What's good about George W. Bush?

[HazelGod]

My question is, other than the war on terrorism, what has Bush done that was good for America? What decisions did he make to improve life quality there, etc.?
I'm more interested in his actions inside the American borders.
This is a sincere attempt of trying to see the other side of the story.

This is an illustration of what many cannot stand about others...it simply reeks of being patronizing. You're beginning not from a neutral baseline, but from a premise that is either blithely ignorant or willfully stupid.

Your observation that I marked in bold is not a given...in fact, it's probably one of the most arguable points in the administration's policies. Like many others here, I would contend that W's "war on terror" has caused far more harm to our society than its supposed benefits, but that's not the crux of your OP.

However, in the interest of understanding your position, I'd like to hear your own reasons for believing in your statement as you do.

 

[Osiris]

Ooooops. Sorry, Osiris. I hadn't noticed there was a second page of replies before writting my previous comment.

Quote [Osiris]: On his domestic policy, Bush has been pretty good, again, the Middle East issues overshadowed and derailed those policies and, in some cases, their enactment.

This almost sounds like all he has done after 9/11 was make decisions about war, and I'm sure that isn't so. It's precisely those overshadowed issues I am asking about. What were they? =)

The two things that ring to mind off the top of my head are income tax reform and national healthcare. The main thing he took on was to combat the partisan politics that tends to block legislation getting passed. I need a good think because I know there are other things I recall in his platform, I just can't remember them now. I know that sounded daft, but I'm drawing a blank other than those three things.

 

[D_Al_K_Celtzah]

This is an illustration of what many cannot stand about others...it simply reeks of being patronizing. You're beginning not from a neutral baseline, but from a premise that is either blithely ignorant or willfully stupid.

Your observation that I marked in bold is not a given...in fact, it's probably one of the most arguable points in the administration's policies. Like many others here, I would contend that W's "war on terror" has caused far more harm to our society than its supposed benefits, but that's not the crux of your OP.

However, in the interest of understanding your position, I'd like to hear your own reasons for believing in your statement as you do.

I'll let your aggressive attitude in your reply pass because I know my sentence was dubious, but I can asure you that coming at me full throtle with offense isn't going to make your reasons any more worthy than any other, nor will I understand them better because of that. I'm not dumb or stupid, so calling me names won't help me understand your opinion better. Now that we've made that clear... :smile:

When I say "other than the war on terrorism, what has Bush done that was good for America", my point is that Bush's war on terrorism is usually the most used example in this kind of discussion and I DON'T want to hear any more about it. I want to know about other things he has done for the sake of America OTHER than his military decisions. Heck, I've said it in two previous posts already. I don't intend to say that his military decisions were good or bad. I simply don't care about that. It's a subject that has been beaten down to death and will never gain consensus.

I hope I cleared this doubt now. I thank you for wanting to understand my position... and you can lay down your guns now :fing02:

 

[HazelGod]

The two things that ring to mind off the top of my head are income tax reform and national healthcare.

Are you simply referring to planks he paid lip service to in his campaign platforms, or are you actually asserting that his actions as president have effected improvements in these areas of our nation? If it's the former, then I'll heave a sigh of relief and quiesce...but if it's the latter, I'd like to see some examples provided to substantiate your belief.

The main thing he took on was to combat the partisan politics that tends to block legislation getting passed.

Bush had nothing to do with this at all. That obstacle was lowered by the collective stupidity of the voters who put one party simultaneously in charge of both houses of congress and the presidency.

Looking upon this phenomenon with hindsight, most people tend to agree that it was not a good thing for the citizens of the USA.

 

[HazelGod]

I'll let your aggressive attitude in your reply pass because I know my sentence was dubious ...

I hope I cleared this doubt now. I thank you for wanting to understand my position... and you can lay down your guns now :fing02:

Yes, the language in your OP was very ambiguous, and I misinterpreted its intent. It wasn't until I got to p2 and saw your further remarks that I realized this, but then the site went offline before I could correct my response accordingly. But I'm glad you can see how that line reads like an implicit assumption that the WoT has been a good thing, and I do appreciate the clarification of your position.

Sadly, I'm at a loss to positively contribute to the question from your OP...I've been pondering it all morning as I wait for the 'horns to take the field, yet I cannot call to mind any example of positive influence GWB has made as POTUS. Which is unusual for me, as I'm normally adept at playing devil's advocate for most any position.

 

[B_Think_Kink]

Is this a trick question?

 

[viking1]

I don't know of much being good about G.W. Bush. Yet on the other hand, I don't of much good about the candidates who ran against him either. In my opinion there wasn't much good about Bill Clinton. For most of the time I have been old enough to vote, it's always been "vote for the lesser of the evils". We have had a very few good choices in my voting life time.

