Monday, January 25, 2010

The First Few Hesitant Steps On The Path To Rehab

For Tiger Woods? Courtney Love, maybe? Some other celebrity with a problem?

No, it's rehab for George W. Bush's tarnished reputation.

And I don't think it will take as long as some of you might think.
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5 comments:

wally said...

I agree, he has acquitted himself admirably post-presidency. I'm not sure that will lead to a kinder evaluation of his presidency, though, if that's what you're implying. Didn't seem to work for Jimmy Carter.

1/27/2010 11:12:00 AM
Bob said...

@wally: in the main it will depend on how Iraq turns out. If Iraq is stable and still a democracy 20 years from now, Bush will get the credit. It's not looking hopeful at the moment, as I read an article this morning about liquor stores being closed in Baghdad to firm up Maliki's influence with the Islamist parties there.

Judgment on federal handling of Katrina should moderate, as well, since, despite reports otherwise, it's local and state officials who have primary disaster responsibility in such cases.

The economy will be tougher. A mild recession was beginning as Bush's term started, and the economy took a huge hit on 9/11. After that, though, there was a period of recovery that lasted until almost the end of Bush's second term, at which time the collapse occurred. That is hard to overlook, and I won't try.

I think that the final judgment will be that Bush, like Truman, presided over a period of intense partisanship domestically and who engaged in a war that was entirely optional and not vital to the interests of the US. His presidency won't be viewed as a great success, but Bush will be admired for his personal integrity and fortitude under intense criticism.

1/27/2010 11:35:00 AM
wally said...

I agree with you, by and large, although I might quibble about your last two assertions. I'm not claiming he was without integrity, but in what ways did it manifest itself during his presidency? If it turns out, as many of us suspect, that stronger personalities such as Cheney forced him into actions he wouldn't have taken on his own, might that not affect the perception of his integrity? And as for fortitude under intense criticism, if by fortitude you mean steadfastness, that has been seen as a fault of his as often as a virtue--a lack of flexibility, I mean.

1/27/2010 01:24:00 PM
Bob said...

@wally: I think that Cheney will look better in retrospect, also. Remember that when Bush chose him for his VP nominee everyone approved, saying that he gave Bush "gravitas" that he apparently needed.

Incidentally, I emailed both Bush and Cheney at the end of their terms (before the economy tanked) and thanked them for keeping the US safe after 9/11. Cheney sent a personal reply through the mail, a kind gesture. I'll treasure it.

1/27/2010 01:58:00 PM
wally said...

I'm not sure I see how the fact that people had a higher opinion of Cheney at the beginning of his term than at the end will help him look better in retrospect.

One reason Bush is looking better is that his post-presidential behavior has been the opposite of Cheney's. That's the gist of the article you reference, at least.

1/27/2010 07:35:00 PM

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