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SEQUESTER: The Horror!
March 1, 2013 | 4 comments
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SOTU Preview: Human Props, Budget Fights, and Wedge Issues
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Hello, I Must Be Going
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Weekend Political Wrap-Up, Paul Ryan Edition
August 12, 2012 | 16 comments
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Esquire Blogger Sees Paul Ryan, Shreds His Safety Net
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The Spectacle Blog
Perhaps not surprisingly, I come down on John Derbyshire’s side of this debate: “I wish George W. Bush would shut up and go away.” Let’s stipulate that a number of his individual policies — including those expiring tax cuts! — were sound, that he was a decent guy, and that even in his faults he was not the uniquely malevolent figure that many liberals (and some paleoconservatives) make him out to be. On several big questions, his administration differed from Barack Obama’s in degree but not kind.
Although Bush did favor legislation that would have reigned in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, he also supported Community Reinvestment Act-style extensions of credit to the uncreditworthy to the same degree as Obama and Bill Clinton. He and his Federal Reserve appointees favored, or at least did nothing to stop, the loose monetary policies that helped inflate the financial bubble. He not only refused to cut domestic spending to pay for his post-9/11 anti-terrorism campaign but actually continued to increase it, paying for two wars on credit. When the financial collapse inevitably came, he responded by supporting the bailouts.
When it came to increasing federal spending, enlarging the national debt, growing the government, enhancing Washington’s role in health care, and encouraging state-managed crony capitalism, Bush may not be in the same league as Obama. But he definitely started the country on the path Obama has accelerated, reversing the fiscal discipline a Republican Congress once imposed on Clinton. And to the extent that his policies encouraged the housing and financial bubble, Bush helped pave the way for Obama and the Democrats to come in and push the country to the left in those areas where Bush was relatively conservative.
To absolve George W. Bush of these things is to make the case against Obama incoherent apart from mere partisanship. And it is to let Bush-brand Republicans off the hook for the political defeats that made an Obama administration, with special guest stars Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, possible in the first place.
View all comments (23) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/12/02/bid-bush-farewell
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bluecollarbytes| 12.2.10 @ 7:03PM
I add a goodbye to Mr. Rove, rumored to have been Pres. Bush's inner political guide to a greater nanny-state. Oh wait, that's no rumor...
Alan Brooks| 12.2.10 @ 10:25PM
"Say goodbye, Bush"
Bush: "Goodbye, Bush"
Michael L. Hauschild| 12.2.10 @ 7:07PM
Amen, to that last paragraph. Did anyone notice that Jeb "kind of agrees with mom on Sarah Palin?"
Let me pause here to remind all of you that Bush one brought Clinton, Bush two brought Obama, dear Lord it is impossible to comprehend what Jeb and the influx of amnesty based individuals would propagate.
NO MORE BUSHS. Elections have consequences, dynasties never work. (see Romney, Clinton, ect.)
Jeff| 12.2.10 @ 10:12PM
I fully concur - No more Bushes (nor RINOs). While probably honorable men, George HW and W were a political disaster for the United States. I have never felt more betrayed than by George W. Bush. The Bush-Obama administrations have damaged this country to the point where it may never be able to recover and what we have experienced since 2007 is unparalleled theft by the Fed and the Federal Government. Major reform is needed and it can't happen fast enough.
Eric Cartman| 12.3.10 @ 9:58AM
Every Bush has ultimately been terrible for the country and conservatives. The get up in the morning and let the Liberal Aholes tie their shoe laces. Of course, the Liberal Aholes tie the laces together, so the Bushes stumble around all day trying to figure out what's wrong as the Liberal Aholes laugh at them. Then the Bushes get mad at conservatives for NOT telling them their shoe laces are tied together when, in fact, we have been yelling since 6:00AM "Hey Bush! They tied your shoes together!"
The lessen for conservatives? Keep the Bushes out of the White House and stop trying to help them with their shoe lace problem. Let them figure it our for themselves.
Paul Nelson| 12.2.10 @ 7:37PM
Perhaps reined in Freddie and Freddy? Or did you mean that George Bush Reigned in Freddie and Fanny and merely ruled the Federal government?
Quartermaster| 12.2.10 @ 7:37PM
There were many of us that saw Bush for what he was based on his record as Texas Governor. The man is not, and never has been a conservative. he demonstrated that as Texas Gov, and he shoved it in our faces and rubbed our noses in it as President.
The bad things is he fooled a good many people, Rush Limbaugh among them. I have no idea why Rush didn't look at his behavior in Texas, but there it is.
I'm not a "no more Bush" guy, though. I am more of a "Hell no! No more RINOs" kinda guy.
Good riddance to Rove, and the horse he rode in on.
KDW| 12.2.10 @ 8:19PM
For my money, Bush's biggest blunder was
allowing the occupation of Iraq to turn into
an umitigated disaster. Bush waited almost three
years and over 4,000 American dead before he
finally got serious about fighting the war and
ordered the surge. What in the world was he waiting for? And then he only ordered the surge
after his party lost a mid-term election. I will
never understand his cavalier attitude toward
our troops and yes his attitude was cavalier (I
could care less how misty eyed Bush gets when
talks about our killed and wounded men). Bush
could have done something one helluva lot
sooner than he did if he really cared.
