party have a funny way of showing their affection. President Obama and his surrogates continue their onslaught of assaults against every aspect of the Bush presidency, including personal attacks against the president for his management of the economy and allegations of wrongdoing against the very people who protected us from further attacks. One Bush aide said, “It’s fine to reverse all our policies, but the character attacks are over the top.”
There are few public signs of that goodwill or respect being reciprocated from Obama, but that’s not likely to alter Bush’s conduct.
If the attacks bother former President George W. Bush, you’d never know it. Friends and former advisers who have spent time with him recently report that he’s “more relaxed than they’ve seen him in years” and “truly at peace” with life as a “former.” Events showcasing the warmth between Bush and Clinton shine a spotlight on Bush’s comfort with membership in the ex-president’s club. In fact, recent news coverage of Bush’s public events depicts an openness and generosity, especially toward those who disagree with him, that was often obscured by the office.
In two public speeches this week, Bush repeatedly refused to criticize President Obama on national security and on his management of the economy. He reiterated a pledge he made in March to maintain his silence, saying that “it is essential that he [Obama] be helped in office.” This comes from a place of deep respect for the office he once held, but also from genuine goodwill toward President Obama. “I love my country a lot more than I love politics,” Bush added. There are few public signs of that goodwill or respect being reciprocated from Obama, but that’s not likely to alter Bush’s conduct.
In answering a question from an audience member at a speech in front of the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan about what he wanted his legacy to be, Bush said: “I hope it’s this: the man showed up with a set of principles and he was unwilling to compromise his soul for the sake of popularity.” With his approval numbers inching upward, George W. Bush is doing all the right things to ensure that his legacy is as he wishes. It’s a legacy that is as deserved as any label I’ve ever seen attached to a politician. Contrary to well-established conventional wisdom, Bush was always aware of how unpopular some of his policies were. And, at least during my tenure at the White House, he read the papers and knew what was being written and said about him. As he made clear this week, popularity was never his objective, and most will agree that mission was accomplished.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
Amateur Hour at the White House
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Going Rogue: The Index
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
Outfoxing Obama
Nicolle Wallace served as a senior adviser to the McCain-Palin campaign from May to November 2008. She served President George W. Bush as an assistant to the president and director of communications for the White House, as well as communications director for President Bush's 2004 campaign.
Obama's Strange Trip
Nicolle Wallace served as a senior adviser to the McCain-Palin campaign from May to November 2008. She served President George W. Bush as an assistant to the president and director of communications for the White House, as well as communications director for President Bush's 2004 campaign.
What Dubya Can Teach Obama
Nicolle Wallace served as a senior adviser to the McCain-Palin campaign from May to November 2008. She served President George W. Bush as an assistant to the president and director of communications for the White House, as well as communications director for President Bush's 2004 campaign.
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It's a shame that he wasn't a little classier when he was the president. Or was he really the president?
one-
Oh he was really The President-
Look around at the wreckage.
Besides Antonin Scalia appointed him
And that's good enough for me.
Exactly. I am glad Bush is behaving as he is so far (we have enough mean-speak out there as it is from the GOP), but I feel he has ulterior motives for his silence. Perhaps, to try to pull himself up from the miserable things he did to this country while President. It appears Cheney was the de facto Pres. and Bush just went along with him and the other cronies in his administration. Also, remember Bush really can't speak English too well, so he is just sitting back--he can't debate.
Oh he was President. It was simply that he answered to a higher authority, the one that combined the executive and the legislative branches of government. What was that guy's name?
W reminds me of that guy who gets invited to dinner party only because he knew someone... then breaks something valuable and ducks out before anyone notices. And that at the end of the night you find an expensive piece of art in pieces on the floor....
Nicolle should write comedy. She always makes me laugh. :)
Yea, terrific job Obama is doing... Might as will sew a sickle and hammer on the flag. I'll take Bush's America any day over Obama's Amerika.
Their is no such thing as Bush's admirers in the Democratic Party.
He's shutting up like his supposed to, which makes him a statesman. FACT
Besides he FAILED at everything so him criticizing the new president would be laughable.
Bush popularity will always be low forever because he didn't care of what the people think of them.
