Bush's first term scores last

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By WALTER WILLIAMS
GUEST COLUMNIST

Based on my assessment of George W. Bush's presidency in columns over the past five days, I have concluded that his first term should rate near the bottom among all the presidents since 1789:


President Bush's economic record -- the worst in the postwar years -- has put the broad middle class in serious economic jeopardy.


His administration's gross incompetence in Iraq has left the United States bogged down in a Vietnam-like quagmire while increasing world terrorism.


By favoring big-money interests, Bush has entrenched plutocratic governance and diminished democracy.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/193218_williams01.html

[Green Lantern]

1. I don't disagree

with the evaluation, I only think it misplaced because the writer is comparing an unelected administrator with elected Presidents. I think Governor Bush, as Regent, has created an unmitigated disaster and would be the lowest ranked ever IF he was actually a President.

[dand]

2. Walter Williams is absolutely right:

The Bush propagandists will continue to paint Iraq as a success, as it moves toward a quagmire worse than Viet Nam, while in the United States , plutocracy will become more entrenched and Democracy more myth than reality.
Thanks for a great post.

[baby_bear]

3. There was another good one by a UW professor in Friday's P-I

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/193215_safer01.html

Our safety is at greater risk than ever

By WALTER ANDREWS
Walter Andrews has been a professor of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization at the University of Washington since 1968.


The war against terror is a disaster of monumental proportions. I fear for this country and for us all. I am dismayed as I have never been in my whole adult life. Moreover, all indications are that the vast majority of my colleagues and independent experts on the Middle East share my dismay.
...
In a stunning turn-around, huge majorities in countries that have been or should be our friends and allies now consider the United States to be bumbling, arrogant, irresponsible and a major danger to the world. Leaders who know that every country has a stake in combating terrorism cannot risk political suicide by supporting us. Ordinary people are suspicious of us and far more likely to overlook or condone terrorist groups and plots.

The war in Iraq is a disaster. Forget all the talk of bad information and WMD and whether or not Saddam Hussein posed a credible threat. Once we invaded, we failed in every respect to do what needed to be done, with terrible consequences.
...
No, we are not safer. We have hugely increased the danger. Whoever wins the next election will either make a dramatic change in our course and attitude toward the rest of the world or lead us into a long nightmare cycle of death and reprisal.

much more
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/193215_safer01.html


s_m

[Skittles]

4. it is unbelieveable that Bush is still considered a viable candidate

he should be in jail