History will say that we misunderestimated George W Bush

uk ^ | June 21 2008 | Andrew Roberts

[knighthawk]

As he leaves the White House at the end of his second term, the President has a poll rating of only 23 per cent, and is widely disliked and even despised. His foreign policy has been judged a failure, especially in view of the long, painful, costly war that he declared, which is still not over.

He doesn't get on with his own party's presidential candidate, who is clearly distancing himself, and had lost many of his closest friends and staff to scandals and forced resignations. The New Republic, a hugely influential political magazine, writes that his historical reputation will be as bad as that of President Harding, the disastrous president of the Great Depression.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[SampleMan]

Footnote: Harry S. Truman

[vbmoneyspender]

The New Republic, a hugely influential political magazine,

The Brits really do have a great sense of humor - or is it humour.

[LS]

I said here many times that within six months of the administration of either McCain or Obama, people will long for the "good old days" of G.W. Bush. It's pretty obvious his poll numbers are low because 1) Republicans are mad at him for spending, illegals, and Medicare drugs and that has kept his numbers from being in the high 40% range no matter what else; and 2) indies and blue dog Dems are mad at him for the mortgage crisis and the gas prices. While his fiscal/monetary policies had something to do with that, most of it is just the market and some stupid lending/borrowing.

But the guy in charge gets the credit or blame.

[vietvet67]

Have always believed that history would be kind to President Bush. My opinion has not changed..

[jeffc]

Consider also how the poll questions are phrased and who they REALLY ask . . .

[McLynnan]

The overthrow and execution of a foul tyrant, Saddam Hussein; the liberation of the Afghan people from the Taliban; the smashing of the terrorist networks of al-Qa'eda in that country and elsewhere and, finally, the protection of the American people from any further atrocities on US soil since 9/11, is a legacy of which to be proud.

This is his legacy and it's a darned good one. I hope he lives long enough to see his vindication.

[saganite]

“Give Iraq five, ten or twenty years, and Bush’s decision to undertake the surge - courageously taken in the face of all bien pensant and “expert” opinion on both sides of the Atlantic - will rank alongside some of Harry Truman’s great decisions of 1945-53”.

“If that happens, the time will come when George W Bush will be able to say what Lord Salisbury called the four cruellest yet sweetest words in the English language: “I told you so.”

[Rca2000]

I do not expect that “history” will be kind to GWB, because the way things are headed now, it will be a “Hate crime” to do so.

[Jeff Head]

I do not have to wait on history.

Outside of an outragous immigration policy...and it is outragous, Bush has hemmed in the largest state sponsor of terror on the planet, defeated two abjectly tyranical and enemy regimes in the process and freed 50+ million people.

In so doing he has sowed the seeds in the Middle East for the potential of the most profound change in that region in thousands of years...towards republican principles and more liberty, and away from a 14th century tyranical, totalitarian, animalistic, sadistic, suicidal, and maniacal idoelogy.

For all of this he will be remembered well and extolled.

Oh...did I forget to mention? At a time when we suffered a brutal and stunning surprise attack, when everyone expected more and more suicidal, jihadist attacks, he has, through his policies and the hard work of our own military and other governmental agencies, particularly intelligence and LEO, prevented any other major attack on this soil. That will not escape the historical perspective as well.

And now, waiting in the wings, we have this abject marxist with strong militant black and Islamic appeasing overtones, wanting to "fill in". God forbid!

THE GREAT SEAL OF OBAMANATION



THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

[Theodore R.]

My brother is already saying “I miss GW” in anticipation of disaster awaiting early in 2009.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

The New Republic has a bad historian apparently because the President during the Great Depression was Herbert Hoover, not Warren G. Harding. In fact, there was another president before Hoover. Typical bad research by liberals.

[masadaman]

Stupid me. I thought that Hoover not Harding got credit for the Great Depression.

[RightWhale]

Some historians will say that, some won’t. History itself does not exist and does not speak. Pres Polar Bear Bush has not done everything he was told to do. But, he has done quite a bit and been fairly successful, even this late in his term.

[JennysCool]

My admiration for the President hasn’t wavered, even with the MASSIVE Lib-Media effort to make people dislike him. None of us have ANY idea of the challenges he has had to meet in fighting what must often be a covert war on terror. We may discover someday that his actions, and those of other members of his Administration, saved the country more than once, but had to be kept secret for intelligence reasons.

Of course, even if that was the case, and was revealed, the Drive-Bys would just drive on by.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>The New Republic, a hugely influential political magazine...

Ridiculous.

[OldNavyVet]

I like to remind people putting down G.W. Bush that seven states seceded from the Union in the period between Lincoln’s election and inauguration.

In actuality, if American sticks qith GW’s plans, he might later be counted as one of America’s greatest Presidents.