He has the "I'm right, you're wrong mentality"
and on top of it all he was a moron, oh time to watch Colbert destroy him at the whitehouse dinner again.
When you trash Bush, you'll have to keep in mind that he rubber stamped policies that the Republicans didn't want and he was the largest social spending President in history until President Obamas stimulous package.
You can dislike the man, but the past is past.
As I have stated many times before, if you want "change" in America, I suggest two things:
1) Vote them all out and clean house.
2) Read the Constitution and elect those who will follow and protect it.
Anything else is nothing more than ego based corrupted power, on both sides.
Buahaha Republicans didn't want? The GOP supported him From the Beginning till the End of his MISERABLE presidency their all hypocrites their is no distancing themselves from Bush.
And suddenly when a Democrat spends they goo oohh we don't do that buahaha funny.
Dude is this the same GWBush who had an approval rateing of -3 the last turm in office--- the only thing he changed is that he put the republican in the minus column----------------oh never mine
How right you are!
you are right, of course.
You are so right P! But then again you might have missed the fact that Bush does not understand what is going on. He is totally clueless of what we are going through the pay cuts, the lay offs.
Cheney on the other hand has totally demonstated his senility!!
He has the "I'm right, you're wrong mentality"
He certainly didn't learn that from his daddy. I wonder where it came from?
I think I'd like those names progressive. I don't think I believe this for a moment.
He failed at everything? Wow. He did get elected twice. Apparently a few people felt he was doing a good job.
"The I'm right, your're wrong mentality." Wouldn't that be the same mentality that you have? You are right, Bush was wrong. He is a moron. So with that logic, I feel Obama is wrong about everything he has done since he took office so therefore , Obama is a moron. I'm right and you are wrong. :)
He got elected once.
he was installed once, and stole an election once. he was never elected.
FACT: We were never attacked by terrorists after 9/11
FACT: The entire government and greedy bankers are responsible for the failures
FACT: Blaming Bush will only go so far
FACT: Everyone wishes Carter and Clinton would shut up
1) False -- unless you exclude our troops as being "we"
2) False -- a vague overstatement
3) Meaningless statement
4)False -- I for one don't
Matt-
It's convenient to start
Bush's administration on 9-12-01
But nobody's buying.
What a load of hooey. George W. Bush's legacy is one of catastrophic mismanagement. Will his amiability make us forget an unnecessary war in Iraq? An unfinished and bungled war in Afghanistan? Hurricane Katrina? A thoroughly politicized Justice Department? An almost total economic collapse? And these are just the things that come right off the top of my head.
As for the present administration criticizing the former - even if it weren't justified it would be understandable. Politics is a blood sport and always has been. Certainly the Bush Administration had no problem blaming the Clinton Administration for EVERYTHING that happened on its own watch - including 9/11. So, save us the "Bush as statesman" crapola.
When you trash the past, make sure you follow history back far enough. If you trace each President going back to President Ford and President Carter, and every one since, you'll see Iraq was inevitable. If you look at Katrina, look at the hurricanes in Florida and the earthquakes in California and see how FEMA did in those crisis. If you are worried about the Justice Department, look at Waco and the variety of other issues regarding Janet Reno. If you look at the economic collapse, that is a broader issue, but upon investigation you'll see that policies and practices of multiple administrations interfering in the marketplace caused the problem.
The bottom line is that bureacracies cause the problem. The American people do better when the government acts as referee instead of trying to be an active participant. This whole bailout thing is a perfect example. President Carter bailed out Chysler, and they have had 3 additional bailouts, never paid them back, and here they are still dead in the water. Did the government bail you out? They have no business in the private sector, period. What they did was use taxpayer money (including those who work at Ford, GM, US based Toyota, etc) to bailout competitors, is that smart? Why is is that Toyota, Honda, BMW and other foreign companies can come to the US and build here, and make money here, and provide jobs here, while Detroit farms out work around the world and can't make money? Regarding the banks, think about this. Chase borrowed money from us, bought Washington Mutual with that money, did not take one cent of the bad debt (the Feds did) and are now hitting WAMU customers with changes in policy that cost them hundreds of dollars in fees. With a million customers, and hundreds in fees, they don't need the Fed money any longer, and they essentially got WAMU for free. Is that fair?
