George W. Bush, What's your opinion?

What best describes your perception of W? Select all you feel are appropriate

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#1
OrangeEmpire

OrangeEmpire

The White Debonair
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#1
George W. Bush, What's your opinion?

Few political figures in our time have been as polarizing as George W. Bush. Are you a fan or not? Which of the above statements best characterizes how you see the 43rd president of the U.S?
 
#4
#4
He has abandoned true conservatism and embraced big government.
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he wasn't a "true" conservative to begin with and as soon as he held Ted Kennedy's hand and sang kumbyaa over a bloated and ridiculous "education" bill, he became a big government Republican. The only thing he's done right since then are his nominations of Roberts and Alito to the SCOTUS.

As someone who voted for him twice, I can't even say that I agree with his Iraq policy anymore. Too many mistakes were made at the beginning of hostilities, and now he'd rather fight while letting the democrats and the UN tie one hand behind his back.
 
#5
#5
Oh yeah, the seizure guy...the jury is still out on Alito and Roberts though.

The UN's not tying anyone's hands. They've been completely handsoff of Iraq. Bush has not asked for UN help and they have not offered. If Gordon Brown backs out of Iraq, we're truly alone in propping this house of cards up.
 
#6
#6
You left out one. Most unpopular president in modern history.

Invading Iraq was a mistake. The occupation was poorly planned and executed. Instead of focusing on solving problems at home and the war in Afghanistan, Bush started an unnecessary war with Iraq and left those problems for future presidents. That's what he will be remembered for IMO.
 
#7
#7
I'm a liberal dem... I think that says it all right there.

I hate the guy, I think he's an idiot. He's fighting the wrong war. He handled Katrina terribly. I can't think of many positive things.
 
#11
#11
CSpindizzy said:
Then why do liberals hate him so much? The wrong kind of big government?
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I really believe that those who would consider themselves liberals began festering their hatred after his first election and the Florida fiasco. While most republicans that I talk to (those with a more socially liberal lean) categorize Bush like I do: the lesser of two evils.
 
#12
#12
Lexvol said:
I really believe that those who would consider themselves liberals began festering their hatred after his first election and the Florida fiasco. While most republicans that I talk to (those with a more socially liberal lean) categorize Bush like I do: the lesser of two evils.
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I am a consevative democrat but I truly believe Gore or Kerry would have never been this bad. Republicans always say " if you elect this democrat, wait and see how bad everything gets" It gets no worse than right now. Don't give me the ecomony crap either. Bush is by far the most incompetent president we have ever had. I didnt' say worst. I said incompetent. He has run the most secretive White House ever. He isn't even close to being worthy of his arrogance. Most arrogant leaders are at least competent. Bush isn't. His press conferences are a joke and even worse, terribly embarrassing to himself, his family and most importantly, the country. His reasoning on Iraq has changed too many times all the while he still insist on "staying the course". it is truly an embarrasssment to have had a man like W as president of the United States. Everyone running on both sides of the aisle are more competent than him. Whoever we get in '08, republican or democrat, will be better than who we have had the last 8 years
 
#13
#13
Lexvol said:
I really believe that those who would consider themselves liberals began festering their hatred after his first election and the Florida fiasco. While most republicans that I talk to (those with a more socially liberal lean) categorize Bush like I do: the lesser of two evils.
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No one knows how Kerry would have been.
 
#14
#14
the 4th ones fits him best. like oklavol said, the stuff that he's started is probably going to be left up to the next president to finish. not the best thing you want said about you if you are president.
 
#18
#18
truefan said:
I am a consevative democrat but I truly believe Gore or Kerry would have never been this bad. Republicans always say " if you elect this democrat, wait and see how bad everything gets" It gets no worse than right now. Don't give me the ecomony crap either. Bush is by far the most incompetent president we have ever had. I didnt' say worst. I said incompetent. He has run the most secretive White House ever. He isn't even close to being worthy of his arrogance. Most arrogant leaders are at least competent. Bush isn't. His press conferences are a joke and even worse, terribly embarrassing to himself, his family and most importantly, the country. His reasoning on Iraq has changed too many times all the while he still insist on "staying the course". it is truly an embarrasssment to have had a man like W as president of the United States. Everyone running on both sides of the aisle are more competent than him. Whoever we get in '08, republican or democrat, will be better than who we have had the last 8 years
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That is a more level headed assessment thatn you've provided in past opinions. And more accurate as well. I am a two time voter that has been left wondering. IF I had to vote demo and choose between Gore or Kerry, I'd have to lean Gore. Based on him then, not now.
 
#19
#19
truefan said:
I am a consevative democrat but I truly believe Gore or Kerry would have never been this bad. Republicans always say " if you elect this democrat, wait and see how bad everything gets" It gets no worse than right now. Don't give me the ecomony crap either. Bush is by far the most incompetent president we have ever had. I didnt' say worst. I said incompetent. He has run the most secretive White House ever. He isn't even close to being worthy of his arrogance. Most arrogant leaders are at least competent. Bush isn't. His press conferences are a joke and even worse, terribly embarrassing to himself, his family and most importantly, the country. His reasoning on Iraq has changed too many times all the while he still insist on "staying the course". it is truly an embarrasssment to have had a man like W as president of the United States. Everyone running on both sides of the aisle are more competent than him. Whoever we get in '08, republican or democrat, will be better than who we have had the last 8 years
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1. You certainly have the option to disagree.

