The Bush Legacy

cozumel · Feb 2, 2008, 10:52 PM

So this time next year the US will have a new president. Personally, from a European perspective, I hope the elctorate chooses a Democrat and preferably Barrack 'Hussein' Obama.

With Bush having lost control of Congress and effectively unable to drive any policy forward his legacy is already in place. Democrats are too busy fighting each other to mention him and Republicans are too fearful of his record and avoid being associated with him.

Oliver Stone is to release a biopic movie and Bush is unlikely to be given positive treatment given Stone's record of liberal sympathies. Jacob Wesiberg's recent book titled "The Bush Tragedy" talks of the president's 'historic downfall' and paints a portraint of disaster. Another book coming out in March titled "Reagan's Disciple: Bush's Troubled Quest for a Legacy" by two Washington reporters tells of a man who failed to live up to Republican party expectations.

Will the War in Iraq, high oil prices, hurricane Katrina (and the almost racist treatment of the poor black New Orleans community) and attitude towward the environment and global warming mean the conclusion will be of Bush as an unmitigated disaster? Or will Bush's decisions on taxes and the appoinment of conservative judges mean he will be remembered with positivity and warmth by most Americans?

I think you probably know my view, but what do you guys (mostly US citizens) reckon?

OmegaRED · Feb 2, 2008, 11:29 PM

I'm not from America (obviously) but our opinion over here is that Americans got what they deserved when they reelected Bush. He sent Americans to war with the wrong country and mishandled the terrorist response and then gets rewarded with four more years; knowing that, how can it be deemed a disaster when really it's just more of the same?

I hope for the good of America that Obama and Clinton run as Pres/VP it will do a lot to repair the tarnished image of America overseas.

Sandok · Feb 3, 2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmegaRED

I hope for the good of America that Obama and Clinton run as Pres/VP it will do a lot to repair the tarnished image of America overseas.

Warmongerer is what most people will think... He's RUINED the US's credibility outside his country and while the nationalistic redneck might think "who cares", in a global world and global economy, it's quite bad.

I doubt Obama / Clinton will be able to change this within one term. US support hasn't been this low in a LONG time so we'll see.

cozumel · Feb 3, 2008, 07:17 AM

Any US citizens with views?

OldBuzzard · Feb 3, 2008, 07:19 AM

Oh great...another 'Bash Bush" thread.

Have fun. In the end it will get you now where

mkk · Feb 3, 2008, 07:34 AM

If a republican candidate would choose to remodel the administration staff from the ground up I'd go with that person just as well as with the Clinton option. The president is just one person.

cozumel · Feb 3, 2008, 07:37 AM

@ OldBuzzard:
This is not a 'bash Bush' thread and should not be about attacking US foreign policy. I would like to know what US folks feel when looking back on the Bush years. Have the pocies on tax been good? Has the economy been the thing that you find most important? How does he compare to your previous presidents such as Clinton, George H W Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy etc etc?

If people want to merely bash Bush then they can start another thread. This is where to debate the legacy.

OmegaRED · Feb 3, 2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBuzzard

Oh great...another 'Bash Bush" thread.

Have fun. In the end it will get you now where

That's why you don't ask Americans for their opinion on Bush

kris23 · Feb 3, 2008, 11:33 AM

i dont care whos president really, as long as they are smarter than "he who has the lowest IQ of all presidents"

OldBuzzard · Feb 3, 2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cozumel

@ OldBuzzard:
This is not a 'bash Bush' thread ...

Oh really??

Sandok: nationalistic redneck

Kris23: "he who has the lowest IQ of all presidents"

You: hurricane Katrina (and the almost racist treatment of the poor black New Orleans community)

And I'm sure that there will be more to come.

cozumel · Feb 3, 2008, 12:17 PM

Why don't you state what, in your opinion, is the real legacy? I tried to be fair in my original post and certainly feel, from perspective of someone who lives outside the US that the Katrina comment was accurate and based on a fact. Please tell me how you will remember the Bush years as I do want to know.

[hobo]eclipse · Feb 3, 2008, 12:28 PM

Bush has done more to undermine the liberties of Americans than anything with his presidency, do you know that any us citizen with atleast a misdemeanor is considered a terrorist, and that there is now soveriegn Mexican territory in the middle of the lower 48 states?

[hobo]eclipse · Feb 4, 2008, 01:02 AM

Here's just a lil of the "pudding"

Mexico To Get "Sovereign Territory" in Kansas City; America's Heartland

Maddogg6 · Feb 4, 2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [hobo]eclipse

Bush has done more to undermine the liberties of Americans than anything with his presidency, do you know that any us citizen with atleast a misdemeanor is considered a terrorist, and that there is now soveriegn Mexican territory in the middle of the lower 48 states?

An american who agrees ....
And... hmmm, Bush 'won' re-election when his brother was implicated in allegations of voter fraud in the very state that determined the election.... I have little doubt the allegations were false.

I hope a rep. gets in as a lame duck pres. as I dont trust Obama, Hillery or any of them for that matter - except possibly Ron Paul, but I dont *love* his voting record either. They all seem motivated to bilk this country of its assets in one way or another, be it universal health care or un-just wars. Forced into picking one of the other is just sad.

cozumel · Feb 4, 2008, 07:15 PM

But Maddogg, what are your thoughts on the Bush legacy from your personal viewpoint? Good or bad? And why? I am interested.