Both parties and the American people just need to read, follow, and protect the constitution, and demand that the politicians just protect the rule of law, the borders, and basic services. Everything else can, and should, be done by private Americans.
...follow the Constitution...bureaucracies cause the problem...no business in the private sector: You are a veritable fount of originality, Mr. ConstitutionalRights.
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You sir/madam, are full of sh--!!!!! When republicans are in the White House the country suffers; when the Democratic Party is running things, and cleaning up the MESS that the repubs ALWAYS LEAVE, the country and ALL IT'S PEOPLE PROSPER!!!!!!!!!!
jamesreid1
The Neocons aren't quite the same thing as fiscal conservatives who aren't quite the same thing as the Libertarians who hang with the Right who aren't quite the same thing as the religious right, though the Neocons gladly adopted some of the manifest destiny energy the religious right radiates.
The Republicans crashed and burned with four sets of hands at the wheel, with a demented and inept backseat driver by the name of George Bush shouting out instructions.
A war with Iraq was inevitable. I guess propping up Sadam and selling him weapons was inevitable too. You are a moron.
Right again!
FNYGY1, those things didn't "come off the top of your head," they are simply well rehearsed liberal talking points. Any half-wit can parrot a bunch of faulty points the liberal establishment has tried to make for years...and list so many it would take an essay to point out where they are wrong.
As is usual with your ilk, you miss the point anyway. This entire column discusses Bush's post-Presidential behavior. He didn't engage in the attention grabbing and disruptive tactics that the Clinton administration did upon its exit. He didn't use his status as an ex-POTUS to immediately start ripping into his successor, as so many have done. He isn't pulling a Clinton and going on TV trying to physically intimidate reporters who ask fair questions about his Presidency.He has had nothing but good things to say about Obama before and after the 2008 elections.
But no, you're still in liberal knee-jerk jerk mode. Puking out lame talking points doesn't dissolve the facts.
Wrong as usual dingleberry!!!! You Puke out your usual republican crap "liberal talking points" yada yada yada. Any half-wit can parrot a bunch of faulty points. The republican establishment has tried for years to push lie upon lie, and as usual "Your Ilk" misses the point. The people of the United States have finally realized that just because you republicans keep telling your lies, it does not make them true. I know the folks that ONLY watch Faux News will believe you, because they enjoy living in fear, waiting for the great republicans to save them. Puking out your same, lame talking points will never dissolve the facts regarding the republican party. They are the party of NO, Rich White People, Party before Country etc....
This assessment of Clinton's post-presidency is baseless, inaccurate and just plain wrong. Do some research before you attack.
1) No, "(t)his entire column" does NOT discuss Bush's post-Presidential behavior. That's all a set-up for the punchline: an attack on Obama that is the last sentence of the piece. "But as Bush's rebound continues, Obama's lack of a clearly defined and publicly acknowledged set of principles could become a liability." See? Bush is an underappreciated statesman. Obama has no principles.
2) "He didn't use his status as an ex-POTUS to immediately start ripping into his successor, as so many have done." Name ONE ex-president who has done this. You can't. But criticism by a certain recent ex-VP does come to mind, whose behavior is unprecedented and to his eternal shame.
xbainx
Why do you say a war with Iraq was inevitable? It's a curiosity question.
"George W. Bush is the classiest ex-president in history." So much for that crass pig George Washington.
Why isn't Bush following the lead of Dick Cheney and attacking Obama? Here's an alternative to the "dignity" theory: W is lazy. He doesn't watch the news, doesn't read the news, doesn't know what's going on, doesn't care.
Dick is terrified that he will be prosecuted for war crimes. He is acting on the theory that the best defense is a good offense. Bush, on the other hand, assumes that he will skate. As usual. Throughout his life, his privileged status has protected him from suffering consequences from any of his failures.
And he can count on flacks like Nicolle Wallace to rewrite history for him.
I also subscribe to the "lazy" theory. The reason he nominated Harriet Meirs was she was there -- I mean, right there, in the White House, and he didn't have to look any further. This guy will always look for the easy way out.