 

[Osiris]

Are you simply referring to planks he paid lip service to in his campaign platforms, or are you actually asserting that his actions as president have effected improvements in these areas of our nation? If it's the former, then I'll heave a sigh of relief and quiesce...but if it's the latter, I'd like to see some examples provided to substantiate your belief.




Bush had nothing to do with this at all. That obstacle was lowered by the collective stupidity of the voters who put one party simultaneously in charge of both houses of congress and the presidency.

Looking upon this phenomenon with hindsight, most people tend to agree that it was not a good thing for the citizens of the USA.

Hopefully HazelGod you have grown to know me, by posts, a little better than that. The question was what were the overshadowed issues. I stated what the issues he wanted to work on were. If you ask me what changes he affected, I'd be hard pressed to answer as all I have really seen this administration do is either promote the war, do damage control over stupidity from his cabinet, or backpedal on some of the intel he was fed that later surfaced.

Remember, I'm trying to stay as impartial as possible here without getting into my own politics, however if you look at a few other posts of mine, you will see where my party affiliation lies. :wink: I just hope the lovely 36DD will forgive me my political transgressions. :biggrin1:

 

[HazelGod]

Hopefully HazelGod you have grown to know me, by posts, a little better than that. The question was what were the overshadowed issues. I stated what the issues he wanted to work on were.

Heh...I was pretty sure I had a better read on you than that, Osiris. It's just that I was reading your points through the lens of the question posed in the OP and thought you might be laying out possible examples. Thank you for clarifying, though!

And with respect to the stated goal of this thread, let the waiting continue...

 

[silvertriumph2]

Boy, what a question!

I've tried, honestly, but I can't think of anything, except that maybe he has given fodder to comedians!

 

[D_Al_K_Celtzah]

Is this a trick question?

Not at all :biggrin1:
It's just me trying to look at things from the pro-Bush point of view. I'm sure people who support him have their reasons. All I'm trying to do is find out what those reasons are. And since I believe life in the USA is more than just War on Terror, I'd like to know what it's about.
As I said before, I am not going to change my anti-Bush opinion, but I am willing to learn about the pro-Bush ones, without judging them.

Given the number of aggressive replies defending America in the "Why is the world so anti-American" thread, I was expecting some more pro-Bush opinions here, but I see they are not synonyms :smile:

 

[Osiris]

I really wish someone could find something because I think I'm so inundated with war, war, war, iraq, iraq, iraq, that I can't think of anything and I can't imagine in all this time he hasn't done one good thing other than give Leno and Letterman's writers a break.

 

[Dave NoCal]

He's spoiled the Bush "brand" and Jeb probably won't be President, which I hear was his parents' hope.

 

[36DD]

It wouldn't matter if I could cite a long list, it would still fall on deaf ears here.

 

[deleted15807]

So, I guess my answer is this. I don't see what is so wrong with Bush as much as I would ask is he getting the best advice from his advisors on the issues he is not up on. On his domestic policy, Bush has been pretty good, again, the Middle East issues overshadowed and derailed those policies and, in some cases, their enactment.

So do I want bush gone? Not necessarily. Do I want some of his cabinet gone? Absolutely.

How can you excuse the boss for his poor choices in hiring? His cabinet is just that HIS cabinet. He choose them. And his poor judgment in taking their advice? I don't think he even took their advice rather Cheney told them.

I'll lay it on the line. Bush is the worst president ever. Guilty of breathtaking crimes that Congress has chosen to let slide. Completely unaware of their constitutional duties to reign in another branch of government. Ever heard of checks and balances?

What Will History Say?
The Worst US President Ever?

 

[36DD]

It's not that. You are only gonna find 25% or less of people who approve of Bush. I think you will find less here. There are many intelligent people here.

Insulting people doesn't prove one's intelligence.

 

[Principessa]

How can you excuse the boss for his poor choices in hiring? His cabinet is just that HIS cabinet. He choose them. And his poor judgment in taking their advice? I don't think he even took their advice rather Cheney told them.

I'll lay it on the line. Bush is the worst president ever. Guilty of breathtaking crimes that Congress has chosen to let slide. Completely unaware of their constitutional duties to reign in another branch of government. Ever heard of checks and balances? I have, but he hasn't. What Will History Say?
The Worst US President Ever?

That depends . . . does Halliburton have the contract the history books which will mention Bush?

Savage? I hate when you make me think this early in the morning.

This is a harder question to answer than you think. In all honesty, can you blame or honor one man for all of this? My thought is this:

A president is only as good as the cabinet he has. His daddy told him who to have in his cabinet. There is no way that man is smart enough to have picked men like that by himself.

