Bush and history, not a good mix.

by Ziks511 May 23, 2006 11:43PM PDT

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-55forum22may22,0,5821326.story?coll=sfla-news-opinion

"Ever since 1948, when historian Arthur Schlesinger Sr. first polled leading scholars and asked them to rank our presidents, updated polls have been released every few years. As a participant in the current poll, I spent several weeks thinking long and hard about the best and worst of our country's presidents -- and about President Bush's eventual place in history.

"As aides and supporters worry whether Bush's presidency can be "salvaged," I respectfully suggest the future of the country, rather than the president's legacy, is the topic more worth pondering. The forthcoming poll will be the first to include a preliminary ranking of this President Bush. So, here is my prediction:

"There is much agreement by scholars as to the greatest presidents; they are Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt, with Harry Truman, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson not far behind. These great leaders provide a standard by which all presidents are measured -- and clues as to how Bush measures up. From the great presidents we know that the country is well-served by leaders who exhibit the following traits:

* Humanity, compassion, and respect for others

* A governing style that unifies, not divides

* Rhetorical skills and the ability to communicate a clear, realistic vision {or in Bush's case to communicate at all}

* Willingness to listen to experts and the public

* Ability to admit error, accept criticism and be adaptable

* Engaged and inquisitive, with a sense of perspective and history

* Integrity, inspiring trust among the people

* Moral courage in not shrinking from challenges {or cheating on the Constitution he swore to defend and uphold and declaring himself above the law whenever convenient}

"Unfortunately, Bush's presidency has been the polar opposite of this list. This brings up the matter of who are our worst presidents. Again, scholars are in agreement, listing Warren Harding, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan."

Robert Watson, Ph.D., won the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award this year at Florida Atlantic University and is the author or editor of 25 books on politics. He can be reached at www.thinkactlead.com.

Now knowing your deep contempt for academics and historians here, I was pretty certain that none of you had come across this. There are points not quoted here at which I disagree with Dr. Watson, but they are minor details compared to the overall analysis and accurate criticism. Talk about a tone-deaf, don't-give-a-$#!t President. He has made a mockery of the American people, the American political process as fair and democratic, the American image abroad, and finally of the Rule of Law, upon which all the rest are based, and is his worst sin of all.

"Bush will likely be remembered much as is Warren Harding, who was disinterested in policy details, brought a group of corrupt cronies to the White House and stumbled through one mishap after the other. He is remembered as something of a jovial but incompetent puppet for corporate interests, and for setting the nation on a course to the Great Depression." It remains to be seen what sort of economic repercussions Bush's contemptuous handling of the economy will have but a Depression wouldn't surprise me. And remember, historically it's Republicans who cause the depressions.

"But it is James Buchanan, president from 1857-1861, who often earns the dubious title of "worst president" because he lost the Union to civil war on his watch, and failed to change course until it was too late.

"When history renders its cold assessment of George W. Bush, I believe he will find himself alongside Harding and Buchanan as one of the worst presidents in American history. Bush's legacy will likely be that of death, deficits and deceit, and it could well take this nation a decade or more to recover from his presidency." In other words, for those of you who "don't know much about history" he's sandwiched between the two worst Presidents in history. Congratulations guys, you elected somebody worse than Warren G. Teapot Dome Harding. Twice. Or should that be once with a previous undeserved appointment? Yeah, let's make it once with an asterisk.

It is my profound hope that the response to this is an proper examination and reform of the electoral process that permitted the irregularities in Florida, and later in Ohio, that permits voting without an independent paper trail and the potential of an honest recount. That the President will be held accountable to the law of the land, and that the loathesome customs he has introduced like his own private off shore Gulags free of due process, imprisonment without trial and without end, "extraordinary rendition", and contempt for and ignorance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights will be made impossible in the future.

There's something very wrong in Bush's America, and it must be rooted out or the America of the Constitution will cease to be. And every last supposed Constitution-loving, Bush-loving person here will be shown to be sliding down the razor blade of hypocrisy. You can't revere an Anti Constitutional President and revere the Constitution. And you've all made your choices clear already both in word and deed.

Rob

Discussion is locked

in this trolling thread (once again Zikks...can't believe you haven't been banned yet for this type of action, but it's not up to me, unfortunately), this has to be the best subject line comment I've seen in a while. Thank you for the chuckle.....

History is just that....history. It's not based on PRESENT day information. History is something that is to be reflected upon and judged far into the FUTURE. So no matter what the 'poll' says that Zikks has brought to this thread topic, it's not an actual basis for pronouncing HISTORY ahead of time. Only the future and the results will be able to acurately define GWB and his performances....and foresight...on calling the shots he deemed necessary in the HERE and NOW.

The entire intent of this thread started by the Bush "we-love-to-hate" poster of all times is to rile, incite, and stir up the muck once more. Probably should be locked, but I won't be accused of posting my thoughts and then locking it down as some members are prone to do. If it gets locked, it will be by another Moderator here.

TONI

Bush and history, not a good mix.

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