I enthusiastically voted for Bush in 2000 and
agonized incessantly during the Florida recount.
Now I can't stand the sight of him. It would be
nice if Bush would just go back to Texas and
crawl under the most convenient rock he can find.
Margie| 12.2.10 @ 9:04PM
I'm into bidding Obama farewell.
Howsabout it?
Expel "The Ruling Class"!| 12.2.10 @ 9:26PM
I don't hate GWB, but like all Presidents he was far from perfect. I am not sickened at the site of him & do not wish him to go away. Those who really need to be sent packing are those comprising "the ruling class" of The GOP who insist on running Democrat-lite phony conservative Republicans. Start with GWB's parents, especially his snotty mother & Tokyo Rove, followed by Michael Steele, John Cornyn, & Jeff Sessions. NONE of these people contribute anything to forward the conservative movement. If anything some of them, ahem... Sen. Cornyn, do what they can to sabotage it. Also, "the ruling class" pundits need to be tuned out. They make it much easier for the left & Democrats to attack & demonize conservatives. "The ruling class" have a very simple agenda: keep conservatives OUT of American government. They harm the conservative movement more so than the moonbats on the left. Expel "the ruling class" indeed!
Conservative Bob| 12.3.10 @ 10:40AM
Jeff Sessions?????? How does he fit into this group?
Not sure what your expectations are but non of them are perfect... If you stood all 100 senators in line most liberal to most conservative, Jeff would be much closer to the back of the line than the front.
If you gave the first seventy 40 ft og log chain and a chance to swim across the pond Sessions wouldn't get his feet wet.
cheapairjordan | 12.2.10 @ 9:51PM
have a good day!
Ned the Red| 12.2.10 @ 10:05PM
I wrote this letter almost three years ago. It shows my loyalty towards the President for one issue, war, the first and most important topic. It was written at a time when many in his own party had run for cover and the other party was committing treason.
Editor, February 14, 2007
My daughter and her husband, who serves in the National Guard, were in a store shopping a few days ago. My son-in-law was wearing his uniform. A person approached my son-in-law and thanked him for his service. He said that he really liked him for what he did and appreciated his service. He then told him that he hated President Bush and what he has done.
I wonder what drives this hate for our President. I remember reading Carl Sandburg’s book “Abraham Lincoln.” What I recall, most of all, at this time is the great hate, resentment, ridicule, and anger many felt towards Lincoln. These feelings did not only come from the South, but also from the Democrat Party and others in the North. Sandburg in his writing made me feel just an inkling of what Lincoln must have felt. He was blamed for dividing the country, the slaughter of thousands, lying about the reasons for war, and the waste of our best and bravest men in a war to free an undeserving race. Lincoln held his ground in spite of this anger and paid dearly for his beliefs.
No matter what mistakes contributed to the attacks of September 11, 2001 our President knows these attacks happened on his watch. He is the man who faced the families who lost loved ones in these attacks. He accepts he is the one charged with the responsibility of ensuring this does not happen again. I have come to believe this President will do everything in his power to see that we are not caught off guard again. He has taken actions that push the limits of his power. I am glad he has. He has taken the fight to the enemy, and like any good surgeon cutting out a cancer, he is removing the suspicious tissue surrounding the disease. If there has been error, it has been on the side of caution. This is what I want.
The President of the United States is the Commander in Chief of our armed forces. He has a duty to defend our nation as he sees fit. He can not waste time positioning himself for possible failure or victory as our Senators and Congressmen do. He must have the courage to fight. This President has shown this courage and has suffered for it both emotionally and politically.
As usual our military has performed in an outstanding manner. Our President has not let them down. He has stood steadfast and has not let others jerk the rug of support out from under them.
So I will answer that person who told my son-in-law he hated President Bush. A person my son-in-law professionally thanked and then moved on. I support the troops and the war they fight. I love President Bush and what he has accomplished. I will always be grateful that we have been blessed with a leader who has the courage to follow the example of President Lincoln. This is a man who will stand for what he believes so that we will not fail in our struggle to defeat evil. End
I know all the other junk is important and I would have liked to see President Bush be more forceful in conservative policies. I also wanted more aggressive action taken against our enemies, but as my four year old granddaughter says, "You get what you get and don't throw a fit."
I still remember the year 2000 and how refreshing it was to hear a candidate say tax cuts would bring in more revenue. I also think of the two new Supreme Court Justices we gained. I know for eight years I didn't have to hear the leader of our country blame me, a gun owner, every time some nut whacked a bunch of people or fellow students.
Presidents always have faults, President Bush was no exception, but I will never forget how good it felt when I first heard bombs were finding targets in Afghanistan and boots would soon be on the ground. I and many others wanted blood for what was done to our country on September 11, 2001. I did not want a tough teary eyed speech. Bush gave it to us.