So while we were safe all those years after 9/11 it was just by chance? You idiots! Now that Obama has taking down the missile defense off California coast I guess is just to warn North Korea that they can't scare us? Obama has cut our military defense & criticizes us to the people we have saved in years past & have so many of our solders burried overseas but I guess that doesn't count for nothing? Why do we have a man in office that claims to be an American but insults us to our friends & foes? If he is not proud to be an American then he should not be President. Is it his goal to destroy us? Seems he wants to be a dictator over us & wants to destroy our constitution.
Liberals seem to want to be so nasty that they can't see 2 feet in front of their face. By the way next time you want to criticize somebody you better take a good look at what your infamous Obama is doing, that is if you know.
You're watching too much Faux News. Your talking points have been dismissed as bullsh--. Now, who's the idiot?????????
And who was president when we were attacked?
Safe after 9/11 and the domestic Anthrax Attacks that followed (you forgot about those, filled it in for you, you're welcome), domestically? Check.
Safe **on** 9/11 and the Anthrax Attacks? Not so much.
We were safe after 9-11 because the "plots" against us were comprised of bumbling homeboys that had been listening to too much Louis Farrakhan and ran afoul of an FBI agent. There is zero evidence that we had to withstand any well-planned and well-financed plot against us by real terrorists.
You're just a victim of Cheney's fear-based propaganda. And stop regurgitating their talking points. Make up some of your own.
Thank you, TavernWench. The Rethugs always want to start the clock on 9/12. They want us to ignore the fact that we suffered the worst terrorist attack in our history on BUSH's watch. They want us to forget that Bush and Cheney had their pants completely around their ankles on 9/11 and allowed us to get sucker-punched. Praise Bush for "keeping us safe" from 9/12 forward? Hell no, I BLAME BUSH FOR BEING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL ON 9/11! You wingers want to pretend you would have rallied around the White House if Pres. GORE had been such a screwup?
For everyone that is saying what about security on 9/11, you may want to look at what happened in the previous presidency. I am curious if you can remember any of the terrorist attacks against embassies and military bases during the Clinton years. The democrats disabled our military and Intelligence services which made us vulnerable to attack. Then they acted like it was all Bush's fault that the Intelligence failed. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you really want to talk about this. Bush responded with everything he could and that is why we have not been attack. I give it two years of Obama and the Dems taking apart the Intelligence capability, through the courts no less, before we get attacked again. But I suppose that will be Bush's fault too.
Dignity? What is W's nickname for Wallace? Another Turdblossom?
TDB needs to adopt a consistent party line on this idiot. One day he's shunned by fellow Republicans in Texas because of his radioactive record and the next Democrats find something noble about his failure to think there is anything wrong with what he did, from open borders to wasting years before adopting the right military policies in Iraq. BTW when Democrats start praising a Republican, it means dislike is gone in favor of amiable contempt. Dubya is Specter written just a little larger.
Do you ever wonder what TDB's agenda really is? It's all like some sort of chaotic disinformation campaign to cover something beyond imagination.
TDB is a news salad bar, we can pick what we want, instant gratification and good for the bowels without the fiber.
What outrageous, revolting and blatant propaganda! This man destroyed the modern American economy and raped the US Constitution and she actually has the audacity to white wash the past so quickly, the recent past that so many of us are STILL suffering from? This is a disgusting perversion of facts and reality and it's unfortunate to see Ms. Wallace slumming to such a depth--has her career really come this? Wow, what a horrific piece of writing and a profound disservice to Americans everywhere.
what a piece of crap
ha ha ha aha aha ahaha ha ahaa !!!! Keep dreaming! In comparison to cheney he's a class act but we don't really know what he's doing and saying behind closed doors.
I think what he's doing and saying behind closed doors is his business. Can't wait until Obama leaves office.Just image what the next administration will have to say about the mess he will be leaving behind.
This is what Bush is saying: Of course I don't have my underwear. I'm definitely not wearing my underwear.
No doubt Obama
Will do something really dumb
Like that dopey
Bill Clinton who left us
In prosperity with a
280 billion dollar surplus.
