How will history remember the Bush administration?

[IronBrig4]

Everybody's talking about McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Obama nowadays. What about the guy still in office? How do you think people will remember these eight years under George W. Bush?

Of course he was faced with unique challenges. The US had been attacked, on its own soil, by a foreign non-governmental organization. The invasion of Iraq was well-intentioned, and a lot of good was done, but he was not thinking realistically. The recruitment lines of 2001 has largely disappeared; the American people have grown tired of war. The bureaucrats in the Department of Defense screwed up VERY badly. Many reservists and National Guardsmen have returned home to unemployment and an estranged family. Even with the GI Bill, there are few incentives to join up. No, I'm not one of those serviceman-hating California greenies who hates the military. I tried to join the Air Force in 2005, but my program was closed. I went to grad school instead and haven't been happier.

The economy has stunk for these past eight years. The current trend of globalization has been strong since the 1970s and is largely out of Bush's control. Still, people will remember three economic recessions since 2001. He inherited the recession that followed the dot-com bubble burst, there was another one that happened in 2003-2004, and then there's the one we're in now. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost in this year alone. Any new jobs are usually a step down. We have replaced engineers with burger flippers. This is not Bush's fault directly, but he stubbornly refuses to admit that anything is wrong.

As for me, I voted for him in 2000 because he seemed to be the lesser of two evils. In hindsight, it was probably a mistake. I made sure to vote for somebody else in 2004 (no, not Kerry). If this was Imperial China, we would be saying that Bush was unworthy of the Mandate of Heaven.

[RZZZA]

Everybody's talking about McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Obama nowadays. What about the guy still in office? How do you think people will remember these eight years under George W. Bush?

unproductive at best and disastrous at worst.

As for me, I voted for him in 2000

because he seemed to be the lesser of two evils.

In hindsight, it was probably a mistake. I made sure to vote for somebody else in 2004 (no, not Kerry).

If this was Imperial China, we would be saying that Bush was unworthy of the Mandate of Heaven.

[Thanatos]

Personally, unanimously worst president in history. People say Reagan or Clinton was the worst ever? Ha. Ha. Ha.

No. Bush is the worst.

[Bokks]

All I can do is laugh at RZZZA's post. Not because an agree/disagree thing, I just think it's kinda funny!

Personally, unanimously worst president in history. People say Reagan or Clinton was the worst ever? Ha. Ha. Ha.

No. Bush is the worst.

Who says Reagan was the worst? You know, this seems to be a frightening decline that has happened in the last few years. Even with his involvement in the Iran/Contra Affair and the strengthening of the central government, which Reagan didn't intend for at all, but it happened anyway, he was a thousand times better than Carter, and now everyone has forgotten that. Reagan was applauded by republican and democrat alike, and now the people who supported him say they didn't, and the people that actually didn't feel smug with themselves for whatever reason.

*sigh*

Oh well, not the discussion at hand.

Frankly, people won't remember about Bush. He's caused about as many ripples in the water as John Tyler or Rutherford Hayes, and I doubt very many of you have even heard of them. Of course I am talking to a bunch of people who live, drink and sleep history, so I imagine I'll meet a lot more people here that have heard of them than the streets, but still.
I suppose I'm just a little cynical. Most people probably have heard of Warren Harding, they may not know of him as the "Man Who Looks Like a President" like his campaign dubbed him, but they have heard of him, and he's approaching 90 years ago, now. Certainly people have heard of Woodrow Wilson... they may not know what his real first name was, but heck, I forget that too.
But certainly, I doubt Bush will be despised in 30 years. If he's remembered at all he'll probably be pitied, but even that is a long shot. (or, as some of you might say, a real long shot from now.) There are no real lasting effects that he's begun, however, unless Iraq lasts for 40 years. Beyond that there are few things that he's done that people readily know about. And our children will probably hear about him only when they have to decide what Supreme Court Justice will replace the ones he put there.
there will be 9/11, which will be remembered forever. But even then, this memory is starting to fade. I don't think my school even had a tribute for 9/11 this last year. And then there's that mayor of New Orleans, who quipped that there's still "a hole in New York City" after five years when he was asked why he hadn't cleaned New Orleans up after one. (a comment--in addition to others--for which I reserve true abject hatred for that particular individual) So I guess that Bush will be remembered as the president who was in office, reading to children in Florida, when that tragedy happened.
Any strong feelings one way or another, though, or unlikely.

