Edmund Burke and the War in Iraq = Bush “the worst of the worst” flawed presidents

[L. Coyote]

Edmund Burke and the War in Iraq
Scott Horton - March 22 - http://harpers.org/archive/2008/03/hbc-90002712


What is the measure of a good executive? The ability to inspire those who follow, certainly. A dedication to speaking the truth, and particularly not misleading those who entrust leadership to him. The ability to listen and to absorb information critically. Raw intelligence. Good judgment. Being a good judge of others, and being able to pick the right advisors. Being possessed of a moral anchor. All of that would figure in the common measure of leadership. But no leader will operate without making mistakes. So another critical measure of a good leader is the ability to recognize mistakes and take remedial steps to correct them; moreover, to do this in a timely way.

This week we have again seen a vivid demonstration of our leaders’ lack of basic leadership skills. George W. Bush has been one of the most flawed presidents in the country’s history. In fact, I think a good case can be put for placing him in a position of undisputed leadership, as “the worst of the worst;” certainly he makes the short list. But while he has many bad traits, one towers above the others. Bush is incapable of recognizing his mistakes, or of taking steps to correct them.

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[HockeyMom]

1. I have lived over half a century

Bush is unequivocally the worst President in my lifetime. Yes, he beats out Nixon which is not easy to do.

[calimary]

4. I'll be 55 next birthday, and I can't remember anybody worse than junior.

Absolutely without peer. He makes me miss the Nixon days. And Nixon, too. And I NEVER thought I'd see the day when I'd say that and mean it. And I'm amazed at how many other people roughly my age who say the exact same thing.

[leftofthedial]

7. over 50--he's the worst by far

even worse than his father, which is saying something.

even worse than ronnie raygun, which in a sane world would be impossible

even worse than dick nixon, which requires serious effort

[jimshoes]

2. The worst part is he doesn't even have a clue

just how bad he really is.

[L. Coyote]

3. Is he the reason the media lies? Life in the bubble for everyone to keep the King happy? LOL

[90-percent]

5. Speaking of Nixon

Our boy president is practicing the Nixon Doctrine of "If the President does it, it's not illegal" better than Nixon ever did.

Perhaps if Nixon was a sociopath like GWB he would have been able to serve out his entire second term?

-90% Jimmy

[L. Coyote]

6. Nixon's mistakes taught Rs enough to survive Iran-Contra with Reagan in office

I suspect that felonious gang learned a lot more about obfuscating their crimes and shredding evidence from Ollie North's mistakes!

[90-percent]

8. Also

GWB's manipulators are all products of the Gerry Ford White House - Cheney and Rummy and I think Elliot Abrams and maybe John Poindexter and many many others I am not encyclopedia-ack enough to remember.

And you could make a decent case for Ford's White House having been engineered by Tricky Dick himself.

-90%