George W Bush

[Black Dog]

In my opinion, George W Bush has presided over one of the most difficult periods in American history.

Personally I see Bush the greatest President since Ronald Reagan.

I can really see the appeal in this whole "history will vindicate him" line of reasoning. For one, there's no way in hell it can be supported. Nope, we must way for history to render its judgment which will occur...whenever we say it has. As far as tautologies go, it's pretty sweet.

It's amusing, too, that the poster here would cite Reagan as a example of someone whom history has vindicated, given that pretty much the only people peddling that line can probably be counted as Gipper supporters from the word go. To me, real vindication comes when people who weren't true believers in the first place confess to being wrong. I haven't seen that with Reagan, though the more charitable of his critics will probably concede his flaws may have been the result of incipient progressive dementia during his time in the White House as opposed to genuine malice. Alas, Bush won't even have that going for him.

[Higgly]

To me, real vindication comes when people who weren't true believers in the first place confess to being wrong.

And to be balanced about it, there are no Clinton haters in that camp either. What was the last US President who could lay claim to that mantle?

[bush_cheney2004]

You cannot impose solutions on people. It doesn't matter how good the solutions are.

This is patently false...the USA definitely "imposed" a solution on Imperial Japan. It has worked out nicely.

[Higgly]

This is patently false...the USA definitely "imposed" a solution on Imperial Japan. It has worked out nicely.

Now I understand your position on nuclear arms.

[bush_cheney2004]

Now I understand your position on nuclear arms.

Yes...the US spent trillions and imported the uranium from Canada just to prove you wrong. Japan is a fact vs. your flop.

[Moonlight Graham]

A dismal failure that has changed the world as we knew it. The very first thing that went wrong was the fact that he was appointed by the Supreme Court. It went downhill from there.

Ditto. This is what happens when a neo-con with average intelligence & poor decision-making skills becomes leader of the world's only super-power.

[Moonlight Graham]

In my opinion, this is one of the most difficult periods in American history largely because of Bush.

Right on!

In times of crisis, some people (like Churchill or FDR) rise to the occassion. Others just don't know how to handle it and make matters worse. Hint: Bush isn't FDR.

[bush_cheney2004]

Right on!

In times of crisis, some people (like Churchill or FDR) rise to the occassion. Others just don't know how to handle it and make matters worse. Hint: Bush isn't FDR.

Correct...President Bush has not interned 120,000 citizens and legal aliens like FDR.

[JerrySeinfeld]

To me, real vindication comes when people who weren't true believers in the first place confess to being wrong.

That never happens with Ideologues on the left.

Just look at the recent success in Iraq: The new york times and the Dems are already running for cover under the "this would have happened anyway" line.

Sounds vaguely familiar to the pile of bullshit they keep shovelling over the fall of the Berlin wall.

That's he problem with you commies, Doggy. You can't even admit you were wrong even 20 years after the obvious fact is staring you in the face.

[Topaz]

That never happens with Ideologues on the left.

Just look at the recent success in Iraq: The new york times and the Dems are already running for cover under the "this would have happened anyway" line.

Sounds vaguely familiar to the pile of bullshit they keep shovelling over the fall of the Berlin wall.

That's he problem with you commies, Doggy. You can't even admit you were wrong even 20 years after the obvious fact is staring you in the face.

Hold on to that "success" in Iraq it maybe a while before you see another "success." I believe there's 2 things happening. 1, the "terrorists" are leaving Iraq and moving into Afghanistan or the terrorists are regrouping. The muslims will never give up coming after the west and unless the US decides to leave, it will end up like Russia, broke.

[Michael Hardner]

Sorry, Seinfeld...

I haven't seen that with Reagan, though the more charitable of his critics will probably concede his flaws may have been the result of incipient progressive dementia during his time in the White House as opposed to genuine malice.

I hated Reagan, but I will concede some points about him that I was wrong about:

a ) He was never stupid.

b ) He had a better idea of what the American people wanted than any of his opponents.

c ) Man of his policies made more sense than I gave them credit for.

That being said, his cold war policies were antiquated and shameful, though they accidentally bankrupted the Soviet bloc and brought an end to MAD.

Edited December 19, 2007 by Michael Hardner

[Moonlight Graham]

Correct...President Bush has not interned 120,000 citizens and legal aliens like FDR.

or helped completely reverse a depressed economy. I'm thinking if Bush was President in FDR's time he'd intern 180,000 people and lower taxes on the top 1% to get us out of that dang depression! WELFARE STATE?!? No, all government BAD!