Posted on 01/03/2009 12:04:44 PM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON, (AP) -- President George W. Bush will be judged on what he did. He will also be remembered for what he's like: a fast-moving, phrase-mangling Texan who stays upbeat even though his country is not.
For eight years, the nation has been led by a guy who relaxes by clearing brush in scorching heat and taking breakneck bike rides through the woods. He dishes out nicknames to world leaders, and even gave the German chancellor an impromptu, perhaps unwelcome, neck rub. He's annoyed when kept waiting and sticks relentlessly to routine. He stays optimistic in even the most dire circumstances, but readily tears up in public. He has little use for looking within himself, and only lately has done much looking back.
Bush's style and temperament are as much his legacy as his decisions. Policy shapes lives, but personality creates indelible memories positive and negative.
Call it distinctly Bush.
___
. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...



I love Bush. He is the greatest Prez we have ever had.
I love Bush. He is the greatest Prez we have ever had.
Alrighty then!!
I love him, too. I’m so grateful we’ve had him for 8 years - and I say that even though I vehemently disagree with him on 2 things.
Just call me a BushBot...I want to wait and see what was the real story behind some of the things that Bush did that I didn’t agree with. I have a feeling he did not have as much power in his position, or was busy protecting us, that may explain some of his actions.
Well, as much as I love him, I still can’t make the excuse for him that he ‘was busy protecting us’. I’m a legal immigrant, and there is no way that I can see to forgive him for his stance on illegal immigration. I can’t see it because it isn’t there. No child left behind also poses a problem for me, but if it put Elizabeth Edwards (who inspires in me the same amt. of malevolence as does that slug she married) in the position of addressing the NEA and saying “John Kerry and John Edwards voted for No child left behind,” then I ask myself if he did it to take a political card away from the dummycrats. The problem with that thesis, though, is that the dummycrats are not capable of reason. Therefore, they would never think to say, “Yes, but how come they never had either a clue or an idea between them?”
And my fabulous President George W. Bush is also a very, very bright man. A man who can manipulate things so that the Assault Weapons Ban bill never exits committee could’ve outsmarted our Congressional enemies on other things as well.
Let’s try to stay objective ;-)
Well, as much as I love him, I still can’t make the excuse for him that he ‘was busy protecting us’. I’m a legal immigrant, and there is no way that I can see to forgive him for his stance on illegal immigration. I can’t see it because it isn’t there. No child left behind also poses a problem for me, but if it put Elizabeth Edwards (who inspires in me the same amt. of malevolence as does that slug she married) in the position of addressing the NEA and saying “John Kerry and John Edwards voted for No child left behind,” then I ask myself if he did it to take a political card away from the dummycrats. The problem with that thesis, though, is that the dummycrats are not capable of reason. Therefore, they would never think to say, “Yes, but how come they never had either a clue or an idea between them?”
And my fabulous President George W. Bush is also a very, very bright man. A man who can manipulate things so that the Assault Weapons Ban bill never exits committee could’ve outsmarted our Congressional enemies on other things as well.
Let’s try to stay objective ;-)
I agree! As time goes on, President Bush will be missed more and more.
Now wonder he seemed so unflappable after the shoe-throwing incident. "Who throws a shoe? Honestly! You fight like a woman!"
You can say that again!
I agree
With a thing so good, you have to say it twice.
I ditto that!
refresh page
I do think history will treat President Bush with respect when it comes to the way he did what he thought was the morally correct thing even when it made him incredibly unpopular. And he was always a class act, something sorely absent in the Clinton administration. President Bush is a thoughtful, sincere gentleman who never put his personal interests ahead of this country's interests.
“Busy protecting us” is a pretty broad area.
What I was saying is that we will see what really happened behind closed doors that we are not privy to now. As for illegal immigration Bush inherited that from —among others, —Ronald Reagen. We had built up millions of illegals over decades and no president could change that , even in two terms. the last time this country took immigration seriously was in the ‘50’s.
To his credit, Bush began border fencing, more border patrols ( flamers about pardoning the two border guards...please, I realize that might be an idea), AND the most significant: arresting employers of illegals. Bush was trying to move on the issue without “deporting” millions, which wouldn’t work. He did the best he could...AT LEAST, he began the process...which is more than I can say for the other presidents.
Bush is not a dictator. He has very limited power. He focuses on what is the priority and doesn’t have the luxury of Freepers sitting at home thinking, “Hmmm.now why hasn’t he done anything about_____________ (fill in the blank.)
I Love The President. May God Bless him.
God bless you, Mr. President.
So many people hate this fine man and they just can’t get over their hatred for just one moment to realize how hard he’s worked to keep terrorists from blowing us off the map! I think Obama has already had an eyeful of the tremendous threats - we have cut back our satellite cable for financial reasons, and I personnally do not miss CNN or FOX or MSNBC! I can only hope the republican party realizes that it is through CONSERVATIVE POLICIES that we show our best strengths - otherwise we’ll keep losing voters!
