I'd say Midwestern called that one right based on this article in Rolling Stone:
George W. Bush's presidency appears headed for colossal historical disgrace. Barring a cataclysmic event on the order of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, after which the public might rally around the White House once again, there seems to be little the administration can do to avoid being ranked on the lowest tier of U.S. presidents. And that may be the best-case scenario. Many historians are now wondering whether Bush, in fact, will be remembered as the very worst president in all of American history. [...]The rest of the article is well worth the read. It discusses Bush's failings in key areas: disastrous domestic policies, foreign-policy blunders and military setbacks, executive misconduct, crises of credibility and public trust.
In early 2004, an informal survey of 415 historians conducted by the nonpartisan History News Network found that eighty-one percent considered the Bush administration a "failure." Among those who called Bush a success, many gave the president high marks only for his ability to mobilize public support and get Congress to go along with what one historian called the administration's "pursuit of disastrous policies." In fact, roughly one in ten of those who called Bush a success was being facetious, rating him only as the best president since Bill Clinton -- a category in which Bush is the only contestant.
I almost feel sorry for him. The reality for George Bush is that he'll be alone in that rocking chair someday wondering where he went wrong.
8 comments:
What bothered me was when he said they would look back at these days "as the good old days"
Does he mean that things are going to get so much worse that today will seem like the good times?
Does he mean that things are going to get so much worse that today will seem like the good times?
Good Lord, let's hope it doesn't come to that. Sheesh.
Preemptive Karma picked up on the same theme - Painful Questions - linking in this good question:
"Where are the Good Republicans?"
There are a few, but too few. Anyone who will look back on these eight years as "the good old days" certainly will be experiencing some dire trauma.
Ah, this is popular today. Loved the article. It's nice to have a scholar confirm what seems obvious.
Patricia, I'm convinced Bush is having delusions of grandeur. He really thinks these are the good old days!!
Thanks for the Preemptive Karma link, Midwestern. I didn't realize she's a former Republican. She really lambasted her fellow Repub's, but she did it in a nice way - not a Malkin kind of way. :-)
So this article is making it's way around today, Kathleen? Good. Maybe it will stir some people to finally speak out and demand change - impeachment, censure, whatever it takes. It's not just Bush who suffers in the history books, it's our entire country.
I almost feel sorry for him.
To tell the truth, I do feel sorry for him. I think it was clear from the beginning, during the 2000 campaign, that he was no where near capable of handling this job. I think the conservatives leveraged his name and his dimness to implement their agenda.
I also feel bad for McClellan. He had the worst job in America, defending this bunch of thieves and cutthroats. And if you want a sad chuckle, check out the on-the-money cartoon in today's Boston Globe.
I'm sorry, but I cannot feel sorry for BUsh. I can feel sorry for the many victims of his various policy blunders, from New Orleans to Baghdad and kabul, but he doesn't deserve sympathy nor empathy.
Abi, thanks for the link to the cartoon. I loved the clown too. How appropriate!
I have to agree with you that the conservatives used Bush to further their own agenda, so in that regard I do feel sorry for him. When he wakes up and realizes that someday, it will be a bitter pill for him to swallow.
Lew, thanks for reminding us all about the victims behind this administration's failed policies. Sadly, they are the ones who deserve our sympathy and empathy the most.
I can't work myself to feel sorry for Bush. I feel sorry for us who got stuck with a psychopath for president. If he wasn't rich, he would have been clapped into Bellevue a long time ago.
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