What Bush did right
January 17th 2009 05:50
Last night, George W. Bush gave his farewell address. His brief speech was mostly a feeble and unconvincing stab at legacy-shaping, but I think it's just too early for history to wholly and accurately assess the Bush presidency. He's exiting as the country is tired of war and in misery over the current economic situation. Needless to say, very few people would give Dubya high marks at this point. His only hope is that the passage of time will allow historians to look back upon his presidency more favorably than they do now.
Personally, I'm no fan of Bush. He has presided over an unprecedented expansion of government and has made an absolute mockery of the notion of fiscal conservatism. The GOP has all but imploded after following him into a free-spending abyss. At this point, we've pretty much nationalized our nation's banking system in at attempt to stave off a total economic meltdown. No, he's not exactly handing off a well-oiled machine.
With that being said, there are two things Bush accomplished that are laudatory:
(1) He appointed two relatively young, conservative judges to the Supreme Court. As a fiscal and social conservative, I am thrilled with John Roberts and Samuel Alito. The court doesn't have a conservative majority (and probably won't now that Obama is in charge). Still, I am pleased with the ascendancy of Roberts and Alito to the Court.
(2) He kept us from being attacked on our homeland again. Some would squabble over the measures he took to keep us safe, but you can't dispute the results. I imagine that most folks thought we would've surely been attacked again by now -- nearly eight years after 9/11. It hasn't happened. I hope it doesn't happen, but if President-Elect Obama reverses Bush's security measures and we get attacked, Bush -- and his methods -- will certainly look better in hindsight.
Apart from recognizing those achievements, I can't offer any other substantive praise of Bush. Like most of the country, I'm looking forward to him leaving. Of course, the problem I now face is that I'm no fan of Obama. It's time for a change, though. I don't think Bush was intentionally trying to hurt the country, but I know that we are hurting. I won't miss the man.
Personally, I'm no fan of Bush. He has presided over an unprecedented expansion of government and has made an absolute mockery of the notion of fiscal conservatism. The GOP has all but imploded after following him into a free-spending abyss. At this point, we've pretty much nationalized our nation's banking system in at attempt to stave off a total economic meltdown. No, he's not exactly handing off a well-oiled machine.
With that being said, there are two things Bush accomplished that are laudatory:
(1) He appointed two relatively young, conservative judges to the Supreme Court. As a fiscal and social conservative, I am thrilled with John Roberts and Samuel Alito. The court doesn't have a conservative majority (and probably won't now that Obama is in charge). Still, I am pleased with the ascendancy of Roberts and Alito to the Court.
(2) He kept us from being attacked on our homeland again. Some would squabble over the measures he took to keep us safe, but you can't dispute the results. I imagine that most folks thought we would've surely been attacked again by now -- nearly eight years after 9/11. It hasn't happened. I hope it doesn't happen, but if President-Elect Obama reverses Bush's security measures and we get attacked, Bush -- and his methods -- will certainly look better in hindsight.
Apart from recognizing those achievements, I can't offer any other substantive praise of Bush. Like most of the country, I'm looking forward to him leaving. Of course, the problem I now face is that I'm no fan of Obama. It's time for a change, though. I don't think Bush was intentionally trying to hurt the country, but I know that we are hurting. I won't miss the man.
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Comment by NoaIzumi
Fine Politics
Anime Bottle
Not to start an argument, but would you give President Clinton the same credit for the same results?
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Not from me, SL. Bush was a disaster and a failed president. I don't think Obama could do worse if he tried. Even if Obama is just run-of-the-mill bad, he still would be better than Bush. Bush has been rip-apart-the-country bad. And you know that I'm no fan of Obama. That shows how bad I think Bush has been for the country and for conservatism.
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
You know, if it were up to me-- I'd probably go with Clinton the failure!
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by Anonymous
maybe slight...its we the electorate who keep voting and electing the same mistakes into office...true reform needs to start with election process to guarantee free independent elections(which I never questioned until recently) with term limits...and make it easier for 3rd party candidates to get on the ballot...not harder...
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
We'll have to wait and see how he governs, though. i hope he has more sense than to try to pull the country to the extreme left. If he does that, he will have a huge backlash on his hands.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
No one has to cry any tears for him, though. He'll retire to a life of privilege and wealth. If only the rest of us were so lucky.