President Bush is a far superior president to Bill Clinton in every conceivable way, as that comment shows. Bush even communicates better than Clinton - repeating empty cliches, Clinton's trademark, is not 'communication'.
Clinton didn't face the challenges Bush did, Clinton put forth no agenda of his own, and Clinton let his own weak character destroy his administration.
Clinton's reign was scandal-ridden, while Bush only really faced one (non) scandal in the Plame affair.
The image of the Bush administration most of America holds is a testament to the power the MSM still holds to destroy its ideological enemies.
He'd be called Governor Bush. The American tradition is to refer to people by whatever office they currently hold, or whatever office they last held. I sometimes think former Presidents never run for office again just because they don't want people to stop calling them Mr. President. ;-)
We still have W'04 stickers on our cars. I've been voting since 1976, and never felt this invested in a presidency before. I think I admire most his resoluteness.
I've often thought what a bizarre set of events has tested this president, starting from the get-go with the 2000 election mess, then 9/11, then Katrina. It's almost as if Fate was saving it all up to throw at him.
The man ain't perfect, but he sure is something as far as Presidents go, and I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that history remembers him far, far more kindly than "Nancy Who?"
Mmm. I can't jump on the bandwagon. I don't think the Bush-haters have added much to the political dialogue, except bile.
But, I'm not convinced Bush was a great President a la' Harry Truman. Time may bear this out. But I'm hardpressed at the moment to salute that proposition. He was better than his father, though.
I wonder how long he'll have been out of office before everyone forgets why they hated him so much?
All these past seven-plus years, whenever I've steeled my resolve and pressed some friend who bitches and fumes about Bush to elaborate on what exactly it is they think makes him so bad, they sputter and mutter and blurt out things like "Katrina" or "Global warming" or "War" or "Oil" or (and I kid you not) "I hate his smirk".
As depressing and spirit-crushing and generally maddening as it is to see random Bush swipes everywhere you turn, from "Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About" to reviews of Cloverfield to Randy Newman at Macworld—I can't help but think that most people out there really don't know why they hate the man so much. They just know to hate him. All their favorite media voices hate him, right? Lewis Black and Seth McFarlane and Jon Stewart and Garry Trudeau? I mean, they can't all be wrong, can they?
But I don't think that many people really have a specific complaint, or at least anything they could cite that remotely justifies the magnitude of their professed rage. I think the bulk of it is just a form of conversational dress-up, a way to fill space in the evening banter and establish common cause with your fellows over intoxicants. It doesn't have to mean anything. It just has to sound good.
Everybody at work has those "Countdown Till Bush Leaves Office" desk calendars, full of lame pseudo-malapropisms and adorned with dorky-looking inbetweener photos. Needless to say, I don't have one myself; but I'm looking forward to a year from now with almost the same fervor, because finally it'll mean I can talk to the people around me without having to be afraid they'll randomly start busting out an unprovoked rant. Oh, how I long for the day...
Brian, I think he gave them a convenient place to hang all of their fears, a figure to hate that would not hate them back. They could villify him, twist his words, and he wouldn't turn on them.
He is safe to hate because he won't give way to the hating.
Not to forget, Bush saved this Republic from Gore and Kerry.
1.30.2008 6:55pm
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
Clinton didn't face the challenges Bush did, Clinton put forth no agenda of his own, and Clinton let his own weak character destroy his administration.
Clinton's reign was scandal-ridden, while Bush only really faced one (non) scandal in the Plame affair.
The image of the Bush administration most of America holds is a testament to the power the MSM still holds to destroy its ideological enemies.
The Anchoress shares all.
There, I said it...
Actually, I agree with you Scott, in many ways.
We still have W'04 stickers on our cars. I've been voting since 1976, and never felt this invested in a presidency before. I think I admire most his resoluteness.
I've often thought what a bizarre set of events has tested this president, starting from the get-go with the 2000 election mess, then 9/11, then Katrina. It's almost as if Fate was saving it all up to throw at him.
But, I'm not convinced Bush was a great President a la' Harry Truman. Time may bear this out. But I'm hardpressed at the moment to salute that proposition. He was better than his father, though.
Barnes
All these past seven-plus years, whenever I've steeled my resolve and pressed some friend who bitches and fumes about Bush to elaborate on what exactly it is they think makes him so bad, they sputter and mutter and blurt out things like "Katrina" or "Global warming" or "War" or "Oil" or (and I kid you not) "I hate his smirk".
As depressing and spirit-crushing and generally maddening as it is to see random Bush swipes everywhere you turn, from "Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About" to reviews of Cloverfield to Randy Newman at Macworld—I can't help but think that most people out there really don't know why they hate the man so much. They just know to hate him. All their favorite media voices hate him, right? Lewis Black and Seth McFarlane and Jon Stewart and Garry Trudeau? I mean, they can't all be wrong, can they?
But I don't think that many people really have a specific complaint, or at least anything they could cite that remotely justifies the magnitude of their professed rage. I think the bulk of it is just a form of conversational dress-up, a way to fill space in the evening banter and establish common cause with your fellows over intoxicants. It doesn't have to mean anything. It just has to sound good.
Everybody at work has those "Countdown Till Bush Leaves Office" desk calendars, full of lame pseudo-malapropisms and adorned with dorky-looking inbetweener photos. Needless to say, I don't have one myself; but I'm looking forward to a year from now with almost the same fervor, because finally it'll mean I can talk to the people around me without having to be afraid they'll randomly start busting out an unprovoked rant. Oh, how I long for the day...
He is safe to hate because he won't give way to the hating.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.