"Misunderestimated"
Thank God the psycho-drama that is the Bush administration is about to end, limping across the finish line like an injured runner who completes the marathon hours after everyone else has packed up and gone home. He stands proud in the knowledge that at least he finished what he started; only he really has no grasp of what it is that he started.
At this morning's farewell press conference, the swagger was gone, the condescending nicknames for the press were abandoned, and the relief that the country is no longer his problem was evident. One got the feeling that George W. Bush has been living in a parallel universe for the past eight years, where he was surrounded by the most intelligent minds of our generation who's agenda was simply to do what's best for the American people. The economy? Not his fault. The Iraq war? "Disappointed" that there were no WMD's. Partisanship and division? Never really saw any. The Katrina response? He allocated billions to rebuild the city. Get off my back.
I'm currently watching reruns of The West Wing on cable. As you remember, it was about a group of imperfect but well-intentioned people who were given the honor and responsibility to run the United States. Sure they made mistakes, but they always put the county first. I really find it hard to believe that conversations regarding constitutional responsibility between Leo McGarry, Josh Lyman and Toby Zeigler were ever broached by Monica Goodling, Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove. I do believe that more nights were spent by the best and the brightest from Regent University trying to figure out a way to convict Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (his only crime being that he was a Democrat) than devising a plan to make college affordable for everyone.
I just have a feeling that Bush didn't try very hard to do his job. Wanting to be the leader of the free world so you can stick it to your father is not the healthiest way to approach the presidency. And if the press conference was any indication of what went on inside the Oval Office, there was never any reasoned debate regarding the issues. I'm the President, Bub. It's my way or the highway.
He said that history will judge him decades from now, when anyone who actually experienced his presidency will be long gone. No witnesses. I tend to think it won't be much different from the way most of us judge it now, a tragic and wasted eight years.
Stu Kreisman is the author of Dick Cheney's Diary available here, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
What really got me was his line, "When the history of Iraq is written . . ."
As if Iraq does not already have thousands of years of history.
But in Bush's brain its 'history' apparently began with him . . .
The words Bush said today at the last press conference that really still sticks in my mind are," every day in the WH were joyous. even when soldiers were dying in Iraq, we still had our light-hearted moments."
That and when he said he's traveled all over this country and hasn't seen any anger.
To me, it is further proof of his spending the entire 8 years in a bubble. And for this we paid him twice the salary that Clinton received..
He admits to one mistake: "probably standing in front of that 'Mission Accomplished' banner wasn't such a good idea." Outrageous!
Let's not forget that Ronald Reagan, the man that officially started this seemingly endless fall into the abyss is thought of as one of the five greatest presidents. The right and the religious right is still determined to take this country straight to hell. Remember, to them a perfect and wonderful heaven awaits them so this world can go straight to hell as far as they are concerned.
"Ronald Reagan, the man that officially started this seemingly endless fall into the abyss is thought of as one of the five greatest presidents
Not by everyone..
Ronald Reagan? Oh pew! Swagger, bible-thumping, and waving the American flag do not equal a great American..
Unfortunately for him the "history will judge me" thing will backfire also. I have a 12 year old that now owes (along with every other man, woman, and child) $35K towards the national debt and hasn't even been to college or can drive yet. Generation upon generation will feel what Mr. Bush has done to this country. Unlike the forefathers, he will not be looked upon as a great liberator or decider, but as a cold, calculating person who didn't care about american citizens drowning or Iraqi cititzens dying. Mr. Bush, you can try to wash the blood off but there is too much.
REALITY CHECK: everything that happened in this country since 9/11 is predicated upon a huge lie. The War on Terror is government sponsored hysteria; rhetoric and machinations designed to consolidate power, perpetual military conflict and bleeding the Treasury dry all the while weakening the Government allowing the corporations to run wild. If you just look at the documented evidence, you cannot escape the following conclusions:
1) the events of 9/11 physically could not have taken place as the Bush Administration claims;
2) Upper echelon of White House lied about supporting evidence leading up to the Iraq War;
3) Torture and abuse of detainees at secret prisons all over the world was authorized by the DOJ, President and Vice-President; and
4) Government used unlawful spying & surveillance against U.S. citizens violating the Constitution
Our long national nightmare is almost over...
