If Bush's legacy was ever in doubt ...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think someone's trying to justify their die-hard support of a man that most of the country has written off and given up on

It's called an historical perspective. Some presidents reputation went up or down over time.

Clinton was supposed to be popular but his wife was rejected by members of his own party.

Ford had a low rating but now a lot of people think he did the right thing in pardoning Nixon.

Kennedy lost some his luster when the facts came out and naturally there was lot of sympathy for him after the assassination.

People thought Eisenhower was a fool but most now have fond memories of the 50s.

Truman was widely depised but his stature has increased a lot.

I get the point - but what you're describing there isn't a "historical perspective" but rather rose-tinted nostalgia. Remembering a time, is not really the same as living in that time.

A real "historical perspective" would require looking at specific administration policies within the context of their time and appreciating (or not) the knock-on effects in subsequent decades.

[alienlovechild 75]

I get the point - but what you're describing there isn't a "historical perspective" but rather rose-tinted nostalgia. Remembering a time, is not really the same as living in that time.

A real "historical perspective" would require looking at specific administration policies within the context of their time and appreciating (or not) the knock-on effects in subsequent decades.

The more credible rankings are from presidential historians not from Joe Six-Pack so it's not just nostalgia. It would be funny if Obama was so bad people were talking about the good old days under Bush. That may not happen but Obama's misfortune would be the best thing for Bush's rep.

Just an FYI

"In recent years surveys of presidential greatness have become more common and more complex. Nevertheless, the top- and bottom-ranked presidents have remained a fairly stable group, with the rest moving up or down in rank in the middle. Presidents who appear to have moved up include Eisenhower and Reagan, while Kennedy has moved down in some surveys."

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/presrankings1.htmlhttp://www.infoplease.com/spot/presrankings1.html

[symbiosis 0]

The difference is that truman, eisenhower, kennedy, ford and certainly clinton all had redeeming qualities and historians acknowledged those qualities at the time even if those people were later re-evaluated within those parameters.

What redeeming quality does bush have? I cant think of one.

[HAL 9000 96]

I think someone's trying to justify their die-hard support of a man that most of the country has written off and given up on

Nope, just keeping a clear head and an unbiased opinion. I'll wait 10 years to see what's said about his presidency. The guy isn't even out of office and his legacy is being evaluated.

Most of the country's written of the current congress too......

Most likely even more regret in retrospect as many folks 'shake off' the shivers from having chosen such kind of leadership to represent them. Or not. Some heads are harder than others.

[joelunchbox 0]

[Time heals all and when Reagan died he was generally seen to be a hero.] quote

As long as you can overlook Iran/Contra and the astrology stuff. You know, the normal screw the constitution, I know what needs to be done stuff. OH, and going behind Carter's back to talk to the terrorists which pretty much helped keep them in captivity until the election occurred.. Another real Uhmarican Heerooo there.....

[Nobody knows what Bush's legacy will be. I think there's still a consensus that Jimmy Carter still holds the title "worst president" in the last 50 years though.] quote

If you believe the statement about Carter--I hope you will take some time to go find out why you "believe" it. I cursed Carter in my younger days only to find out that there was not much substance to back my feelings up. If you haven't read any of his books on the middle east you are not as informed as you should be.

Let's face it--Bush is going to eclipse every other porr president out there. US Grant even....

[pedroh 21]

People thought Eisenhower was a fool but most now have fond memories of the 50s.

Fond like what, fond of the red scare and further religious collusion with the government? I'm fond for it in learning lessons as to how idiotic the masses can be.

OWNED

yea, a lot of sh!t happened in the 50's, I don't know what the fondness is, unless of course u were one of the brainwashed ones who would not even think, just by instinct say commies=evil..

[nowhereman 1]

Do a little research and you'll find that Ronald Reagan was similarly "shunned" and was vehemently hated by the left.....

Time heals all and when Reagan died he was generally seen to be a hero.

Nobody knows what Bush's legacy will be. I think there's still a consensus that Jimmy Carter still holds the title "worst president" in the last 50 years though.

well, actually ...

Asked to rank the presidency of George W. Bush in comparison to those of the other 41 American presidents, more than 61 percent of the historians [interviewed by George Mason University] concluded that the current presidency is the worst in the nation’s history.

http://hnn.us/articles/48916.html

I'll say it again....Reagan was also similarly hated......Only time will dictate what historians think of his presidency in hindsight.....and those with no political or emotional involvement........

Kaydee saying something over & over doesn't make it more true. Ad nauseam arguments are "logical fallacies that rely upon the repetition of a single argument while ignoring other valid arguments, to counter those other arguments. This tactic relies on the use of intentional obfuscation, in which other logic and rationality is intentionally ignored in favor of preconceived, and ultimately, subjective modes of reasoning and rationality".

Reagan was not "similarly hated". There was a large group of democrats called "Reagan democrats"... have you ever heard of a Bush democrat? I thought Reagan was a great president (most mainstream polls would rank him near the top as well) but Bush is ranked near the bottom. Although I agree that hindsight is often 20/20 and opinions change over time, I doubt very seriously that Bush will fall in this category. He has screwed up this country in almost every way & waiting 10 or 20 years won't change that.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Fond like what, fond of the red scare and further religious collusion with the government? I'm fond for it in learning lessons as to how idiotic the masses can be.

And in some way, aren't you part of the idiotic masses? Aren''t we all in one way shape or form?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Yeah - 20 years from now we'll be adding GWB's face onto the end of Mount Rushmore, and celebrating his Custeresque military adventures in the ME.

I actually choked on this one! Great post.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Fond like what, fond of the red scare and further religious collusion with the government? I'm fond for it in learning lessons as to how idiotic the masses can be.

And in some way, aren't you part of the idiotic masses? Aren''t we all in one way shape or form?

I think along the lines of "a person is smart, but people are stupid".