To what do you attribute the Failed Bush presidency?

Question

How much blame do we the people deserve for putting him in way over his head in a position of such high responsibility?

Answer 1

Stupidity on the part of Bush and those who voted for him. Bush has had some fairly competent, if unethical, people working with him, but even with their help he still fails to convey any impression that he even understands the words they put in his mouth when they write his speeches.

Coragryph, you're right as usual. Bush's "I am the decider" statements have contributed to the widespread misconception that the President should have absolute power. In reality, Congress and the Supreme Court are intended to do the bulk of the decision-making and the Presidency is more of an administrative position, although he wields more power than a man of Bush's caliber should through the veto power alone, not to mention the way he and other Republicans have stacked the deck with their Supreme Court appointments. I don't think the majority of Americans realize how many times he has overstepped the bounds of his authority or abused it by proclaiming himself to be above the law. He does it more often than not when he signs a new bill into law, issuing signing statements saying he won't be bound by the new laws. How much faith can we have in a President who doesn't think he should obey his administration's own laws?

Answer 2

At the time he seemed the better of the two doffs that were running. We had just gotten rid of a sex fiend and needed a change and Bush seemed like that change.

However his in effectiveness in leadership, if he had any, and his reliability on the cronies around him has resulted in one of the most waste full Presidents we have had in a long time. He has swandered a budget surplus, alienated most of our good will around the world and is going to lose the Presidency to the Democrats and heaven forbid, Hillary Clinton.

With her ideas about as far to the left as one can get it will be a wonder if the United States still exists as we have known it for the past 50 years. Her ideas on health care, on big industry and her desire to spread the wealth to those who have not earned it will have us looking more like Russia than the USA.

Answer 3

The liberal media, most notably the New York Times and MSLSD.

BDS, Bush Derangement Syndrome

The Democrats who offered us as an alternative such unelectable candidates, John Kerry and Al Gore.

Bush's presidency has not failed. You are speaking foolishly so you must be a liberal. Bush is the only President in a long time who stood by his words and did not sway to the polls like Big Willy, the great stain maker.

Answer 4

Karl Rove bears much of the blame. See the September issue of "The Atlantic Monthly".

Answer 5

It depends on which side you are on. if you're a dem, you believe he failed, if you're a republican you believe it's been triumpahnt. Are we better off now than we were 6+ yrs ago? How you define a success is by your personal opinions. Every president makes mistakes as well as successes. I suppose if the economy is booming and our soldiers were home from Iraq we would look more favorably on him. Since the economy is luke warm and the war is still going we don't.

Answer 6

Two terms is not a failure. That is success. Now Kerry and Gore those are failures.

Answer 7

A lot. Americans still idiotically re-elected him.

Answer 8

Cons blame the media - sane people blame the 50% who voted for the twerp.

Answer 9

arrogance and hubris on the part of Cheney and the neo cons, pathetic, moronic, lack of wits on Bush's part.

Answer 10

Some of it I suppose. More blame should be put to the people who "counsel led" him. He should share some also for being beating a dead horse.