Yes, Saddam is gone and I think the world is better off for it. I do wonder how much stability was brought to the mideast by him since it would appear the fear he instilled did keep a strained, yet quieter region. I am on the fence as to some of the reasons that were given for his ouster. I am also very aware it is human nature to bitch rather than praise (ex: I love my new necklace, but did it have to be rubies?). So I will try to answer this as impartially as I can.

Bush came in with three strikes against him (His father, his wealth related to said father, and an election that made the US rethink the election process). I think Bush really did try to foster a non-partisan government and he was succeeding in "crossing the aisle" as it were. Bush was doing a great job on his own merit, he had a great advisor in General Colin Powell, and he had the respect of both parties which is rare for even the most popular president. Then 9/11 happened and the administration's whole focus changed.

The administration made some serious mistakes in how to handle Afghanistan, Iraq, Al-Qaeda, and the rest of the Arab world. Bush is a baby boomer who really isn't familiar with war (Yes, he can remember Vietnam, but it was a war of mistakes as well and LBJ made his fair share of gaffs in that one). All in all, Bush has done no worse or better job than his predecessors. He has had to shoulder the blame for the war, he has had his bipartisan dream shattered, and the unfortunate thing is that history will probably declare him "the man that screwed up the Middle East". I say that is not fair at all.

Bush has had to juggle a lot in his time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Family, Country, Political, and World. He is only as good as his advisors. Colin Powell bailed on him and I have often wondered if it was disagreement with his other advisors. He has had some highly visible failures with sone of his choices (Roberto Gonzales comes to mind now), but is that all on Bush?

So, I guess my answer is this. I don't see what is so wrong with Bush as much as I would ask is he getting the best advice from his advisors on the issues he is not up on. On his domestic policy, Bush has been pretty good, again, the Middle East issues overshadowed and derailed those policies and, in some cases, their enactment.

So do I want bush gone? Not necessarily. Do I want some of his cabinet gone? Absolutely.

Sorry 36DD if this offends, but I will say I love my country and I think the president has the toughest job around. I mean we put the target on some poor schmoes back every 4 years. That can't be an easy burden to bare.

OMG!?! Are you one of those people my daddy used to tell me scary stories about at bed time decades ago? Are you a Black Republican? :biggrin1:

Being rich is great. Having blood on your hands to become rich is not.

We have many problems in the U.S. We need affordable housing and living wages. Two things that the Republicans are against.

:frown1:Sadly you are correct.

I wish you were American! I get so sick and tired of Anti-American statements by Americans...but at least I can tell myself I am fortunate not to live where people didn't have the right to freedom of speech. I can also tell myself I am fortunate we don't have a leader like Sadam.

Amen!

Since the "Why is the world very anti-American" thread has caused such a commotion, I'd like to open this one so I can understand what's behind the pro-Bush opinions.

My question is, other than the war on terrorism, what has Bush done that was good for America? What decisions did he make to improve life quality there, etc.?
I'm more interested in his actions inside the American borders.
This is a sincere attempt of trying to see the other side of the story.

Some things I'd like you to keep in mind:
1 - My mind is made up on what I think about Bush. I'm not going to try and change your opinion, nor am I trying to get convinced of something. Same here sister!
2 - Try to stick to the subject and not engage in arguments. My point here is not to start another fired-up debate
3 - This is strictly out of my curiosity. I am not judging values.
4 - Let's try and keep it cool, shall we.
5 - I'm not a moderator, so I don't know if I have any right to ask for the above 4 points :tongue:

thank you

Let's not forget No Child Left Behind. A federally mandated program for which no money was set aside or distributed to schools. Yet if schools don't meet the requirements for adequate yearly progress they can lose what federal funding they may already have. What many people don't realize is that NCLB is just his way of introducing education vouchers into mainstream America.

 

[deleted15807]

That depends . . . does Halliburton have the contract the history books which will mention Bush?

Well certainly like no other administation in history this administration knows how to rewrite history. It's like Karl Rove read 1984 and thought 'I can make this work. We have something here'

As President Bush wages his war against terrorism and moves to create a huge homeland security apparatus, he appears to be borrowing heavily, if not ripping off ideas outright, from George Orwell. The work in question is "1984, " the prophetic novel about a government that controls the masses by spreading propaganda, cracking down on subversive thought and altering history to suit its needs. It was intended to be read as a warning about the evils of totalitarianism -- not a how-to manual.

Learning to love Big Brother / George W. Bush channels George Orwell

 

[ActionBuddy]

He's spoiled the Bush "brand" and Jeb probably won't be President, which I hear was his parents' hope.

OMG! Hopefully, especially with the latest news from Alan Greenspan, that will never happen. That would just continue the nightmare...

 

[new_n_curious]

....He'll be gone next year? :wink:

Good answer, We've got rid of Tony!