As the Worst President Ever in American history, George W. Bush so incompetent that his presidency really can’t be compared with any other. Laughably, however, his acolytes and worshippers often compare him with Truman and Reagan, meaning he’s unpopular now but will be well-regarded by history.
But Joseph Nye says that while the comparisons to Truman and Reagan are wishful thinking of the highest order, there is a 20th Century presidency that compares with Bush’s on many levels — that of Woodrow Wilson:
Both are highly religious and moralistic. Both came to power as minority presidents focused on domestic politics. Both responded to an international crisis with a a bold policy, and both defined a vision that failed to balance ideals with national capacities. Their rhetoric about democracy is quite similar, though Wilson was interested in international institutions while Bush is not. But perhaps most important, both were poor managers, failing to organize diverse information flows in their administrations, and were resistant to new ideas. Persistance can be an admirable quality in a leader, but not if it means resistance to course corrections. Then it becomes blind stubborness. As Robert Lansing, Wilson’s secretary of state noted in 1917, “even established facts were ignored if they did not fit in with his intiutitive sense, his semi-devine power to select the right.” Sound familiar? And, of course, Wilson failed as a transformational leader as the country rejected his policies over the next two decades. Bush’s case is still open, but he is running against the odds.
The “meaning he’s unpopular now but will be well-regarded by history” may be true for Truman, but don’t most Americans remember only the good things about Reagan?
I realize I am not the only one that thought Reagan was absolutely one of the worst U.S. presidents.
Bush may compare well w/ Wilson. I am not that familiar anyone prior to Herbert Hoover.
You can’t compare Bush to any other president. He’s that bad and that incompetent. Never has anyone so mind numbingly stupid been entrusted with such power. Most times stupid is just stupid. But in W’s case, stupid is dangerous.
He does not remotely behave like an adult. When contradicted he acts like a petulant child and throws a fit. He’s always had someone around to clean up his messes, but not now.
I dont really think it was his fault, I think he was naive and he just surrounded himself with bad people *cough dick cheney cough*. And I dont think its a fair allegation to call him stupid unless you have some proof of it. Im not a Bush fan, but I think in all fairness you can just slant the table and make blind accusations. Thats weak man. You wanna make a strong case? Use facts not just strong empty words. These mean nothing unless backed by facts. Get me his iq, his sat score, and then you can discuss intelligence. And no, hes not the only leader to be unlucky with how things turned out. May I suggest LBJ? He was an extremely good leader, however most people only saw him from his Vietnam standpoint. I think when history judges, it will use much more than just one standpoint and much more then imbicillic empty words.
I would agree the comparison to Wilson is fair, and truman is a stretch in his presidency, however if you look at the rhetoric of all three presidents, they are strikingly similar. If you want, look up Wilsons justification for wwI, trumans speech about the truman plan, and Bush’s justification for Iraq/ Afghanistan. WOW THEY LOOK SIMILAR! gee maybe thats why people (not only his worshippers) compare them. Think before you speak man.
As for Bush, the man got unlucky. He got 4 decades worth of mistakes and bumbling dropped into his lap. 1979 was the year that America screwed over the Middle East. 1948 was the year that we tore it apart. 1982 was the year that we raped Afghanistan and FAILED TO SET UP INFRASTRUCTURE. you know what that brought about? Al Queda. Remember those fun little guys? yah thats because the US plays the game well, but we screw up the ending. Always. These bumblings have created the instabillity that we now see in the Middle East. I dont support the War in Iraq, but I think that things are going to crap because of historic problems and divisions. Not because he is so stupid or incompetent. Hes just the fall man for the last 4 decades of terrible foreign policy.
Tool, how anyone could demand proof in 2008 that George W. Bush is stupid is just breath-taking. If you can’t come up with one or two examples on your own, you haven’t been paying attention and you are beyond guidance.