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History Will Redeem Bush
Real Clear Politics ^ | May 21, 2008 | By Ed Koch

Posted on 05/21/2008 5:22:55 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

[snip] Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a proud American and a proud Jew who, while not religiously observant, fiercely loves and defends his faith. It has become fashionable for Americans in general, Jew and gentile, to hold President George W. Bush up to derision. As I believe many readers and listeners of my commentaries know, I crossed party lines in 2004 to support the President's reelection, saying at the time that I did not agree with him on a single domestic issue, but I did believe he was the only one running who appreciated the threat of Islamic terrorism to American values and Western civilization and was prepared to wage a war to defend those values.

I have no regrets for having made that decision and helping the President to win a second term. Today, according to the most recent CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey, "71 percent of the American public disapprove of how Bush is handling his job as President, an all-time high in polling." His position can be compared with that of Harry Truman who left Washington unpopular and alone in 1953. Today, with the passage of time, most historians and certainly the American people, see Truman in a different light, primarily for his willingness to stand firm against Soviet aggression, whether against Greece or South Korea, and proclaim the Truman Doctrine, effectively defending the free world from Soviet efforts to expand their hegemony. Like Truman, George W. Bush, in my view, will be seen as one of the few world leaders who recognized the danger of Islamic terrorism and was willing with Tony Blair to stand up to it and not capitulate. [snip]

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


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; historybush; legacy
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Last paragraph of article: "The reason I believe history will redeem President George W. Bush is that he is one of the few leaders on the planet today who understands the larger picture. He has not lost his courage and vision of the future. He knows what calamities await the world if it engages in appeasement and deserts an ally in order to buy an illusory peace. We will recognize his worth long after he is gone."
1 posted on 05/21/2008 5:22:56 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Thanks for posting this.

It is the hard truth that far to many Bush critics are unwilling to face.


2 posted on 05/21/2008 5:34:56 PM PDT by lonestar67 (Its time to withdraw from the War on Bush-- your side is hopelessly lost in a quagmire.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Maybe on the war, but not on limited government.


3 posted on 05/21/2008 5:35:02 PM PDT by Eddie01 (one more for the road is actually a really bad idea)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

History will only redeem Bush if my daughter and her Nat’l Guard buds (and John McCain) have enough ass to cash the check Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld’s mouth wrote. Right along with those three, I was blind to the long-term near-impossibility of force-feeding modern elections and representative government to fundamental Muslim tribals in Sandland.

History will redeem Bush if, and only if, we’re able to do another South Korea. Under McCain, we’ll, hopefully, set up some kind of client state, leave enough troops to keep the opposition nervous, declare victory, and move on. If Obama takes over, we cut and run amd wring our hands as the Iraqis convulse and collapse and kill, just like we did when the North Vietnamese slaughtered their way south in ‘75.


4 posted on 05/21/2008 5:39:37 PM PDT by flowerplough (Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?)
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To: Eddie01

Agree. This administration appeased congressional democrats through foolish “compassionate conservative” spending programs.


5 posted on 05/21/2008 5:41:10 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
He has far more negatives than positives. He will take a seat behind Jimmy Carter.
6 posted on 05/21/2008 5:44:20 PM PDT by devane617
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To: flowerplough

Generally agree. However, it’s said that radical arab muslims will never find peace until they love their children more than they hate Jews. That will take longer than a 4-year presidential term. God’s speed to your daughter.


7 posted on 05/21/2008 5:45:41 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
I am a supporter of Hillary Clinton, but I too believe the odds of her defeating Barack Obama are overwhelmingly against her. It looks as if Senator Obama will prevail in the Democratic primary before or at the Democratic convention.

I crossed party lines in 2004 to support the President's reelection, saying at the time that I did not agree with him on a single domestic issue, but I did believe he was the only one running who appreciated the threat of Islamic terrorism to American values and Western civilization and was prepared to wage a war to defend those values.