[avacado]

Excellent article!

"Historians will appreciate how any War Against Terror that allowed Saddam to remain in place would have been an absurd travesty."

"When the rise of al-Qa'eda is considered by historians like Philip Bobbitt and William Shawcross, it will be President Clinton's repeated refusal to act effectively in the 1990s, rather than President Bush's tough response after 9/11, that will be held up as culpable."

"Give Iraq five, ten or twenty years, and Bush's decision to undertake the surge - courageously taken in the face of all bien pensant and "expert" opinion on both sides of the Atlantic - will rank alongside some of Harry Truman's great decisions of 1945-53."

If that happens, the time will come when George W Bush will be able to say what Lord Salisbury called the four cruellest yet sweetest words in the English language: "I told you so."

God Bless GWB. We watched a major piece of world history under his steadfast leadership!

[Cicero]

Yes. Harding had nothing to do with the Depression. Hoover got the blame for the next 50 or 60 years, endlessly villainized by the mainstream press and liberal historians. But it was, in fact, FDR who managed to prolong the depression. It would have ended by the mid 30s if not for his Communist stupidities.

[NordP]

I AGREE WITH YOU!

LS- hi! and your assessment is also, as always correct; but I think history just might reflect the type of MSM blitz against his every move that also took place.

I truly wish I knew what the behind the scenes deal was with Mexico. I figured it as a turn the blind eye because we needed the cheap workers in exchange for whatever the ME does to you with oil...we'll always make sure you have some = homeland security thang....who knows?

[HangnJudge]

Have always believed that history would be kind to President Bush.
My opinion has not changed..

Nor mine...
I believe, with 20:20 hindsight,
That GWB will be viewed as a prescient,
and consistent leader, albeit a bumbling communicator

[True Republican Patriot]

President George W. Bush is a GREAT PRESIDENT! and will go down in History as a GREAT PRESIDENT!

One visible error that the media and Demorats Loved, as is painfully obvious today, is having a stupid, ineffective, turncoat putz as the Presidential spokesperson for those key years in his Adm. Now the treasonous, lying turncoat is whining to any jerk that will listen and to the U.S. Congress: may his soul burn forever.

[avacado]

"Have always believed that history would be kind to President Bush. My opinion has not changed.."

I wholeheartedly agree. Great leaders don't make the popular decisions they make the hard decision and remain steadfast to the conviction of that decision.

[RetSignman]

Most people don’t have the capacity or will to look at the big picture, what he has done will change the world for the better far into the future.

[Twinkie]

My Momma was a kid during the Depression. They used to make gravy (usually without milk or sausage as in sawmill gravy) and they called it “Hoover Soup”.

[JennysCool]

What people here often forget is that GWB was the first President to actually confront the illegal immigrant issue. It was a lousy proposal, but he at least had the guts to want to do something about it.

[chiller]

As explained it was Harry S's approval ratings of 23 %, and W's are supposedly at 27% now. Bunk.

Who's poll ? Newsweek ? Remember the rule of thirds. A third on the left hate hime, many in the middle do too but not all, and then there's our 33%. Given the status of the war, and attempts to produce some oil look for W's ratings to move from the low 40's where I think they are now to the high 40's.

Other than immigration, I love the guy, and he didn't get away with anything on that front.

[Eagles6]

Very good. I have a felling that, 18 months from now, we will be wishing that we had GW back.

Also imagine what could have been accomplished if he had dealt sternly with his rinos.

[chiller]

imho, the Mexico immigration stance was a pro-business position which helped strengthen Mexico in addition to many of our businesses. Most of us put the rule of law over business health.

[SampleMan]

Bush has low approval ratings because he tried to meet the Dhims half-way. 100% of them still hate him, and 80% of us are dissappointed in his lack of conservative action.

The MSM portrays all disapproval as people who are unhappy that he’s too conservative.

[ANGGAPO]

Myself and a few thousand Americans disagree with that assessment. George Bush is dedicated American. I notice that we haven't been attacked by the terrorists recently, and that ain't just good luck. The Donks think that Saddam Hussein was just a grandfatherly old guy that was misunderstood by the world. All we had to do was set down and talk to him. As the man said, wait a few months and you can look back at the Bush administration as the good old days.

[masadaman]

Could not agree more. In fact, just a few economists even today have the cohones to speak out about that fact. Jerry Bowyer is one: On the CNBC Kudlow Hour a few weeks ago, he challenged the socialist Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT) with “FDR took a routine recession and turned it into the Great Depression.” Sanders went ballistic.

