The Economist has done a farewell piece on George W. Bush. His quest for popularity was the driving force behind the wholesale disaster that defined his presidency. The easy-going prankster leaves office today.
America is embroiled in two wars, one of which Mr Bush launched against the tide of world opinion. The Bush family name, once among the most illustrious in American political life, is now so tainted that Jeb, George’s younger brother, recently decided not to run for the Senate from Florida. A Bush relative describes family gatherings as “funeral wakes”.
He came across as an affable chap, particularly when compared with his uptight rival. Frank Bruni, who covered his election campaign for the New York Times, wrote in 2002 that “the Bush I knew was part scamp and part bumbler, a timeless fraternity boy and heedless cutup, a weekday gym rat and weekend napster.” And the then governor of Texas presented himself as a centrist—a new kind of “compassionate conservative”, a “uniter rather than a divider”, an advocate of a “humble” and restrained foreign policy. The Economist liked this mixture enough to endorse him in 2000.
How did all this change? How did the uniter become a divider? How did Mr Bush’s governing style shape American politics over the next eight years? And what legacy has the 43rd president left for the 44th?
The entire article is worth an entire read. Here is the link for anyone else who is interested in “What went wrong?” with this seemingly affable frat boy who hero-worshipped Ronald Reagan and eventually poisoned his own presidency with his insatiable ambition. LINK.
HE LEAVES the White House as one of the least popular and most divisive presidents in American history. At home, his approval rating has been stuck in the 20s for months; abroad, George Bush has presided over the most catastrophic collapse in America’s reputation since the second world war. The American economy is in deep recession, brought on by a crisis that forced Mr Bush to preside over huge and unpopular bail-outs.
Good Bye, Mr. President George W. Bush.
The sad thing is, is that it was all so predictable. W was NEVER really a “nice” guy, his pranks all had a nasty edge to them, he tortured frogs as a kid and mocked a condemned woman’s plea for mercy, after the execution took place. George W. Bush personified America’s darker instincts; anti-intellectualism, winning at any cost, bullying, war-mongering, lying,stealing, cheating and boasting about it all. I wish upon W all the demons in hell.
post 1 what time dose your move on . daily kos , msnbc meeting start ,
anon #1,
Sadly the Economist endorsed GWB in 2000 like a lot of people did. I really do not think that most folks would have suspected what an utter failure that president would be. We also didn’t have the information resources back then that we have now. the internet was still new to many and the political information on GWB was very thin, at best.
Hopefully his overreaching and destructive practices will have taught us all a lesson – to be vigilent with our rights, freedoms and our reputation around the globe.
The great one,
bitter, much?
#1 so true and what a bunch of bullies he brought with him. Calling themselves neo-cons when they were so much like the con men of old. They systematically dismantled the regulatory system day after day and nearly bankrupted the nation in the process finally slicing off a nearly trillion more to the corrupt, greedy, narcissists that caused the problems with their neo-con assistance.
The same issue has an excellent summary of Obama’s initial appointments. The Economist is a much better source of comprehensible, lucid, and complete reporting of American politics than anything available from within our country.
I never feel like I’m getting the whole story on national or international news until I read it in The Economist or The Financial Times.
red vixon no not bitter . you and your far left goons wont have bushy to blame for everything anymore . and as soon as barry o starts messing up . will you go after him too . probally not because he is a democrat .
Ron,
It is one of the few paper magazines we get at home. It’s a great read and they even admit when they get something wrong. Refreshing!
Great one,
I could not stand to stay in the Republican party after what that dolt, George Bush, has done. I am not part of the 22%’ers that continue to support Bush and his insanity. Congrats – YOU are the elitist here. You help make up the 22% group.
vixen did bush mess up . yes he did but i have never seen so much anger form lefties like you toward him . he has kept us safe from attacks for 8 years now . yet you and your move on goons dont give him credit for nothing . so that makes you part of 22 % i call FAR LEFT GOONS .
LOL #9, You ignorant fool. 9-11 WAS ON BUSH’S WATCH!!!!!!
Red,
Bush’s sh*t-eating grin reminds me of Carlos Bustamante…and not in a good way.
Adios Bush – your only positive legacy is that you screwed up so much that Obama got elected. What a relief…
Art, you’re right. Obama may be Bush’s most lasting legacy.
posr 10 you clown and we could have gotten bin laden on slick willies watch .
Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last.
The GW years were just so sad. Hard working Americans deserved so much better.