Would you rate President Bush as one of the top 5 American Presidents in US History?

Question

I think history will show us that Bush was one of the greats. I'm sure he'll be remembered alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan, and a fellow Republican by the name of Abraham Lincoln. While it's impossible for me to list ALL of Bush's accomplishments with such a short amount of space, I'll list a couple of things this great man has done.

1) Bush has reestablished good Christian Values in the White House, and America at large (Lord knows we needed it after the Clinton administration).

2) Bush has made us safe from terrorists through his audacious military efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

3) Bush has continuously fought for Middle Class families by cutting taxes. A move that also saved the Economy!

4) Bush has raised educational standards for our kids by starting the "no child left behind" program.

I can go on and on with Bush's accomplishments. There are too many of them to mention because he's one of the best Presidents Ever!!!

Answer 1

Top 5, no.
Top 10, yes.

The "no child left behind" program is and will be a failure. No school will be able to meet the requirements in the near future. The federal government should not be involved in education because it should be at a more local level. This program is forcing schools to spend more time on math and letting other subjects go untouched.

You can't make all children the same level of smartness. Some are smart, some are average and some are dumb. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer unless you lower the standards.

Answer 2

I am a conservative, and have my doubts.

My reasoning why he MAY:

1. Should western values eventually take hold in the middle east, bringing forth peace and greater human rights, Bush may get the credit. Remember it was years after Ronald Reagan challenged the "Evil Empire" of the USSR that communism fell.

2. The tax cuts that helped revive the US economy post 9/11. Unlike other non-Reaganites such as Senator John McCain, President Bush has been strong on tax cuts.

3. No Child Left Behind. This program, despite being disliked by teachers unions who want teachers to work less and get paid more, actually does help the students via imposed standards. Gond are the days when a child could go from grade to grade without the ability to even READ. Thank Bush for this one.

My reasoning why he may NOT:

1. A total and complete attempt to erase the borders of the US in favor of a new "North American union". Can it be denied that not only has the Bush Admin. ignored defending our borders, they have actively KEPT us from guarding them. They have fought tooth and nail for Amnesty and weak borders. They have punished actively border patrol agents who defend themselves--2 were convicted and Bush fails to pardon them. But when the Mexican military crosses our border, fires on our law enforcement, escorting drug runners into our country to supply meth to our populace, this is NOT a good thing.

2. Bush is a big spender. He has barely EVER used the greatest tool a president has to stop sloppy and pork packed legislation, the Veto pen. Bush has been a big spender and is not a true conservative on that front. This has hampered what would be an even greater economic boom in the US.

3. Bush has tolerated a complete and utter attack on his Presidency by his own people. Constant leaks in the CIA have been pretty clearly an attempt to destroy the US effort to win in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is almost treasonous, and a greater leader than Bush would have dealt with said treachery with the full power of the Presidency.

4. Failure to enlist a Republican "James Carville" to defend the President and his critics. This has lead to daily attacks via the press on the Bush administration that should be easily countered.
This is also a lack of leadership.

I could go on, but as you can see, there are bad points along with the good.

Answer 3

There is no comparison with George Bush and the 5 best presidents. If you really want to help middle class get a health care law passed where everyone has insurance. At least FDR got us Medicare. A good president is not going to answer a question by always saying it is hard!! It is so hard. George Bush will be remembered with a long list of Republicans. They all seem for the wealthy and never want to do anything that will actually tax the millionaires. Let people like FDR do reform of Medicare and really do a adding to Medicare with real drug coverage like the Congress has. We all should have Bushs medical coverage. He will go down in history as the " it is too hard president" A president unwilling to work with the oposing parties. Wanting to get all the credit. His father said: read my lips no new taxes" He said Weapons of mass destruction but he was really wrong on that one.

Answer 4

1) Death penalty is not a Christian value, neither is war (turn the other cheek), nor have any of his policies shown anything but contempt for the poor and for the environment. He is in bed with the corporate agenda.Not to mention the suspension of habeas corpus and spying on American citizens. These are not what I would call the Christian ideal.

2) Bush's invasion in Iraq has actually created more terrorism in the world. His own security advisors have released a report that indicates as much. If creating more terrorists means a safer America, then I'll eat my shoe.

3) The middle class has actually shrunk under Bush. More people have slipped below the poverty line since he took office than in the last 25 years. The vast majority of his tax breaks are only felt by the upper 0.5% of the tax payers. This is NOT the middle class. In addition, the economy has been faltering lately, failing to meet growth projections, and our national debt is at a record high, with China as the major holder of US debt. This is not what I would call a strong economy, especially when simple government programs have been cut to pay for the war. Which brings me to the last point...

4) No Child Left Behind has not once recieved full funding. He brags about this program and then refuses to pay for it. In addition, most teachers feel like it has reduced the educational benefit for children, because they are stuck teaching to a certification test, rather than actually teaching children the variety of topics that will make them well rounded academics. Furthermore, they are forced to spend an exhorbitant amount of time teaching the worst students, which leaves the excellerated students behind, because every child is expected to perform at grade level. That puts a lot of pressure on the teacher when you have one learning disabled child, doesn't it? Lastly, where do you think our children rank globally in education? Bush has certainly not brought our standards as high as the rest of the modern countries.

In summary, Bush is a complete disaster for this country. I believe he will be seen as one of the WORST five presidents in history. Not just for the reasons listed above, but for every single policy decision his administration has made. I can't think of one good thing he has done for this country. Not one.

