Bush Legacy tarnished by arrogant missteps
When George W. Bush took office in 2001, I of course still felt like he had stolen the election. But since he was from Texas I had made up my mind to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The Democrats of Texas had “misunderestimated” Bush when he campaigned to become governor and he scored a surprising victory against the late great Ann Richards. In his reelection he ran against Joe Warmbodied American.
I guess I’m trying to say I don’t even remember who he ran against, and heck I even voted for Bush. I viewed his time as Texas governor (one of the least powerful governor positions in the union) as positive and Bush the man as someone willing to “reach across the aisle” to get things done.
Back to ’01, as the year progressed there was no doubt in my mind that George W. Bush would be a one term President just like his daddy. All the verbal gaffes along made Americans questions the man’s readiness for the job. Then 9/11 happened.
I think the saddest part of the Bush Legacy will be that the entire nation, even the world, coalesced around this President after the terrorist attacks in New York, and he managed to lose all of that political capital within a few years.
Bush planned to be the CEO President, putting all of the best people around him and allowing them do most of the work. In the event of a tie or conflict, he was to be the “decider.”
“Deciders” are good, but visionaries are better. It’s George W. Bush’s lack of vision that will cause him to be remembered as one of the worst President’s in our nation’s history.
Bush’s people told him that our military would be “greeted as liberators” by Iraq. They told him give a speech about Iraq standing under a sign that said Mission Accomplished. They told him that America was ready for privatized social security. They told him a lot of dumb stuff that he believed over the last 8 years.
In the end George W. Bush was an arrogant President, with an arrogant cabinet, which lead the world to view the United States as an arrogant nation. Haughtiness is one of my pet peeves, so to see it in my President has been tough to stomach.
Point of Personal Priviledge
My son was born not long after 9/11, so the only President he’s known is George W. Bush. By the time he was four years old, he was a strong Bush supporter -out of respect to the office no doubt.
He once asked me “Dad, do you know George Bush?” I said, “No son, why?” He said, “then why do you always say that he takes your money?”
There was no convincing him that Bush wasn’t a good President, and I didn’t try very hard to do so because I want him to be an independent thinker. But fortunately Bush went out the window when Obama came on the scene.
In Closing
It’s been kind of sad actually watching this President limp to the finish line with his approval ratings at historic lows. His face tells the story, as he constantly seems to be searching for answers.
This was a highly unsuccessful gamble on the part of the American people putting someone in office with such a limited thirst for knowledge and such a narrow world view. But who knows, maybe we can start all over again, and my son and I can take George and Laura some cookies and welcome them to Dallas.
