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George Bush Proven Wrong on His Own Place in History, Gets Agitated

As President Bush winds down his presidential term, folks are talking about his legacy and his place in history. Bush seems to think that history will validate his actions in Iraq. His lack of popularity, he believes, will be ignored by historians who are more interested in the impact his ideas will have worldwide.

That's the point Bush tried to make to congressional members is his going away meeting with the 109th. But the events of that meeting illustrate why Bush is hopelessly misled, and will likely be relegated to the junk heap of history. What do you think history will view George as, a visionary or a stubborn, simple-minded buffon? Judge for yourself.

Bush began his talk by comparing himself to President Harry S Truman, who launched the Truman Doctrine to fight communism, got bogged down in the Korean War and left office unpopular.

Bush said that "in years to come they realized he was right and then his doctrine became the standard for America," recalled Senate Majority Whip-elect Richard Durbin, D-Ill. "He's trying to position himself in history and to justify those who continue to stand by him, saying sometimes if you're right you're unpopular, and be prepared for criticism."

Durbin said he challenged Bush's analogy, reminding him that Truman had the NATO alliance behind him and negotiated with his enemies at the United Nations. Durbin said that's what the Iraq Study Group is recommending that Bush do now - work more with allies and negotiate with adversaries on Iraq.

Bush, Durbin said, "reacted very strongly. He got very animated in his response" and emphasized that he is "the commander in chief."

Hahahaha. Love it. H/T Political Animal.

Comments

My Country Right or Wrong?

If you accept that framing of the issue, you have already lost the battle. The Rabid Right is very clever at claiming the moral high ground from a position deep in Death Valley. For one thing, the Rabid Right is not my country. Opinions expressed by the Rabid Right are not traditional American values and do not represent my values. Though millions of Americans have mindlessly accepted these lies, millions of Americans haven’t.

The United State of America is not a Democracy, it’s a plutocracy.

The plutocrat’s omniscient and omnipotent propaganda machine, the mass media . . . represents their interests and values, not mine or millions of other Americans.

Posted by: rabblerowzer on 12/10/06 at 2:34 AM

In my view, GW poll ratings are now 27%. Since 911, his approval ratings has been in decline and, as more time progresses, regardless of how low his popularity was previous, his approval ratings actually acclerate more rapidly against him. Last month his approval rating was 31%. In 30 days he lost 4%. That is a lot particularly for a President during war. Although most pundits keep saying his ratings cannot go much lower, I beg to differ. Rather, I believe, this President, with each speach he and his administration makes, more and more people see his inability to understand and resolve issues and that nobody is in agreement or communicating with each other. He also appears lost and unable to answer even a planted question to help him look good.

When the President speaks, the only thing even his supporters are looking for is evidence he will not say and do more stupid things that further divide this country against his political party.

I also see a bandwagon affect that since the President has lost about 18% of his core supporters, even if things remain the same, he will continue to lose more core support. The wars and the Presidents unwillingness to want to win them while also only make efforts to prolong them without explaination,is only going to further work against him. I see nothing to prevent the Presidents approval ratings from continuing to decline for the duration of time he has left in office. Law makers from his own party will soon be forced to take a position against him once the fully understand they will lose their jobs if they show any signs of support.

As a person who has voted Republican my entire life, I decided to burn my house because I didn't like the furniture. This President has done averything possible to prove to me the Republican party does not care to address what I thought are the core values of Republicans. In fact everything we complained about the Democrats reflected GW intended to, instead of rightsizing, was looking to acclerate that process. As a moderate, I don't see any place for me in either party and feel the time is ripe for a moderate party to enter and carve out the enire moderate slice of the pie

Posted by: Tyrus on 12/10/06 at 6:51 AM

...when someone does this?:

Al Maliki - "He's the right guy for the job" (hmmm?)

Katrina - "You're going a great job, Brownie" (you're kidding, right?)

Defense Secretary - "I have full faith in Don Rumsfield...he will stay on til the end of my administration". ("don't let the door hit you in the ass)

Iraq 1 - "We're winning" (delusional)

Iraq 2 - "Stay the course" X 107. (what course? X 107)

Iraq 3 - "Mission accomplished" (what mission?)

Iraq 4 - "Weapons of mass destruction..." (weren't any)

Iraq 5 - "Mobile chemical weapons labs..." (weren't any)

Iraq 6 - "Yellowcake" (with icing on top)

Iraq 7 - "Saddam harbored Al Qeada..." (he didn't)

Iraq 8 - "We don't torture" (we have and we do, as a matter of policy)

Constitution - "We're not doing warrantless wiretapping on Americans" (we are - Supreme Court says so)

Constitution - "We don't violate the Constitution" (we have - Supreme Court says so)

Science - "Global warming is a liberal conspiracy" (not a direct quote, but you get the idea)

So, what do you call someone who espouses these things?
- Delusional?
- A liar?
- An idiot?
- the worst President in modern history?
- all of the above?

Lost credibility for the United States

Lost fiends and allies

Lost the moral high ground

Radicalizing and destabilizing the Middle East

Nearly 3,000 American solders dead.

Over 100,000 Iraqi's dead

Our civil and constituional rights erroded

Bankrupting the country for a generation.