Answer 5

Bush has made the steps necessary for an incumbent president. To say he is one of the top five presidents really goes over the top. If you had to pin point something in his presidency that makes him stand out, I think it would be his lead to cut taxes to fuel the economy, and his stubbornness about not letting the war in Iraq be led by political rhetoric.

My personal beliefs tend to lean toward any person that can motivate this country and win a majority of the vote, has accomplished more than most human beings would or could ever do.

Although a conservative Independent, my respect for the executive officer goes beyond Republican or Democrat. Combined with an understanding that I am not the most politically intelligent person in the world, and the fact that I am able to go to the grocery store and feed myself, tells me that the government of the United States is doing something right. I am not complacent just see the world for what it is... A real mess that will never again be the little house on the prairie.

Cascius Clay was the greatest, President Bush is doing a good job so far, only history can really make your point.

Answer 6

I'm not American so I don't know what Bush has done for the middle class or for education standards in the US. I do know that he will be remember however I don't think the majority of the world will view him through your rose coloured glasses. I would interpret your comments as bait, which I'm quite happy to take.

Let's forget about whether or not he got to the White House legitimately. Let's forget that he presents as a man who, I don't know how to say how he presents without completely insulting this man.
This is a man who stood in front of the world and said the war against terrorism wasn't a religious war after which we see a congregation of politicians standing singing God Save America. This is a man who has lied, not only to his own people but to the people of the world for a basis of going to war in Iraq.
This is a man who has created a situation in Iraq which someone else is going to have to come in and try to fix. What's the answer, I don't know and I pity the individual that comes into office and has to deal with it.

Historically, it's a well documented fact - going to war is a great way of removing attention from domestic issues. It's a great way of ensuring a second term. I don't think the world has ever been more fearful over events than it was over "the threat of terrorism". Ah, the re-election was in the bag.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have any problem with a country wanting to protect itself and it's citizens but when you go to war, you better have a damn good way of getting yourself out of it.

And as for "Christian" values, I thought your religious and moral centre was supposed to come from your priest not from the guy elected to run the country. You can't make an old testament quote like an eye for an eye and ignore the foundation of Christianity, Jesus Christ, turn the other cheek! The hypocrisy of these so called Christian values is unbelievable.

Ok, I have to say it - George W Bush, Greenday wrote that song about him! lol It's as polite as I can be about this individual.

Answer 7

Christian Values in the White House? Please. This is supposed to be a freedom-of-religion country, not a Christian-biased one, even though it is. And of course we're not safe from terrorists, that's the thing about them. People still die in the Middle East because of them, just look at the news. And cutting taxes? Dont' be ridiculous. Families here can barely afford the taxes. And educational standards? I'm having to mentor because of his 'educational standards', and I can tell you right now that his program doesn't do much here. Best president ever? Only if he's going up a cow that somehow made it into office. And even then it'd be close.

Answer 8

Good christian values??
You ever stop thumping on your Bible long enough to read about Separation of Church and State?

This is, by far, the most asinine post I've seen since coming to Q&A. Not only do you ignore facts, you make S*** up at the same time.

1.) Separation of Church and State. Your God and your Jesus do not get to make MY laws.

2.) Terroristic acts have multiplied exponentially since we invaded Iraq. The ONLY reason why we haven't been attacked again is the fact that several agencies monitor terroristic activities. NOT because of the unlawful invasion of Iraq.

3.) He's done nothing for the middle class. Getting a check for $300 is not helping anyone. You are delusional.

4.) Because he ran on a platform of education and his program does not mean he followed through on any of it. Go read for yourself, I don't feel like educating the stupid. You have to help yourself sometimes. He also cut student aid funding. Pull your head out of your rectum and crack a newspaper once in a while.

You cannot go on and on because he hasn't done squat. He'll go down as maybe THE WORST President in US history.

Answer 9

OK first don't get mad at me this is JUST an opinion.

First I like to say that Bush sucks he was an awesome Texas Governor (where I live), Religion values are meaningless to the whole populous US because people do not and are not faithful religious (especially in politics)-it kinda an oxymoron.

Bush has not made us safe from terrorist, if he did there would be no 9/11, and don't say it was just a mistake he already knew it was going to happen, those people who drove those planes into the towers were greeted with "praise" as the customs agent stamped their passports and said "welcome to America."

Bush has not, has not, HAS NOT, fought for middle class, those tax cuts were really meant for big business and to get companies like ...hmmm EXXON/MOBILE to get huge shares of money back to "help those companies in need" that generate over 300 Billion dollars in revenue when you only need 10 million for company survival. What saved the economy was stock buying as we speak the bull market is going crazy with stock buying and increase in employment. But this has not changed the 10 trillion dollar deficit that bush just add to with his "war" costing me and you an average 68,000$ per person...and I don't really have that kinda of money.

The no child left behind act is in shambles, the money is going straight to his iraqi "war". I know this because im an educational adviser at Dallas ISD. And guess what Im majored in..... Politics and Government.

Oh and dont get me started on Katrina....

Answer 10

Bush sucks! There is not a number that could rate him. If there was a number to rate him with It would be a negative number thats if I could rate him. There is at least 9 trillion reasons why he is one of the worst presidents in History! Sending our troops into an illegally funded war and running up our national debt! Those are the two top reasons that this presidency sucks! Check out the links below