An accurate and pithy post-mortem on Bush

COLUMN: "Reaping the whirlwind: George Bush's presidency is ending in disaster," Lexington, The Economist, 4 October 2008.

Killer quote:

The crisis underlined Mr Bush's two biggest personal weaknesses—his leaden tongue and his indecisiveness.

Bush was an incredibly indecisive leader on everything except starting wars. On the one subject where you want calculation and caution, he was bold, but on everything else, he was oddly detached from events until cries grew too great to ignore.

The crueler judgment:

Mr Bush devoted much of his energy as president to forging a lasting Republican majority. But over the past four years conservatives have turned against him on everything from immigration reform to financial management. Far from creating a hegemonic party, Mr Bush leaves the Republicans in the worst state they have been in for decades; riven by divisions, confused about their identity and facing Armageddon at the ballot box.

So how come Karl Rove is a seven-figure author, six-figure TV talking head, and five-figure speech-giver?

This is essentially his great legacy? This is what defines his marketable expertise?

Comments

[William R. Cumming]

Probably take a few years to fully assess the Bush years and the totality of his legacy good and bad but I think one thing is already clear. The interest of the President and VP in stilling dissent, instilling fear in subordinates, rejecting sytematic outside advice, second opinions, or the merit of others arguments is already demonstrating a devastating impact on potential players that might otherwise have survived his eight years and gone on to ensuring that the tough learning experinces and lessons learned from that eight years get passed on to the future. Neither Cheney nor Bush leave behind a residue of competent people who might impact governence or policy in the future. What we do now know is that both shared one trait in common--Lack of Curiosity! "What ifs" don't count, but wonder if Cheney had stayed in Congress and become majority leader in 1994 instead of Gingrich, or Jeb the President instead of George how different the US might be. Again it seems to me that for good or bad the record of Governors without other experience being up to speed as President weighs on the side of NOT READY. This blog is fully justified because the US does have a new map upon which to play. TOM's MAP. No presidential candidate without international experience of some kind should become a candidate. Looking at the last 30 years of Presidential level leadership noticeable absence of international skills and knowledge. Flying off of a US carrier, and 5 years as a POW is not international experience. We can only hope that a foreign father, time spent growing up in Indonesia and other experiences make OBAMA ready if he should win. Since we now live in a world where the real threats may be below the horizon time to upgrade the foreign service in staffing, funding, and competence. Perhaps mandation of a STATE DEPT. budget that is no less than 5 or 10% of the Pentagon budget. No one joins STATE DEPT without foreign language or area expertise that is in depth. NO Ambassadorships for donors without expertise. Same for CIA. All B.A. degrees in US should reflect some foreign language capability. If the US continues to play turtle and pull in its head it is bound to be flipped over.

[Dean Wakeham]

When I think back to 2000 and the close race that Bush won for his first term, it is amazing to see how both he an Gore have turned out today. The residue of that election, I think set the stage for the bush presidency, from his I won, so now I will shove it down your throat attitude, to the absolute hatred of Bush by the media, and the left, who seemingly view him as a usurper. You would think 8 years would be enough to get over and on with it, but I don't know if it has been. In some respect Congress has some responsibility to show some leadership, but in the end, the risk/reward goes to the President who takes credit and is blamed for everything that happens on his watch. Personally, I blame them all.