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Another article for Nicole's new website: inmyfantasy.com
Um Nicole. You might want to start seeing your shrink on a regular basis. I believe you are suffering from a psychotic disorder.
What characteristics are associated with psychotic disorder?
Some of the characteristics associated with psychotic disorders include delusions, hallucinations, bizarre behavior, incoherent or disorganized speech, and/or disorganized behavior.
Delusions are described as false, inaccurate beliefs the person holds onto even when he/she is presented with accurate information.
Your article shows you are suffering from a psychotic disorder.
Please get help.
P.S. Do not breed.
Are there genetic factors associated with psychotic disorder?
Some psychotic disorders, like Schizophrenia, tend to run in families. If someone has a psychotic disorder, it is quite likely that another member of his/her immediate or extended family also has had a psychotic disorder.
Your going to pass on the crazy.
Just like the rest of the GOP.
Nice comeback, loser. You don't have a single thing to say about any claims she made. You just throw out insults in a weak attempt to say she is stupid while you try to look smart.
You failed. You have in effect, said nothing. You just blathered and used childish insults while never making an actual point.
In other words, you have been a typical liberal neo-comm.
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And read yours. See any difference?
Nice comeback loser. You don't have a single thing to say of any merit. It sounds to me like you too need to see a shrink.
I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.
In my study I have determined that 80% of the Republican party is suffering from some form of psychotic disorder.
I have also come to the conclusion that this psychotic disorder Republicans suffer from can only be passed on genetically through breeding.
My study won't be released until next year. It's called.
The GOP: There Really Fucking Nuts.
Nicole is severely affected. She actually has the ability to create these delusions on her own. Most Republicans just follow the delusions of a few psychopaths. Like Glenn Beck, Rushbo. You know the list.
I was only trying to inform her of her condition. Her article is delusional.
For the love of her children she must be examined before she passes on the crazy.
I have recorded two subjects that display the most extreme behavior we have recorded to date.
If you need proof of the crazy being passed on take a look at
Dick Cheney and his snotty nose kid.
These two are telling the entire world.
Torture Works.
Did you ever think you would hear a former VP of the US saying Torture Works. Then telling the world about it.
How crazy is that.
How dangerous is that.
I'm not a psychologist but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
What can you say for a party when Oliver North and G Gordon Liddy are heroes.
Delusional.
Nicole Wallace has not lived long enough to make a judgement about what a good president is.
Nor did a large percentage of the youth vote who elected a couple slogans and a teleprompter.
Again with the teleprompter. Stop letting Rush dump his talking points on your face, OK?
roger37
It is not a talking point if it is a fact.
So what if he does use a teleprompter for speeches? So has every other president. It simply means he takes time to consider his words and prepare their delivery. This is a total nonissue that Rush obsesses on--and his listeners mimic.
I would rather have a prez that considers his words than some semiliterate jerk who wings it and makes himself look stupid.
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oh oh nicole - it's a bit too early for this type of fellatious spin. i would encourage you to review dennis hopper's drug-induced pro-kurtz monologue at the end of "apocalypse now'.
Bush's "former" status relies on perhaps the biggest untruth of his administration: That he kept the country safe.
Bush oversaw...
-A catastrophic attack on American soil.
-The destruction of an American city.
-One of the worst financial collapses in history.
-The undermining of Americans' constitutional rights.
-The disintegration of international humanitarian law.
-An unnecessary war.
Perhaps the politicians you mention are trying to follow Obama's advice on moving forward. It's not entirely unreasonable for us to think that "statesman" is a polite way to say that he has not threatened the existence of our way of life in the past few months.
As for the current administration's "attacks" on the former president's policies, I believe it would be impossible to have a meaningful discussion about action toward solutions to the country's problems without acknowledging their origins.
Blah blah blah blah...more talking points that are way off topic. Yawn. Get an original idea.
blah blah blah blah, more republican talking points that never touch the topic written about. Yawn. When will you guys EVER GET AN ORIGINAL IDEA????????????
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Ahhh Ms. Wallace, you are still the mistress of spin.