Mike W| 12.2.10 @ 10:12PM
Bush needs to go away. His Iraq war was a disaster from day one. The minute we set foot in that place we lost.
Prescription drug benefits, out of control spending and a big push for amnesty are just a few of his big problems.
Jeb Bush is just as despicable. If you don't want amnesty then according to Jeb you are ignorant and stupid.
CalMark| 12.2.10 @ 11:57PM
George W. Bush was a terrible President.
Except for his Supreme Court appointments and tax cuts (which were modest, and included a lot of giveaways like "fully refundable child credits" to people who paid no taxes) Bush was a failure from a conservative perspective.
His allies for legislation were usually the most liberal democrats. Bush routinely thumbed his nose at the conservative base, such as his unconscionabld interference with the 2004 Pennsylvania Senate primary, giving us Arlen Specter and, ultimately, Obamacare.
Bush was boundlessly merciful to enemies and savagely merciless to allies. Sandy Berger, Clintonista, was caught out in treason stealing Top Secret documents to destroy them--or so Berger said, if a Clintonista can be trusted, and got a slap on the wrist with no fanfare. Scooter Libby, Tom DeLay, and the border agents all endured high-profile savaging by renegade prosecutors employing Stalinist tactics; Bush stood aside and allowed these men to be destroyed, tut-tutting sanctimoniously.
He wore his Christianity on his sleeve, denying he did any such thing, while consorting, to the detriment of Christianity and our country's Judeo-Christian roots, enthusiastically with some of the most despicable people ever to serve in our government.
I've said it before in these forums, and I'll say it again. George W. Bush: go home and shut up.
inge| 12.3.10 @ 5:04AM
I agree with this writer; he made Obama possible.
Bush, as an individual was a patriot though; always caring for the soldiers, and loving America.
martin j smith| 12.3.10 @ 8:04AM
I say Go away, Bush--you were not so great--Obama is much worse --but you led us into this mess partly because you supported big spending and because you foolishly felt that not responding to Democrat propaganda would make you look cool. Wrong!!!!!!!
And BTW take Rove with you as a Ranch hand.
Curly Smith| 12.3.10 @ 9:01AM
I disagree somewhat with many of the comments. I think Bush is instinctively Conservative but he's also reflexively Big Government. He knows in his heart that Conservatism is the way to go, but in his head he doesn't know why. He's typical of many managers in business - he's a big idea guy who relies on others to develop and implement his agenda. He's successful if he picks the right team, i.e. people who can develop an agenda that he can't fully articulate, but he fails spectacularly when he picks or trusts the wrong people. In many cases Bush picked the wrong people, which doesn't let him off the hook because he picked them.
PattyMor| 12.3.10 @ 9:07AM
I am sick and tired of Liberal Republicans masquerading as conservatives. Bush spent a lot
of money, hardly vetoed any spending bills, gave us the horrible TSA and Homeland (Un)Security, prescription drug benefit, and got us into an unnecessary war in Iraq.
He refused to explain or defend his decisions and let the liberal media walk all over his last two years. Then has the unmitigated gall to write a book about decision points. I refuse to watch him being interviewed about the book.
CS Lewis| 12.3.10 @ 9:13AM
If you post articles like this then you reap what you sow. So have a day of hate reapers but just remember what comes out of your mouth, your mind, and your spirit tell more about you then President George W Bush.
If you want to hate someone take it to the source - the Communist Party, who have succeeded in warping the minds of more than 30% of the US population. Another 30% percent don't care and that leaves 30% who are trying to save the country.
Sarah Palin 2012
Derek Leaberry| 12.3.10 @ 9:52AM
Let us bid that whole obtuse, arrogant family a final goodbye. How the Bushes have damaged conservatism.
srucpa| 12.3.10 @ 10:34AM
I have very mixed emotions about GWB. I know he is and always will be pro military, but his duplicity in stuff like "No child left behind legislation" was an abject failure and costly to boot. Inexplicably, he was pandering to the NEA and his cosponsor was none other than Teddy Kennedy. There are numerious examples of his big governmentism in the comments from the readers, that even his aw-shucks book tour cannot cover the mess he started and Obama greatly exacerbated. The article, "Americas Ruling Class..." really resonated with me and spelled out what is going on in our society. You MUST read this article if you have not already and you get it from this very website.
Cro magnon| 12.3.10 @ 12:45PM
I did not start out as an enthusiastic supporter of GWB, but I grew to admire his steadfast support of our troops and our country's national self interest (you're either with us, or with the terrorists). His "compassionate conservatism," however, brought out the RINO in him and was quite frankly insulting conservatives. Medicare expansion was certainly not helpful, but he did spend a whole bunch of political capital trying to reform Social Security for the better. I think the Antle's most damning point is that it was GWB's support for easy home ownership and the Fed's loose money policy, combined with deficit spending, that led inexorably to financial collapse. Unfortunately for him, like Hoover, the Great Recession will be his lasting legacy. He was a good man, but he did tarnish the Republican brand quite a bit.