Posted on 11/01/2008 7:55:03 PM PDT by reaganaut1
One spring morning last year, I happened to be strolling through the Congressional cemetery east of Capitol Hill with the White House press secretary Dana Perino as she walked her dog. Ms. Perino was candidly describing the challenges of her job, which were only mounting as George W. Bush’s approval rating continued to drop. Then she looked directly at me and said, “But it’s all worth it, because I so believe in the president.”
It would have been easy for me to dismiss Ms. Perino as a bright and likable but ultimately Kool-Aid-stricken peddler of talking points, were it not for two things. First, my interviews with current and former Bush staffers constantly veered off into similar testimonials. Their belief in Mr. Bush transcended ideology: as much as anything else, they just loved the guy. They loved how he treated the elevator man with the same courtesy as a foreign leader; how he often picked up the phone to congratulate the bride of a junior staffer; how he never pointed fingers, harbored grudges, snubbed, publicly belittled or boasted. Above all, they loved how they never had to worry which George W. Bush would show up to the Oval Office. It was fitting that he worked at a desk carved from a British warship, the H.M.S. Resolute — clarity of purpose being the admirable flip side to his at times infuriating certitude.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
After September 11, it seemed inevitable that their would be further major terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. There have not been, and I'm sure it's not because Al Qaeda stopped trying. The Bush Administration deserves credit for this, probably for some actions that we may not learn about for decades.
President Bush has made serious mistakes, but I think he has always acted on behalf of the national interest. I don't think a President Obama would think in such "parochial" terms.
I read that Americans' views of the George Bush (senior) presidency rose after people observed Clinton's antics, and I predict the same will happen if Obama is elected.
I wish I still felt positive about President Bush, but an executive who puts a man like Scott Mclellan in an important position, who's justice department refuses to protect the ballot box from fraud, makes the nice guy thing less important. I would have prefered he cleaned out the communists and frauds in the Departments of State and Justice so the rest of us would be able to trust government.
It's a great piece and I agree with them. Yes, he's made mistakes...show me one president that hasn't. But you always knew he was loyal to his beliefs and he loves this country. I hope history treats him well. He's shouldered a lot under very difficult conditions.
Clinton sexually assaulted people lied undercoath and got 65% approval.
Bush is awesome.
Think about who bush’s enemies are.
Think about who obamas are?
It also helped obscure his flaws to those of us who worked for him, making it difficult for us to realize that his presidency was veering off course.
CYA from McClellan.
This was really good to read. These are the images I still have of President Bush, his unique compassion and passion. I have grown so weary of the unending, harsh attacks against him on this site. I know, as Americans, we suffer from fatigue in our Presidential leaders, but seeing the viscious attacks coming from so called conservatives against this man in his final days as President are shameful.
This is not a great piece. Most of this is typical NYT crap. Move along.
ITA. I will always be fond of this President. He’s unpretentious and is a man of good character. His enemies are way off course with their criticisms. They are lunatics, frankly.
I am sorry for I know I am a newbie and not supposed to go against the grain of FR.
However, President Bush is GREAT. Simply Great!
I know he has let us down on Immigration (the only issue that was a FUNDAMENTAL Disagrement)
However on the War, Judges and Taxation he has been incredible.
Love that man!
How about a pardon for Ramos and Campeon?
Huh? Is Iraq the (only) thing Bush cares about, or is willing to do anything about?
Not sure, if that’s a rhetorical question.
Laura Bush .... Best First Lady - ever
I remain solid in my early opinion, now an observation, that he has been one of the great ones. I wish him the best and pray that our country will remain as safe after his departure as he has made it during his tenure.
The “fact” that he is unpopular is testimony to the power of the so-called “dinosaur media” to shape opinion over time with reach and repetition of their hateful message.
When we win on tuesday, what has been appalling will go psychotic as the traitors go into full shriek in undermining our country and our leaders as they have been doing for 8 years.
Think about who bush’s enemies are.
Think about who obamas are?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You gotta admit Bush has All the right enemies! Obama has all the WRONG enemies...and friends.
I agree Geo. W. Bush has done an incredible job under bery trying circumstances with onslaught of garbage from abroad and domestic political and press sources. Missteps in any conflict are unavoidable - it’s the nature of war - yet he righted the ship and the changes in the Middle East because of his leadership have and will continue to make the world safer despite what Nancy know-nothing Pelosi and Harry the war-is-lost Reid say!
Ask yourself when was the last time you worried about being blown up in a donut shop or pizza parlor? Without his leadership and security measures that might not be the case. Sure, most of us would like to see better leadership closing the borders and cutting runaway spending - but since the dems took over congress and since he never had a Senate that was filibuster-proof that would never have happenned anyway!
GOD BLESS George Bush....history will shine a bright light upon your Presidency .. and speaking as a Texan, I will welcome you home !!!
GWB brought disaster on the R party ( and a very poor president, except Alito/Roberts ) and an Obama will have many get out of jail free screwups before the memory of GWB disappears. Fortunately (and sadly if he/s elected) democrats picked the WORST of their lot. How come in 2000 and 2008 we could not come up with candidates that both we believe in , and make this country better?? Why am I bitter? Because I really believed in GWB, now I have to watch libs, dems and MSNBC gloat. It’s sickening. Maybe we just were in power for too long and need a cleansing.
We need to make life as difficult for democrats as they did for us, and we may have the chance.
i support president george w bush.
i’ve been frustrated that he and his administration, and the gop, do not stand up to democrat media attacks.
the flawed intelligence on iraq was damning.
i resent the msm painting bush and his administration as the enemy, when in fact,
the liberal-fascists are the enemy of america.
AL GORE,JOHN KERRY. I’m pissed and disappointed with Bush right now, but one thing that I am sure of is, that as a man, he is welcome in my house any time.
In a few years I know that he will be more widely respected.
You have nailed it... the media. How incredibly ironic that the “media” that this site purports to hate because of it’s bias is the same “media” that is dictating the current “opinion” of this President that has infiltrated this site.
Agreed. Best post of the day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.