2. What exactly the economy crap? The economy is either good or bad. Has it not been growing at relatively steady rates? I still contend that in 100 years that Bush will easily match and surpass the competence put forth by James Carter.

3. I will never claim that Bush is a genius...but this secretive white house thing is a load of bologna. If you think we know one fourth of what goes on at any given time in the WH, you are mistaken.

4. The last time I looked, people in congress are really not perceived as that competent either.

5. If you think the republicans have cornerned the market on scare tactics, then you do not follow politics very closely. Politicians are car salesmen. They have to convince you that what you have is not as good as what you "need."
 
#20
#20
Lexvol said:
1. You certainly have the option to disagree.

2. What exactly the economy crap? The economy is either good or bad. Has it not been growing at relatively steady rates? I still contend that in 100 years that Bush will easily match and surpass the competence put forth by James Carter.

3. I will never claim that Bush is a genius...but this secretive white house thing is a load of bologna. If you think we know one fourth of what goes on at any given time in the WH, you are mistaken.

4. The last time I looked, people in congress are really not perceived as that competent either.

5. If you think the republicans have cornerned the market on scare tactics, then you do not follow politics very closely. Politicians are car salesmen. They have to convince you that what you have is not as good as what you "need."
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The economy is good. But the economy is cyclical. Certainly there have been measures that have stimulated growth and prosperity for many.

You seem to almost want to defend W. I didn't say anything about Congress. I know there are many incompetent members there on both sides of the aisle. We aren't talking about Congress, we are talking about W. And the secrecy thing, it is more secretive than anything we have seen since Nixon. I am saying we should know about all the things that go on in the WH. We shouldn't. However, he has rule like he is a king rather than a president. And he has done an awful job. Remember I said incompetent, not worst. Jimmy Carter might go down as the worst, but as far as competency is concerned, W has none.
 
#21
#21
truefan said:
The economy is good. But the economy is cyclical. Certainly there have been measures that have stimulated growth and prosperity for many.

You seem to almost want to defend W. I didn't say anything about Congress. I know there are many incompetent members there on both sides of the aisle. We aren't talking about Congress, we are talking about W. And the secrecy thing, it is more secretive than anything we have seen since Nixon. I am saying we should know about all the things that go on in the WH. We shouldn't. However, he has rule like he is a king rather than a president. And he has done an awful job. Remember I said incompetent, not worst. Jimmy Carter might go down as the worst, but as far as competency is concerned, W has none.
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can you help me out with your definition of competency? I'd assume that the least competent president would also be the worst president. If not, then we're evaluating them by the events that defined their term and not their individual abilties to conduct the job.

I'd say, we most often evaluate presidents by the events during their tenure and have very little information to utilize in evaluating competence.

Carter gets a bum rap for a poor economy, over which he had very little influence. His biggest gaffe, the Iranian Hostage debacle, was his to handle and he failed to do anything. This inactivity earned him his place in history.

Bush's rap is almost 100% tied to Iraq (for me it's about domestic spending), where he sent troops with overwhelming support from the Congress. This hyperactivity is, unfortunately, going to define the Bush presidency.
 
#22
#22
truefan said:
The economy is good. But the economy is cyclical. Certainly there have been measures that have stimulated growth and prosperity for many.

You seem to almost want to defend W. I didn't say anything about Congress. I know there are many incompetent members there on both sides of the aisle. We aren't talking about Congress, we are talking about W. And the secrecy thing, it is more secretive than anything we have seen since Nixon. I am saying we should know about all the things that go on in the WH. We shouldn't. However, he has rule like he is a king rather than a president. And he has done an awful job. Remember I said incompetent, not worst. Jimmy Carter might go down as the worst, but as far as competency is concerned, W has none.
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When I said that Carter was incompetent, I meant most incompetent and worst. I am defending Bush against this whole "King" and idea of secrecy. The Kennedy, Johnson, and FDR white house would rival any whitehouse on record when it comes to things like that, but that is a different story for a different day.

If you say he has done an awful job, that is certainly an understandable opinion. He has not done well managing the war, but I would hate to see where we would be in a post 9/11 economy if the tax cuts had been repealed. You act as if his policies had nothing to do with keeping this nation afloat economically in its most significant crisis since Pearl Harbor.
 
#23
#23
Lexvol said:
When I said that Carter was incompetent, I meant most incompetent and worst. I am defending Bush against this whole "King" and idea of secrecy. The Kennedy, Johnson, and FDR white house would rival any whitehouse on record when it comes to things like that, but that is a different story for a different day.

If you say he has done an awful job, that is certainly an understandable opinion. He has not done well managing the war, but I would hate to see where we would be in a post 9/11 economy if the tax cuts had been repealed. You act as if his policies had nothing to do with keeping this nation afloat economically in its most significant crisis since Pearl Harbor.
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The things done after 9/11 weren't the work of a rocket scientist. Any credible politician would have handled the same things accordingly
 
#24
#24
truefan said:
The things done after 9/11 weren't the work of a rocket scientist. Any credible politician would have handled the same things accordingly
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When it comes to the economy we will simply have to agree to disagree. To go through a tragedy like that without a long recession took some amount of leadership. One could easily argue that a dem would have repealed the tax cuts and credits in place now.
 
#25
#25
Simply put Bush was packaged as a southern conservative and we should have the ability to sue for false advertising. He is no different than any of the other Southern Democrats now inside the GOP - social conservatives and moderate to liberal fiscal conservatives.
 
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