What will Bush's legacy be?

Published on January 16, 2006 By ----- In Politics

What will Bush's legacy be? Shall history paint him a "cruel tyrant " who trampled liberties. Or a leader who had to do the shit shovelling.

His time in office has been filled with success and failure, such as: Plame Incident, WMD Incident,etc...

I believe that comes down to each and everyone's personal view. Whether filtered by party or other, that's (IMO) what it will come down to. History books will try as they might to remain neutral and simply give the facts.

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." Thomas Paine, The Crisis -- December 1776

Paine wrote this during Washington's retreat across the Delaware and by order of the commander was read to groups of his dispirited and suffering soldiers. Its opening sentence was adopted as the watchword of the advance on Trenton, and it is believed to have inspired much of the courage that won that victory.

Some people have no courage nor do they desire victory. There are plenty of more complex ways to lose a war, but none as reliable as just giving up.

As Martin Peretz of the New Republic said: If George W. Bush were to discover a cure for cancer, his critics would denounce him for having done it unilaterally, without adequate consultation, with a crude disregard for the sensibilities of others. He pursued his goal obstinately, they would say, without filtering his thoughts through the medical research establishment. And he didn't share his research with competing labs and thus caused resentment among other scientists who didn't have the resources or the bold--perhaps even somewhat reckless--instincts to pursue the task as he did. And he completely ignored the World Health Organization, showing his contempt for international institutions. Anyway, a cure for cancer is all fine and nice, but what about AIDS?

IMO, Bush will be remembered as a president who worked hard to improve america but was overshadowed by bias and administration ineffectiveness.

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Comments

Leauki

on Jan 16, 2006

Shall history paint him a "cruel tyrant " who trampled liberties.

I would wish for a history in which someone like George W. Bush would be a "cruel tyrant".

I often admire liberals who seem to live in such a world, who are blissfully ignorant of the truth out there and who have never seen true evil.

-----

on Jan 16, 2006

I would wish for a history in which someone like George W. Bush would be a "cruel tyrant".

I often admire liberals who seem to live in such a world, who are blissfully ignorant of the truth out there and who have never seen true evil.

Ahuh...right, well, good for you.

Dr Guy

on Jan 16, 2006

would wish for a history in which someone like George W. Bush would be a "cruel tyrant".

That would be an idealic world. Unfortunately, the real ones will not allow that history to be written.

-----

on Jan 16, 2006

That would be an idealic world. Unfortunately, the real ones will not allow that history to be written.

Quite so...

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