While there is no doubt retirement suits George W. Bush to a tee, for you to call him the classiest ex-president is the height of hyperbole. Junior has never outdone his father, and he isn't in this regard either. The classiest ex-President still living would have to be Jimmy Carter, just for the way he has lived his life and walked the walk before he ever talks the talk.
How on earth you can mention the name of the George Bush & Dignity in the same article is beyond reason...The George Bush Crime family belongs in prison for a long list of crimes & any Democrat that says anything even half way nice about the lord of the crime family is a fool as well as an idiot.
How Clinton can be on the same stage with this man who belongs in jail is also beyond me. We understand Clinton would do anything to get his name in the headlines but to be on stage with the lord Of the Bush crime Family should be even to much Bill Clinton.
I really can't believe you have a job writing this crap. 'Mr Classiest' is a war criminal. I will remind you, as stated before,'Will his amiability make us forget an unnecessary war in Iraq? An unfinished and bungled war in Afghanistan? Hurricane Katrina? A thoroughly politicized Justice Department? An almost total economic collapse? '
Then there are the war crimes, the fact that there was apolicy of torture, the shredding of the Constitution. Each of your postings are compounded delusional rewrites of a pathetic, craven, shameful episode in our history. I have nothing but contempt at your attempt to spin this crap. You have a steaming piece of excrement dip it in chocolate....
What a nice piece of fiction. We need only go back one president to see someone more classy and more useful to the world. When Bill Clinton left office, he not only refused to criticize Bush, he went on world campaigns to raise money, formed philanthropic partnerships with people like Bill Gates, and continues to do good deeds. Though his behavior during the primaries was stunningly dumb, he still has established a record in eight years that Shrub couldn't match in a lifetime, even if he actually got off his ass today.
Nicolle Wallace asks, is Bush becoming history's classiest ex-president?
Answer: No. Not by a long shot. Bush was never classy. What did he ever do that was any good?
It's a serious question. I want to know. Start a list.
You know I would like to see that list as well. Seriously.
Cut EVERYONE'S taxes, spend more money on AIDS research than any other President, displayed unprecedented bi-partisanship by being a trifecta-ruling party yet letting Democrats author a lot of key legislation, rebuilt the military and intelligence service after devastating cuts from the former administration, treated terrorism as an act of war rather than a criminal act, only had one major terrorist attack (because the former administration left us vulnerable) and prevented all others, brought the unemployment rate back down to the levels Clinton used to brag about (in spite of the recession caused by 9-11, and stymied in this goal once Democrats took control of Congress...look up the stats if you dare), got Khadaffi to give up his WMD program, and in spite of your attacks managed to get elected for two terms (which is something President Obama will not do)
Good idea. Begin list here. Anyone like to start?
1. ___________
I'll start-
1. He took down the Republican
Party for at least a generation.
I'd go with the "No-Call List."
Eight years and that is really his crowning achievement. Listing his crowning failure is way easier.
@ynot:
Wow--you are a regular little font of Republican talking points, all of which are distorted. Let me address just one: The recession in 2001 was NOT the result of 9-11. According to the Congressional Budget Office (Civil Service) the official beginning of Bush's recession was March, 2001, 6 months before 911, and 5 months after he got "elected."
ynot
1. "Cut EVERYONE'S taxes"-not entirely true-look it up yourself at "taxfoundation.org"
2."more money on AIDS research"-kinda, much of that money had already been committed
3. "displayed unprecedented bi-partisanship by being a trifecta-ruling party yet letting Democrats author a lot of key legislation"- uh OK-still resulted in the most divided country in decades
4. "rebuilt the military and intelligence service after devastating cuts from the former administration"-please, the "cuts" you are referring to were outdated weaponry from the cold war era-Clinton actually increased military spending-but you are correct that he created a new giant bureaucracy- he did do a lot for inter-agency communication
5. "treated terrorism as an act of war rather than a criminal act"-not sure that's been such a positive
6. "only had one major terrorist attack (because the former administration left us vulnerable)"-that's patently untrue-Clinton handed Bush a MANUAL for fighting terrorism-which he promptly ignored and I do not buy the "no attacks since"-the worst terrorist attack still happened on his watch.
