I am not a Republican because of George W. Bush. For some people this sounds like a contradiction. To quote Craig Mack's partner, I don't understand how they don't understand, so I'm going to throw down some futuristic, robotic, George Jetson..
GW Positives:
Taking the War to the Enemy
George W. Bush could not wait to get over to Iraq and start stomping Saddam into the carpet. He absolutely did the right thing, so much more the better if he took Saddam's threat against Sr, personally. Bush has done what no president since Roosevelt has been able to do. Turn the Defense Department into the War Department. He did it in plain sight of the world community. He took the opportunity to once and for all put America on an old school military throwdown. No illegal funding of Contras. No CIA assassinations. No half-assed single helicopter rescue missions. No symbolic bombing gestures. Just hundreds of thousands of ass-kicking GI boots on the ground. And the biggest complaint anybody can really muster is 'You shoulda sent more' to which his perfect response is, we didn't want to turn Iraq into a police state.
I just found some fascinating support for this particular 'Bushism' in a review of my heretofore all-time favorite government person, George P. Schultz.
Greenspan's Economy
Despite his bumbling with Snow and that idiotic steel tarriff, Bush has done the right thing with respect to the domestic economy by not doing anything to override Greenspan. And the successor to Greenspan is continuing the same thing. Interest rates are creeping up, but for most of his watch GW has left well enough alone. That said, 2003 was the worst freakin' year in my life economically speaking. But on the whole, I'm perfectly satisfied. Enron got what was coming to them. Bernie Ebbers got appropriately clobbered as did the crook running Tyco. I still don't understand how SBC ate AT&T, but Michael Powell let it happen.
China Policy
Bush has not flubbed the China card. He let the thinktankery spit fire on the matter of 'currency manipulation' and he has held a hard line on Taiwan. So far, there have been no major negative repercussions. He's riding that thin line quite well. China holds a lot of American bonds. They're still holding and not selling them off. That's good. The US has engaged China into diplomacy on NKorea, and we've still neither sold out Taiwan nor embarrassed the Mainland on that issue.
Axis of Evil
Bush put the world on notice that Iran and NKorea are being eyeballed by the big bad USA. He played that card well. While I think it's crazy to expect that we could resolve major issues with three nations under one administration, the stakes were raised. Whomever is next in the Oval Office is going to have to deal with them.
Pakistan
It's not often said how difficult and yet successful Bush has been in treading the fine line of supporting Musharraf who is essentially a military dictator, and gaining progress in the GWOT. The bust of AQ Khan was a huge success. The ability for the US to keep Pakistan and India from each other's throats is also a big plus for the Bush Administration.
Secretary Rice
Condi rocks.
Cheif Justice Roberts
Also rocks.
Dubai Ports
GW said the right thing and stuck to his guns. Good on him.
Social Security
He may not have any of the answers, but he has been gutsy enough to bring this problem front and center with the American people. No there is not crisis, further there is no evasion.
GW Negatives:
Mexico Policy
This is an unmitigated disaster. The Bush guest worker program is catastrophic BS, and he has a lot of nerve pushing it. I think Fox has something on him.
Deficit Spending
He's busted the budget, and has played the one note of tax abatement to death.
Outing Plame
I still believe it was a crime.
Defensive White House
We have suffered the most weaselly press secretaries in memory. Bush should have hired David Brooks.
The IQ Factor
As one who has done a fair amount of public speaking, it kills me to have a President who can't. His speechwriters are excellent, and there is almost no time when he says the wrong thing. Still, he should be able to wrangle the press corps and do many detailed briefings himself.
No Vetos
Bush hasn't stood up to Tom Delay. That's weak, for a number of reasons.
Africa Policy
Too little too late. But that AIDS stuff was great and right on time. That's Condi's doing. Condi still rocks. I'm rethinking and triangulating on Africa now, however.
Colin Powell
GW Bush killed Colin Powell's political career. For that he shall never be forgiven.
DHS Shuffling
One of these days that organization will be right. Not under Bush.
If I have patience later, I'll comment on all the meaningless crap spewed from Bush Derangement Syndrome patients.
On the whole, I give him an 83% That's a B or a B- depending upon how conservative you are.
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