Bush delusional love post ping, These guys think this is a successful ending of a republican presidency. What is left he hasn’t given democrats?
Dude, the Bushbots are sick...mentally sick. If a Democrat had done what Bush has done, they would all be screaming bloody murder. But no, it’s a Republican...and Republicans can do no wrong! /sarc
i like the george w presidency.
my only regret is that he did not speak directly to the american people.
he allowed the msm to define him and his presidency.

Makes me wonder why they hang out at a conservative forum instead of GOPdoormats.com, GOPoundSandConservatives.com,, NannyStateLiberals.com, or whatever.
Actually, there's a very good reason...and the financial meltdown highlights it.
America is getting near the brink of having to face the fact that we as a nation are living far beyond our means. The only way to prop up that illusion is to get cheaper labor, else American wages would have to drop down to a reasonable level, to allow American firms to be competitive in a global economy.
Not many people wanted to have that happen, just like few wanted bankruptcies to go through, so he has punted by propping up corporations and workers who can't compete in the global market. It's merely buying time before America crashes.
Bush has left a strong legacy. I think these illustrate it quite well...
>>>>>>Im a legal immigrant, and there is no way that I can see to forgive him for his stance on illegal immigration. I cant see it because it isnt there.<<<<<
My wife is a legal immigrant and now a citizen, and I walked through the process with her from start to finish.
GWB’s position on illegal aliens is despicable and a slap in the face to every American or aspiring American.
BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH, BUSH!!!
“Dude, the Bushbots are sick...mentally sick”
You must be a Bushbot who feels betrayed. A blazing passion (infatuation) that has gone cold is the only thing that can drive such unreasonable animosity.
The hell? The 4 of you must live in some kind of alternate reality.
Once upon a time, I liked Bush. But then I stopped using drugs.
It's called the Democrat Party.
I don’t know if Rab voted for Bush, if he didn’t he’s smarter than I was.
I voted for him and I indeed feel betrayed. And foolish I allowed myself to believe he was a conservative. Anyone who still believes that...what can I say. If not crazy certainly willfully ignorant.
Of course a democrat President with the same record as Bush would be hated here. That’s a no brainer. I dare anyone to argue that.
I say this as a very partisan Republican. Take off the blinders. Defending lousy Republicrats like our President just makes one look foolish.
I think if not for the war and consequent rallying around Bush as CiC this would have been realized sooner by more freepers.
McCain Feingold is one thing. McCain took all the hate for that one. Bush signed the damn thing! Sign #1 he was no good. Followed by his oking of massive agricultural pork.
2004 was my first election, and unfortunately, I voted for Bush. Big mistake; I regret my vote and would take it back now if I could.
Once you've graduated from college you might grow into a space where you won't feel the need to ping your cast of website allies every time you squat to eliminate your pablum...
but probably not.
And one day you might learn how to spell properly, perhaps after you stop shilling for Socialists with (R) after their names.
And one day you might learn how to spell properly, perhaps after you stop shilling for Socialists with (R) after their names.
You're an incredibly ignorant young person.
What’s your problem with someone pinging interested people?
Your gallantry on behalf of Rapunzel is quite touching.
It was my first POTUS election. If I could go back in time I’d be on here urging a vote for the Libertarian or Constitution party guy and my younger self would be flaming me (I think I flamed you a few months ago for not voting McLame, I don’t know whether I’d change that vote stay tuned on how scary Obama is) and calling my predictions silly if not outright accusing me of loving Kerry. Kerry would have been a terrible President. But a 1 term President and Congress would still be GOP (for all the good that would do).
Sadly living in Chicago, Bush and RINO Topinka for state Treasurer in 2002 are the only people I’ve voted for who have won. I’ve voted for GOP for everything statewide and for Congress, longshot dem challengers for Mayor and Alderman, under voted any unopposed rat.
Your non-answer was quite lame. Later.
Psh. No worries. Practically everyone here flamed me.
Absolutely. Aside from outlying conservative things like the court picks you’d have DUmmies defending his record. And us rightly laughing at those clowns twists of logic.
No, it accurately reflected the amount of weight I gave the question.
Or possibly you don’t have an answer.
I think your attacking him on things such as his age and college status and his pinging of people makes you look foolish. You’re just looking for some line of personal attack I gather. Why not stick to the issue and defend Bush’s record if you disagree with the assertion that it is crappy.
It's called "Personality Cult" and "Hatred of Conservatism."
They enjoy the taking down of a party (GOP), a political movement (conservatism), and an economy (Reinforcing "America the Debtor")!
Don't feel bad. I knew he was a lousy Nanny-State Socialist, out to expand government, trample rights, spend worse than a drunken sailor, centralize power, and keep the borders undefended, but I feared him worse than sKerry, so I campaigned for him.
On the phone banks, I heard that unless things changed a lot, we'd be spanked in 2006 & 2008, and all I got was flames for warning (see my tagline).
sKerry would have been a better vote--at least he wouldn't have gotten us to this state of affairs, where the GOP is despised and down to only ONE-QUARTER of voters!
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.