7. "brought the unemployment rate back down to the levels Clinton used to brag about"-of course his decisions while in office created the current unemployment percentage- largest in decades
8. "got Khadaffi to give up his WMD program"-I would agree
9. "elected for two terms (which is something President Obama will not do)"-
barely elected both times, and we shall see with our current Pres.
But hey, thanks for providing a list which is more than any other Bush defender has done on this site.
Compared to Cheney any one looks good.
Nicole your pathetic excuse for your tenure in the most corrupt, dishonest, and treasonous white house has hit a new low
Are you crazy? If you can find even one Democrat that has said that Bush is dignified I'll eat my hat! There are Republicans that won't say Bush is dignified. What an imagination you have. Perhaps a novel would be more in your line of writing.
So now Bush is a hero? How ironic! After 8 years in office it is not surprising that Bush looks good when he actually keeps his mouth shut.
Btw, being pragmatic does not mean you have no convictions. When you act only based on your convictions you become an ideologue. So far Obama seems like the perfect blend. The big fear is that he does not turn out to be too good to be true!
Good grief! How quickly some people appear to forget--or would have us forget. Using "Bush" and "statesman" in the same sentence is more than enough to make one barf. Just what Democrats are calling him a "statesman." Ex-presidents qualifying as statesmen are more in the mold of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. I also view Clayton Powell as a statesman on the Republican side of things. W can act as cute as he wishes now that he's free of responsibilities--but it won't change the past one bit, and that's where his legacy is.
camfield, you are demonstrating that you are just way too partisan to even think rationally. Being the tunnel-visioned type that you are, you list every living ex-Democrat President as a "mold" of a proper statesman for no other reason than they are Democrats. Never mind that Clinton tried to keep attention on himself as he left office, never mind that his administration caused petty vandalism in the White House, never mind that he used his former office as a platform to criticize a standing President thereby breaking an unwritten rule that nearly every President has abided by, none of that matters because he is a Democrat.
Never mind that President Carter also used his post to savagely attack an acting President, never mind that he went on self-appointed diplomatic missions against the express wishes of the State Department, none of that matters because he is a Democrat.
Never mind that Bush has done none of these despicable things, never mind that he has been nothing but supportive of President Obama, none of this matters because he is a Republican.
Yet you, like nearly every other neo-comm on this site, utterly fail to address the actual story. You cannot point out ways Bush was not classy as an ex-President. You cannot point out how your liberal heroes have behaved as true statement. So you just throw out talking points.
Bleh. Can't you do better?!?
YNOT4TONY2, YOU ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT YOU ARE JUST WAY TOO PARTISAN TO EVEN THINK RATIONALLY. BEING THE TUNNEL-VISIONED REPUBLICAN YOU ARE, YOU BELIEVE ONLY REPUBLICAN EX PRESIDENTS ARE A "MOLD" OF A PROPER STATESMAN FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN THEY ARE REPUBLICANS..
NEVER MIND THAT VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY IS USING HIS TELEVISED LYING CAMPAIGN TO SAVAGELY ATTACK A SITTING PRESIDENT................OH NEVER MIND, I THINK YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, JUST SHOWING YOU WHAT A HYPER PARTISAN YOU ARE!!!!!
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
@ynot: Wacko Alert! Wacko Alert.
'Never mind that President Carter also used his post to savagely attack an acting President,'
The key word here is 'acting'
'despicable things'
um, letting a city drown, start an unnecessary war, Torture as a policy, ignoring the impending attack on 9/11, Anthrax on his watch. These aren't talknig points it is the pathetic legacy of the war criminal you support
You must be f'ing joking. George W. Bush was the biggest disaster in America history. Its embarrassing that this guy was even elected. And his second term was a frightening demonstration of the influence of big money and American gullibility. It will take a generation to undo the damage this imbecile did to the the US at home an globally. The only good thing to come from Bush's presidency is that it pushed Americans so close to the the brink of disaster that voters were willing to make a radical change and elect a guy who really seems willing to think outside the box, regardless of his heritage. The best thing "W" can do to maintain even a modicum of respect is keep his mouth shut. He's really not bright enough to be helpful anyway. Even GOP leaders don't want to hear from him. They prefer Rush Limbaugh!! How insulting is that??
Thank you.
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