Posted on 04/15/2013 10:49:04 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
George W Bush: was he really that bad?
More than four years after George W Bush left the White House, his record is being reassessed and throws up similarities with Barack Obama, writes Alex Spillius
By Alex Spillius
1:10PM BST 15 Apr 2013
It is George W Bush’s particular achievement to be disliked by both sides in American politics.
Democrats of course excoriate the damage done to the budget by waging two wars while cutting taxes, his conduct after Hurricane Katrina and his shoot from the hip style, not to mention that fact that he presided over the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression.
His own Republican party utterly rejected him during the 2012 campaign. Tea Party types saw him as a big-spender guilty of extending federal government, while few who once stood with him were prepared to defend his military achievements.
But presidents tend to look better, or at least different, from a distance, and with the opening of his presidential centre in Texas, there are suggestions that Bush the younger may be more fondly remembered than was thought possible when he left the White House in January 2009 as the most unpopular president in living memory.
He was certainly more socially liberal than his critics give him credit for. No Child Left Behind, whatever its faults and funding, was a centralised attempt to raise educational standards across the board.
A new prescription drug benefit scheme may have been expensive (though Bush himself argues its cost has been exaggerated) but its aim was to make medicines more affordable for the elderly.
Bush failed in his most ambitious social reform of immigration law, but he was defeated primarily by the Right of his party, not the Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I believe that George W. Bush was an excellent President. When I prayed, I prayed for him without wincing. When I slept, I rested knowing that a man who loves and respects this great nation was at the helm. I thank God for him and for Dick Cheney and fervently wish they were guiding the ship of state today. Did they occasionally get off course? Yes. But I think, overall, George W. Bush and his administration did an admirable job. I am grateful for their understanding of duty and honor and sacrifice.
I blame Bush and Rove for setting the stage that allowed 0bama to become president. On the other hand Hitlery probably would have been as bad as 0bama.
I would STILL rather have Bush as President than the despicable Satan defiling the White House now.
And Obama continues to preside over it. Happily, it seems.
Yes, for a number reasons: deficit spending, expanding the central government, no immigration enforcement, nation-building instead war-winning strategy, and the list goes on. However, no matter how bad Bush was, Obama is far worse in every area.
Absolutely, but for different reasons. I believe that at some level Hillary is more of an American than Obama, and buys in to at least some of what America stands for. However, they are cut from the same narcissistic cloth, and both back socialist/Marxist ideals.
It’s not that he was “That Bad” it was that he(43)(they(41)) could have been MUCH better that he(they) were. I think the thing that PISSES off alot of REAL Conservatives was the ENTIRE Bushes(41/43) Presidencies could be summed up by the phrase “Lost/Missed Opportunities”.
I think in determining how good/bad he is we have to consider that he gave us Obama. His policies and failures led to a straw man that the left could beat without the right wanting to defend. In my eyes he is, and always will be, responsible for where we are today.
Libya, Eqypt, Syria, Gun-Running @ Home & Abroad, Terrorist Attack Cover-up.
And the golf, the vacations, the lobsters, the White House Hollywood parties!
Oh wait! ...
Thank you. Well said
That was moslty The Media and Nazi Pelousy constantly harping about “The Failed Bush Administration”
I have yet to hear our side once say “The Failed Obama Administration”
This is a build up so that when Jeb runs in 2016, there won’t be any stigma left to the Bush name.
Watch for more of the same coming from the MSM
(they trashed Bush, now they have to restore him)
No Child Left Behind, the Patriot Act, the creation of the DHS, the limited ROI wars, not pushing on Fannie and Freddie corruption, the bailouts, John Roberts, and on and on...
True, but that’s a low low low bar for President......
Hillary was BORN in IL, who the HELL knows where the Halfrican Bastard was “dropped”!
“More than four years after George W Bush left the White House, his record is being reassessed and throws up similarities with Barack Obama, writes Alex Spillius” NOT EVEN CLOSE, Alex(alias SHITHEAD)!
“I would STILL rather have Bush as President than the despicable Satan defiling the White House now.”
Duh.
well it looks like one our current pres cant get over..............just my 2 cent
Well, he never tried to crush the second amendment, but creating The Dept of Homeland security is unforgivable.
Voila! The problem with Republican Campaigns. We have evolved from a "no-party" system, to a two-party system, and now a pox-on-both-your-middle-of-the-road-kleptocrat-parties.
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