[patrick1191]

only time will tell.

[Каие]

Personally, unanimously worst president in history. People say Reagan or Clinton was the worst ever? Ha. Ha. Ha.
No. Bush is the worst.

Not really there are far worse ones than Bush. Dumber i don;t know but worse definitely.

[Blau&Gruen]

If I was American, what I am not, but if I was, I would probably have problems with Andrew Jackson.
But I must also say my negative opinion comes from the lecture of an American History written by an American.
I suppose the author is not a Democrat.

[RZZZA]

what people say reagan or clinton were the worst ever?

I want to slap them


history goes back further than 50 years, y'know

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Not really the worst president ever, but near enough. He wasn't Nixon.

[Thanatos]

Not really the worst president ever, but near enough. He wasn't Nixon.

Nixon was worse?

[RZZZA]

Nixon was worse?

Nixon was better imo because he was corrupt yet competent.

Bush is corrupt and incompetent, a much worse combination for the country.


But Nixon presided over a much more divided country, much more civil strife than there is now

[Thanatos]

Nixon was better imo because he was corrupt yet competent.

Bush is corrupt and incompetent, a much worse combination for the country.


But Nixon presided over a much more divided country, much more civil strife than there is now

If you say so, Master Shake.

[wilpuri]

How will history remember the Bush administration?

Depends on who's writing.

[IronBrig4]

Depends on who's writing.

True. That saying was hammered into me as I earned my MA in history. I'm sure that some writers will see him through rose-colored lenses. Since most professional historians and academics are disgusted by Bush's folksy religiosity, however, he's going to receive a good drubbing.

[Senno]

Since most professional historians and academics are disgusted by Bush's folksy religiosity, however, he's going to receive a good drubbing.

Conform or DIE!

[Thanatos]

When I think of Bush, I think of Republican Space Rangers (GTA 4 joke).

[RZZZA]

damn right, you shall be rewarded in time for your obedience to the master.

[gambit]

Everybody's talking about McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Obama nowadays. What about the guy still in office? How do you think people will remember these eight years under George W. Bush?

Kinda like how I remember High School. Unfortunate, confusing and full of :wub:s.

Of course he was faced with unique challenges.

Yea, alot of people have said this. It's not as if America has never faced unique challenges or that god forbid the leader of the 'free world' can handle something that isn't in the books.

As for me, I voted for him in 2000 because he seemed to be the lesser of two evils.

My exact thoughts when in 2000, but I couldn't vote then anyway.


The way I see it, the Bush administration was like the political versions of the three stooges. We got Bush (Larry), Condoleeza (Moe) and Cheney (Curly). Bush pretty much does as he's told and when hes trusted to do something on his own, something somewhere goes wrong and he can just pull his hair in frustration. Cheney tries to act tough but in the end, rolls around making weird noises. Condoleeza does her best to keep everything in line but whenever they almost pull together, something falls apart...

On the other hand, maybe I just like 3 Stooges references.

[IronBrig4]

The way I see it, the Bush administration was like the political versions of the three stooges. We got Bush (Larry), Condoleeza (Moe) and Cheney (Curly). Bush pretty much does as he's told and when hes trusted to do something on his own, something somewhere goes wrong and he can just pull his hair in frustration. Cheney tries to act tough but in the end, rolls around making weird noises. Condoleeza does her best to keep everything in line but whenever they almost pull together, something falls apart...

On the other hand, maybe I just like 3 Stooges references.

Maybe he was a victim of circumstance?

[Thanatos]

The problem is that Lil' Bush surrounded himself with his dad's cronies.