He says he supported Bush because he was the only one that understood the threat of Islamic terrorism to American values and Western civilization and was prepared to wage a war to defend those values.

Yet he now supports Hillary when she is almost exactly like all of the other on the loony left that thinks we can just waltz out of Iraq with no consequences.

His politics aren’t real clear to me.

8 posted on 05/21/2008 5:45:46 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

it will on the war on terror

but his immigration stance and poor GOP leadership will be judged for what it was


9 posted on 05/21/2008 5:45:55 PM PDT by wardaddy (Obama is for the Deliverance Was A Documentary crowd)
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To: lonestar67
I agree. I think time will vindicate Bush on Iraq.

Photobucket

10 posted on 05/21/2008 5:47:03 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (Buy a Mac ...)
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To: devane617

it’s wholly unfair to compare Bush to Carter.

hell, Bush is better than Ford and Bush I.

it’s just the fact he strayed from conservatism when he really did not have to that got him and damaged the GOP


11 posted on 05/21/2008 5:47:37 PM PDT by wardaddy (Obama is for the Deliverance Was A Documentary crowd)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’ve said this too. History will look kindly on Bush. For the reasons listed here and some others. I suspect that someday when certain stories can be told he will be considered among the great Presidents. Those who hate him now will pretend that they were in favor the whole time.

I’m thinking about getting some bumpers stickers made that say “Yeah, I miss Bush too”. I think they’ll sell well. :-)


12 posted on 05/21/2008 5:49:15 PM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: BunnySlippers
"I agree. I think time will vindicate Bush on Iraq."

I agree. Plus GWB is a good person. I don't know how he can be so affable and patient in the face of so much hatred spewed at him. I could never do it. I would be so bitter. I just think he is a fine man. God bless him.

13 posted on 05/21/2008 5:52:23 PM PDT by Hound of the Baskervilles ("Nonsense in the intellect draws evil after it." C.S. Lewis)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’m not arguing with this.


14 posted on 05/21/2008 5:52:47 PM PDT by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
APPEASEMENT!!! Uttering the word appeasement is appalling, ask todays Democrat leaders and Obama.
15 posted on 05/21/2008 5:53:51 PM PDT by ricks_place
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To: devane617

My beef with the Bush administration is amnesty and runaway spending. They may have over-reached in Iraq but it was for sound and strategic reasons. However, the acid test for this presidency is preventing another terrorist attack on this country. In that regard their performance has been stellar.

Jimmy Carter couldn’t shine GW Bush’s boots. And I voted for both of them!


16 posted on 05/21/2008 5:54:58 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
"The reason I believe history will redeem President George W. Bush is that he is one of the few leaders on the planet today who understands the larger picture...."

I do not believe that President George W. Bush is only one of a few leaders on the planet today who understands the larger picture.

I believe there are a great many of them but for reasons of their own, choose a different path and also attempt to cloud the truth and deceive those they are supposed to be leading.

I believe that is the scary truth.

17 posted on 05/21/2008 5:55:43 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (The secret of Life is letting go. The secret of Love is letting it show.)
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To: Eddie01

Yeah, President Bush might say he limited government but he is nothing compared to President . . . well. . . there is . . .

um. . .

Wait a second . . .

yeah he did not do very well limiting government.


18 posted on 05/21/2008 5:59:08 PM PDT by lonestar67 (Its time to withdraw from the War on Bush-- your side is hopelessly lost in a quagmire.)
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To: Ramius
"History will look kindly on Bush."

As long as "history" is written by those who are currently writing it, it will never look on any Republican "kindly."

To this day, Alger Hiss gets better press than Nixon, McCarthy, and in some circles, Reagan.

19 posted on 05/21/2008 6:01:15 PM PDT by daler
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To: devane617
He will take a seat behind Jimmy Carter.

You have snapped the last thread tethering you to reality.

20 posted on 05/21/2008 6:05:48 PM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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