[RKV]

Hi LS. And go Gauchos! But, hey you’re a professional historian. You know the way academia works. FDR get lionized and Coolidge gets the goat. Doesn’t matter that FDRs economic policies made the Depression worse and that his administration was riddled with commies. He was on the medias team, so they gave him good press. George is not on the medias team, and they will never give him an even break. Never. The rest of us are going to have to do it without them. Personally, GWBs immigration policy stinks, but I liked his tax cuts and he and the military have put the hurt on the islamofascists. Now for OBL’s head on a platter, that is if he hasn’t take a dirt nap already. Zawahiri’s noggin would look good on a plater too, imao.

[chiller]

If McCain can get off his global warming kick, I may be able to live with him. He's better in a couple respects; spending is item # 1. Don't remind me of the other conflicts I have with him.

I've been writing his office often using the link listed on my tagline urging him to reconsider off shore and ANWAR. I'm sure I'm not the only one, but something's working. Love the beheardtoday site. 10 letters, for 10 bucks. Check it out.

[#1CTYankee]

Worth a ping, I expect no matter what Dem was in office when 9/11 went down (short of Zell Miller or maybe Joe L.) the terrorists would be reeking havoc here and abroad.

The same could be said of many in the Republican party.

Alas, if Obama is elected we could be looking at the equivalent of Dr McCoy saving Edith Keeler.

Not a pretty picture.

[DoingTheFrenchMistake]

Hell, I know what you mean brother, during the last eight years I have longed for Bill Clinton and the prosperity I once lived in.

[zert_28]

The New Republic has a bad historian apparently because the President during the Great Depression was Herbert Hoover, not Warren G. Harding. In fact, there was another president before Hoover. Typical bad research by liberals.

Not only that, but Warren Harding was a lot better President than he is given credit for. Harding cut taxes and restored civil liberties that President Wilson had suppressed during WWi. Harding's policies started a era of peace and prosperity know as the Roaring Twenties. Reagan mention Harding as being one of his heroes.

Hubert Hoover on the other hand, raised taxes and tariffs and started the Great Depression. Oh and BTW, Hoover was considered a liberal in his time.

[buckalfa]

GW Bush gets positive marks for:

1.) restoring dignity and decorum to the Office
2.) magnificent leadership in the immediate aftermath
of the September 11th attacks.
3.) crippling Al Queda and the deposing of Saddam

His failures can be best summed up under “Opportunity Lost”

[Americanexpat]

If there is another 9/11 after Bush leaves office they will wish he were POTUS again.

[Names Ash Housewares]

“Have always believed that history would be kind to President Bush. My opinion has not changed..”

Same here.

He set in motion steps that had to be done.
The middle east has two new emerging democracies.
Free peoples determining the course of human history, not tyrants and islamo facists. THAT is what will matter the most in the decades to come, rather then a WWIII against a united islamo-facist nuclear armed empire.

I think many of us remember the attacks on Reagan, yes he was far more popular I know, but I remember the terrible things said about him then too. Perhaps if Bush had Reagans personality his approval would be higher. Hard to say.

I just know standing up for democracy and freedom is one of the most important things a President can do.

[Recovering_Democrat]

History will say that we misunderestimated George W Bush

The author isn't talking about me. I haven't disagreed with Bush's WoT. He may have gone off the reservation a bit on some issues, but not taxes and not national security.

And if you don't have national security, all the other issues are moot.

What amazes me is the utter hatred of the libs for the man--and he continues to work his ass off to protect them. He is one class act, and his detractors are truly like two-year old babies.

[valkyry1]

//Most people don’t have the capacity or will to look at the big picture, what he has done will change the world for the better far into the future//

Not if the America hating contingent in this nation manage to throw it all away.

[quadrant]

GWB made hard decisions when necessary. Unlike the last President from Texas, Bush had the determination to follow through with a correct but unpopular decision.

[zert_28]

The reason President Bush’s poll ratings are so low is because conservatives and some moderates are mad at him over illegal immigration and border security. Take away that issue and President Bush’s approval ratings would be in the 40’s or 50’s.

[lilylangtree]

I still like him. As a voter, there are issues that I’ve disagree with his stanced. However, if you look at the almost insurmountable problems that he had to face, he’s done a damn good job. Starting with 911 and the hits just kept on coming.

[buffyt]

As a Texan who voted and campaigned for President Bush I can say I OVERESTIMATED him. He has done nothing to protect the US border to the south!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone can walk right in with a suitcase nuke.

[buffyt]

You are RIGHT!

[avenir]

“Have always believed that history would be kind to President Bush.”

Agreed, and also believe that it will be ruthlessly cold to flakes like Obama, Carter, Clinton, etc.

[woofie]

One thing about the war that no one speaks of is that we now have solid allies in some of the Afghan and Iraqi people. This will pay off in our future intelligence gathering and we need to know what the hell is going on over in that region if nothing else