The creator of the nightmare is, but the consequences will linger for a very long time
Once upon a time everything, (except the good stuff), was Clinton's fault. After eight years of unitary autocratic rule, some say it is somehow the Democrats fault. On one hand, I do see Pelosi and Reid as coconspirators for taking impeachment "off the table. On the other hand, Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest of this junta's leadership took the position they did not need to pay any mind to the congress or Constitution. In truth, they have generally acted as if neither congress nor Constitution even existed.
I wouldn't be so sure about the outcome of an impeachment. The impeachment would probably have failed, and the resulting backlash may have handed the 2008 election to the Republican party.
You are partly right. The impeachment would have failed. No doubt about that one in my mind. But you are wrong about the backlash. The people of America gave some backlash to the Republicans during the Clinton impeachment (though not enough to hand the election to Gore.....) mostly because of the fact that they recognized that the REASON for the impeachment was because of a b***j** that he got from someone who wasn't Hillary. That's why Clinton had 65-70% support numbers throughout the impeachment and trial.
On the other hand, bush would have still had his less than 30% numbers, because the people are smart enough to have realized that he's breaking the law, and that's why the Democrats were impeaching him....
History notwithstanding, I have little doubt Bush will go down as one of the worst presidents ever. Still, I blame congress (at least in part) for letting this nitwit and his gang of thugs continue to run roughshod over our country, the environment and the world after 2006. Democrats, for all their strengths (compassion, diversity, etc), seem consistently to lack one vital piece of political anatomy: backbones.
This all reinforces the impression that Bush primarily was a puppet of the Project for a New American Century gang. In that sense, he did exactly what was intended, by being the figurehead of their imperialist fantasies. I love Richard Perle playing Judas on this recently, too: Iraq? Never thought about it for a minute!
Bush also was magnificently successful at the Neocon dream of completing the unfettering of the corporate overlords. Since his faith in laissez-faire is reinforced by his privileged birthright, it is understandable that he believes, in both religious and narcissistic senses, that his dismantling of the economy was actually God's gift to America.
Certainly, putting the country first has no part in the worldview of the entire cadre'. To them, the peons always have been only an inconvenience to be overcome for show and the occasional election.
What I thought was most amazing was display of Bush's complete lack of intelligence during the press conference. I felt like I was listening to the Couric interview all over again, when Katie asked Sarah Palin what newspapers she reads.
When Bush was asked about Katrina his response was that he didn't want to get in the way. An answer gleaned from his own, individual experience, and nothing of policy or government.
I am so glad we're done with him.
Bush is just about out and I agree we need change.
Blaming everything on one person is tantamount to sticking your head in the sand.
Congress had and has a lot to do with the situation we find ourselves in.
They have done worse than nothing., they have ignored the needs of the American people.
It's not complicated. Congress let things get out of control.
I challenge you to show me a bill or any attempt at passing a law to address Medicare,
Social Security, etc.
All of this picking on Bush, etc. goes nowhere. It's of little value to the many people facing
bankruptcies, job loss and figuring out a way to feed their kids.
Let's shine the light where it belongs: on Congress.
Enjoyed the rest of your post.
A majority of 1 Senator for a mere 24 months to correct something that has been in effect for nearly 12 years starting with Clinton is not realistic and I fear is also the second phase of the MSM and the repubs tactic of deflection and finger pointing by them that we are so used to. No mention of filirbustering records being broken at all
Will it work like clockwork against the American people, yet again?
Get back to me in at least 24 more months about the productivity of a Democratic led government. Because we have nothing at all to base this view on except the MSM and the Repubs hard sell.
I love the whole "History will judge" argument! As though those on the ground now cannot understand anything! The only real benefit to history being the judge is that there is no emotional involvement, which is offset by the fact that you don't really understand since you are not there!
well this is true. We will all be dead and that is what he is banking on. that no one will really remember. I wrote it down so my children and my childrens children will know the truth.
documentation that is what we have ...newspap
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
