As I ponder the presidency of George W. Bush, I am not feeling as euphoric as I thought I might on this, the night of his farewell address. Bush v. Gore sent me over the edge, and I have been shaking my head in disgust ever since. Our wars. Our economy. Our stature in the world. Pathetic. But I am not euphoric. I am sad that the man who won the Whitehouse by one vote, a vote cast in the Supreme Court, was not able to meet the moment, and our country has suffered because of it. And tonight, Bush bids farewell.
Presidential farewell addresses come with the ubiquitous mentions of gratitude and honor, but often two-term presidents (it’s rare that a one-termer will say much other than “I’m outa here!”) end their farewell addresses with warnings. George Washington warned against political parties and “tangling alliances” with European powers. Smart guy. Ike warned against the growing power of the “military-industrial complex.” Another smart guy. Tonight, it’s Bush’s turn. Will he reveal himself a smart guy, after all?
If he were a smart guy, he would take full responsibility for the sad state of our nation. If he were a smart guy, he would man-up and own the day . . . and the last eight years. If he were a smart guy, he would say to the country I know he loves, “I’m sorry.” If he were a smart guy.
How can PEBO spend $150 million on his inaguration with some many people hurting and out of jobs? BTW, GWB only spent $42.5 million. Where is all the uproar in the media? Complete silence on this one, because he is the annointed one, and the savior. I wonder if PEBO is going to force Teddy to look at windmills off his Cape Cod compound or will he fold for political payback. PEBO talks a good game but look at the stimulus bill, its full of polictical cow squeeze. GWB started digging the hole, PEBO will finish the burial.
Posted by: Stephen Hull | 01/17/2009 at 01:25 PM
Did you watch Black Hawk down or even bother checking into that? Clinton? He cut the balls off our intelligence gathering and our military rules of engagement. Give me a break? The 911 commision? Political Hacks!! Watch out my friend, President Obama is about to step up to the big time and if he really thinks talking is going to stop this Islamic madness we are all in for another rude awakening. They are not reasonable people. Look at Israel today, they gave up land and what has happened, they still get bombed. I hope Israel wipes Hamas off this planet. The thing I don't understand is how those on the left can say Israel is the cause of this ruckus. Huh? Leon Panetta to run the CIA, give me a break. No torture? Makes me safer already!! Not !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Stephen Hull | 01/17/2009 at 01:12 PM
Since 9/11? What about 9/11? If you blame Clinton for 9/11, then you must, by the same logic, blame Bush I for 1993. Yes, it was Bush's job to defend us against the 9/11 attacks...but he and his advisors, particularly Dr. Rice, Wolfowitz, Rummy&Chenney, let us down. In fact, I feel certain that if someone other than Rice/Wolfowitz had been in Bush's ear, Bush would have acted...decisively, pre-emptively, and successfully.
In the 9/11 Commission Report, which I have in my library (bathroom), it reports that the only reason Clinton was not able to take out Bin Laden was because Pakistan always tipped off Bin Laden to an American attack. We had to ask Pakistan for permission every time we targeted Bin Laden (we had no choice but to use Pakistani airspace), and someone within Pakistan always tipped off Bin Laden. The Bin Laden Task Force was created by Clinton, was authorized to kill OBL, but Islamic rads in Pakistan ratted out the plan.
Besides, I will be eternally resentful of the deaths of 4200 American soldiers who fought a useless war and whose deaths could have and should have been avoided. All energies in Iraq should have been diverted to Afghanistan...and anywhere else besides Iraq. And I am eternally greatful to Bill Clinton for protecting us after 1993 and taking the fight to the terrorists.
Posted by: The Hiker | 01/17/2009 at 09:52 AM
Yes, Goodbye George Bush, we will all remember you for everything you did wrong but will we ever really know what you did right? Right now it is really easy to look at this President and make him the scape goat of all that is wrong with America. Was he a great President, certainly not, but he definitely was not the worst. Did he forget the power of a veto when it came to spending, you bet. Was he a good orator, definitely not. Did he make mistakes in his decisions, he certainly did as we all do. Did he protect us so that we did not have another instance of terrorism within our borders, yes he did do that, and since 9/11 he was 100% successful. I will be eternally grateful to him and for our troops whom protected us from an evil that cannot be easily defined. If you think things are bad right now economically, just imagine if another terrorist attack succeeded on our soil and this time it was able to disrupt life as we know it. I hope and pray that Barack Obama can stand at the end of his presidency and say the same thing. The most important job our President has is to protect his citizens and insure that the torch can be passed to the next generation of Americans.
Posted by: Stephen Hull | 01/17/2009 at 09:24 AM