Judging George W. Bush

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i think george nbush should go tanning nd turn black so he'll become as popular as borock obamaa [[=

juaqueen of AZ 3:08PM January 20, 2009

Always, there is a good news and a bad news.
God bless America

Andre BS 10:01PM December 22, 2008

If you believe everything Hannity says, read no further.
Administrations make or break a presidency and executive choices for cabinet or top mamagement posts should never be based on anything except qualifications, ability to identify and solve problems and loyalty to country first, loyalty to party or self, last.
A president must have abilites that demonstrate leadership such as coherent and thoughtful speech, the ability to take definitive and immediate action in a crisis (similar to a fireman reponding to a fire alarm), introspection, openess to ideas and something to show for all the above that protected the people, allowed America to thrive and a long list of other stuff to long to go in to.
In every category of national importance where the executive has the power to effect a postive outcome, every citizen should keep a tally of successes and failures, regardless of party affiliation or biased media hype. To do otherwise is blindly following by ignoring the importance of key decisions that have future consequences. (Willingly rallying behind Hitler left Germany in ruins.)
Everyone reading Barone's article (including myself)have already made up our minds regarding the administration's actions over the last eight years, some who say Bush is blameless and was the attack dummy (no pun) of a viscious Democrat Congress and media; others who say Bush never directly administered or had the attention span to do so (giving him the benefit of doubt).
The only fair thing to do regarding fair treatment of the outgoing president is to go back over the last eight years and determine which documents GW signed, what action his department heads took with his blessing, encouragement or manadate and any inaction when action or redirection was needed most, and then decide whether those decisions best served the country.
Many mistakes made in the past eighty years regarding war, the economy and the law, have been repeated and should have been avoided in the last eight years.
If you evaluate this presidency with an open mind, you might just feel sorry for the man and the nation, if nothing else. Blame can be shared by many, but is magnified by the oval office. I can not feel sorry for the man and strongly feel the buck stops with the last or current person in office, regardless of attempts to divert it elsewhere. People have died and thousands will suffer because of policies that refused to address basic mandates to protect and serve the will of the people.

Frank Manuele of NY 4:20PM December 09, 2008

Events often happen because of a thing and just as often in spite of it.
To blame or praise a man, one has to objectively balance all the factors pertaining to his success or failure. Emotion and politics usually enters into the judgment and often produces a disproportion of thorns or roses.
George Bush was not the only person who did not notice our impending financial collapse. There is blame enough for all of us.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 2:56PM November 30, 2008

Not as bad as when Hitler and Stalin controlled Europe? That's your standard for success? Bush didn't inherit a world with Hitler and Stalin in power either. He left this country far worse off than he found it. He's a failure by any standard. Just because he didn't leave us with World War 3 doesn't mean he gets credit for good governance.

Jinchi of 11:18AM November 30, 2008

It is such a misleading argument and frankly mind insulting to state that Bush's war was to rid the ME from Saddam! We all the reasons behind that war, and who benefited from it. Furthermore, to sya that Iraq is a success is an indication of how little the writer and probably many Americans are still ignornat to the true reality of Iraq and how the perceived 'surge' produced that success. Anyone who lives in the ME knows that Iraq has been segregated into sectors, pretty much how Israel has instructed its 'isolation' walls. many neighborhoods in Iraq and specifically Baghada have been 'walled', dividing reliogious sects and hence minimizng and bombing and killings. Nonetheless, you still hear of daily suicidal bombings (most recently in the green zone which is still isolated by high walls!!)
As for friendly Iraqi regime in the ME, Bush did not have to obliterate an entire country to get that. Saudi, Qatar, UAE, and others are prime examples and witness to that.
Bush will go down in history as Otla the Hun of modern USA.

John Baghdadi of TX 1:34AM November 30, 2008

hat's off to you jim
you've described a dramatical scene of the US decline. I know it cannot be your fault brave and lovely people of America.
I wish you the best with Obama.

Fahd 4:47PM November 29, 2008

Short term history is rarely kind to any political leader leaving office. It is unfortunate that man of Mr Bush's detractors are still standing behind Mr Clinton's lack of character and are always looking to blame someone they disagree with for their own failures and problems. They forget that Saddam Hussein conducted state sponsored terrorism when he tried to assassinate the elder Pres Bush. We can only imagine what Iraq and the middle East would be like had one of Saddam's sons succeeded him. Fortunately the answer to that is now only philosophical. How many of us hold our Representatives and Senators responsible for their actions or lack there-of? If we do not hold ALL our elected official responsible then we are at fault and MUST accept the responsibility and the consequences.

Joe not the Plummer of NY 3:45PM November 28, 2008

was not presenting his vision and explaining his policies to the american people. He was largely absent from the great debate. Granted he is a poor public speaker, but better a poor speaker than no speaker.
He tried to get a handle on the sub-prime mess. When the democrats started yelling RACIST, backed down. He also tried to get a handle on the looming social security crisis, again backed down when the magic "R" word appeared.
If Obama persues the campain policies of stopping the fight in the Isamofacsists War on America, and persues his policy of crushing the employers, Bush will achieve God-like stature.

Dan of MN 11:24AM November 27, 2008

Unfortunately, Bush failed America when we needed true leadership. I believe he did not pay close attention to the economy. He wasted a surplus. Tax cuts were given away and the results hurt workers. If people have more money they do not necessarily hire more workers nor pay them more: now no one has jobs or homes. All we have is debt.
Iraq was a big mistake, they had nothing to do with 911. All this money was wasted. A lot of people were killed for no sound reason although I support our troops.
Bush allowed gas prices to break the average worker. If he only knew what America experienced under his fooled policies he would impeached himself.
The names of Bush and Hoover will always be seen as the people how destroyed the dream. I will be so happy when they go away.America has to start over. We need a new way of living and thinking. Our educational system has failed our leaders. We need to better understand the impact of the last eight years. Bush really hurt hard working white people. They voted for him and now they lost their whole world. The retirement funds are drained. Homes are worthless and jobs are being lost by the millions. I thank God they will be out of office; America can not stand one more day of this nonsense.

Jim of 10:46AM November 27, 2008