The legacy of President George W. Bush

[CTU2fan]

What will it be? How will history view the GWB Presidency in 10, 20, 50 years? He's still got a year & a half to go but right now what stands out to me is (of course) Iraq and his appointments to the SCOTUS.

I think it's interesting to look at Bush because he's a pretty unpopular President, yet he's served 2 terms. I also doubt there's ever been a US President with a more negative image throughout the world...do you see any scenario where Bush and the Bush Administration are viewed historically in a positive light?

[LJT]

Even if Iraq did become a shining beacon of light for democracy in the Middle East I doubt it could ever be attributed to Bush, Blair and co.

So no I don't think he and the current administration could ever be viewed in a positive light at the very least in foreign policy.

[Ormus]

Originally posted by CTU2fan
How will history view the GWB Presidency in 10, 20, 50 years?

He will be the Emperor Commodus of our day.

[unico]

I hear that his approval rating is at an all time low 29%
I don't think that is low enough!

[LJT]

Originally posted by Ormus


He will be the Emperor Commodus of our day.

Bush would be have to be mad to try to claim he herculean in anyway...and he would derfinitely be bad if he started to rename Washington or the senate in his honour.

What parallels are you drawing though between Commodus and Bush? Meglomania and just a general destruction of the administration?

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

Ugh, still another year and a half.

Wake me when it's over.

[Ormus]

Originally posted by LJT
Bush would be have to be mad to try to claim he herculean in anyway...and he would derfinitely be bad if he started to rename Washington or the senate in his honour.

What parallels are you drawing though between Commodus and Bush? Meglomania and just a general destruction of the administration?

Bush doesn't have to overtly claim that he is "Herculean," but he and his supporters certainly go out of their way to make a president who comes across as "weak" and "dim-witted" seem like a "strong leader"--which is, in a way, "Herculean" in itself.

Commodus is the second emperor to be the son of a previous Roman Emperor, just as Bush is the second president to be the son of a previous president (John Quincy Adams being the first son of a president to become president).

Commodus' reign was initially dominated by his father's senior advisors, just as Bush's was (and, to a substantial degree, still is).

Then I'm reminded of the quote from Dio Cassius that Commodus' reign turned the Roman Empire "from a kingdom of gold to one of rust and iron," which is a good metaphor for what he has turned the United States into in the minds of the world. We've gone from a "great nation" to a parody of one.

And the choice of Commodus, rather than another emperor, was particularly purposeful, because he was far from the cruelest or worst emperors even within the earlier or later periods of the Empire, and while he's noted as the emperor that started the Empire's slow descent into disintegration, there were emperors after him that were relatively strong and tried to halt the decline.

Bush, like Commodus, should never have been a leader of any state.

[Irvine511]

he will be remembered as being arguably the most incompetent executive ever to hold office. "worst" is a hard thing to quantify; "incompetent" is more tangible.

[anitram]

Originally posted by unico
I hear that his approval rating is at an all time low 29%
I don't think that is low enough!

Cheney is at 13%. That's 10 points away from the margin of error!

[LJT]

Originally posted by Ormus


Bush doesn't have to overtly claim that he is "Herculean," but he and his supporters certainly go out of their way to make a president who comes across as "weak" and "dim-witted" seem like a "strong leader"--which is, in a way, "Herculean" in itself.

Commodus is the second emperor to be the son of a previous Roman Emperor, just as Bush is the second president to be the son of a previous president (John Quincy Adams being the first son of a president to become president).

Commodus' reign was initially dominated by his father's senior advisors, just as Bush's was (and, to a substantial degree, still is).

Then I'm reminded of the quote from Dio Cassius that Commodus' reign turned the Roman Empire "from a kingdom of gold to one of rust and iron," which is a good metaphor for what he has turned the United States into in the minds of the world. We've gone from a "great nation" to a parody of one.

And the choice of Commodus, rather than another emperor, was particularly purposeful, because he was far from the cruelest or worst emperors even within the earlier or later periods of the Empire, and while he's noted as the emperor that started the Empire's slow descent into disintegration, there were emperors after him that were relatively strong and tried to halt the decline.

Bush, like Commodus, should never have been a leader of any state.

Ah Ok gotcha...but does this mean you think the US is in a slow state of decline as the world's superpower? The Roman Empire went on for another century and a half after Commodus relatively intact...and of course the Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire of sorts and it lasted another 600 years after that.

[CTU2fan]

Wasn't expecting the Commodus comparison...seems somewhat apt, there are parallels to be sure.

Hopefully some of the GWB supporters will chime in.

[struckpx]

President Bush will be remembered as a triumphant president who led our country through the most turbulent times in the last 60 years. Who unexpectedly was not told by the previous administration of intelligence that there was going to be terrorist attacks, and guided our nation through our worst national disaster ever. I applaud him for doing his best to resolve and punish those involved, but also solidify relationships with countries who were not before that always get overmentioned.

He also added 8.2 million jobs during his 8 years to the economy. Not bad. Inflation rates dropped. Overall the economy is better than it has ever been and our nation is flourishing. Taxes are low, which is good for all of us. He has reformed many things, gone against his parties will at times, but also done what he believes is best for the American people.

I look at the legacies of Reagan, Carter, Ford. Presidents who were not popular when they were president. They are now cherished and very well respected for the policies they put in place. I think we will see the same for President Bush. We will look in 7 or 8 years after this next president and say, "Wow, he really was right. Thank you."

[Diemen]

Originally posted by struckpx
President Bush will be remembered as a triumphant president who led our country through the most turbulent times in the last 60 years.

I'm curious, could you please list some of Bush's triumphs so far?

Who unexpectedly was not told by the previous administration of intelligence that there was going to be terrorist attacks

"Bin Laden Determined to Strike the United States" wasn't clear enough for him, was it? And I find it absolutely hilarious(ly pahetic) that you are implying that 9/11 is the fault of the Clinton administration, like they knew it would happen and said nothing. Absolute and utter bullshit.

We will look in 7 or 8 years after this next president and say, "Wow, he really was right. Thank you."

If we're lucky 7 or 8 years will be enough to rebuild our tarnished image with the rest of the world.

[BVS]

Originally posted by struckpx
President Bush will be remembered as a triumphant president who led our country through the most turbulent times in the last 60 years.

Based on the fact that you are in the very small minority about Nixon, I feel safe that Bush's legacy will paint him as one of the worse presidents in history.

[struckpx]

Originally posted by BonoVoxSupastar


Based on the fact that you are in the very small minority about Nixon, I feel safe that Bush's legacy will paint him as one of the worse presidents in history.

nowhere in this thread do I mention Nixon. He was a balanced president however, both foreign and domestic.

[BVS]

Originally posted by struckpx


nowhere in this thread do I mention Nixon. He was a balanced president however, both foreign and domestic.

Not my point. I'm saying your judgment of president's doesn't have the best track record.

[Vincent Vega]

Originally posted by struckpx


nowhere in this thread do I mention Nixon. He was a balanced president however, both foreign and domestic.

Well, but your opinion of Nixon voiced in the Nixon thread hasn't changed, has it?

People often like to forget about the bad things, and start to paint everything nicer that it was later. Hence the saying of the good ol' times. You can see it with some East Germans who are now getting nostalgic about the GDR and the good aspects of it, conveniently leaving out how bad they wanted to get out of there because of lack of freedom, goods and oppression etc.

[struckpx]

Originally posted by Vincent Vega



Well, but your opinion of Nixon voiced in the Nixon thread hasn't changed, has it?

People often like to forget about the bad things, and start to paint everything nicer that it was later. Hence the saying of the good ol' times. You can see it with some East Germans who are now getting nostalgic about the GDR and the good aspects of it, conveniently leaving out how bad they wanted to get out of there because of lack of freedom, goods and oppression etc.

the nixon thread has nothing to do w/ this thread.

[struckpx]

Originally posted by BonoVoxSupastar


Not my point. I'm saying your judgment of president's doesn't have the best track record.

there we go. since i disagree with you on nixon, i have a bad track record. every time someone does not agree with you, you give them a negative view. great way to live life.

[phillyfan26]

Bush will be remembered as being terrible, there's no doubt about that.