From Scott McClellan's new book, "What Happened":
But Bush was not one to look back once a decision was made. Rather than suffer any sense of guilt and anguish, Bush chose not to go down the road of self-doubt or take on the difficult task of honest evaluation and reassessment. Rather than look back, he would always look forward, focused on the challenges of the future rather than the regreats of the past. That was especially true when it came to a decision as irrevocable and consequential as war in Iraq.But at times, Bush had no choice but to face those doubts. He believed one of his most important responsibilities as a war-time president was to visit the wounded and comfort the families of the fallen. He did so frequently, in Washington and during his travels around the country. I would shadow him in such settings.
The scene shifts to Walter Reed:
The room was dimly lit. A young mom from Texas and her seven-year-old son were seated next to their husband and father. He sat upright in a wheelchari, motionless. His head was covered in white gauze and bandage from the top down to his eyes. He was clearly not aware of his surroundings; the brain injury was severe.The president entered just after me. He walked over to the mom and hugged her. He put his hand on the sons's shoulder and told him, "Your dad is a very brave man." After visiting briefly, Bush turned back to the soldier, placed his hand gently on the wheelchair, bent down, and softly kissed the top of his head before whispering in his ear, "God bless you." Then he turned and walked toward the door. Looking straigh ahead, he moved his right hand to wipe away a tear. In that moment, I could see the doubt in his eyes and the vivid realization of the irrevocable consequences of his decision.
From Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby":
Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter - tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms further... And one fine morning -
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Character is destiny.
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[i]By that definition, pretty much every President shall be guilty of moral cowardice.
Yes.
And most of the rest of us, at least at some point in our lives.[/i]
Most of the rest of us don't run to be president though. It comes with the job. Judgment.
Many people who have worked with him have called him a good man. Some of his actions support this. Visiting injured troops, AIDS support, trying to do something about education and maybe the Medicare drug benefits. A lot of his actions seem inconsistent with a good and moral man. His shadings of truth to get us into Iraq, misleading us about how well it was going for so long, torture, misleading us about faith based initiatives (see Kuo's book), following the Rovian playbook and further polarizing the country.
I think he will just go down in history as an average guy who was in over his head. He was blindly loyal to the wrong people and had a hard time admitting he was wrong. I still cannot figure out why, by all acounts, he did not seek out his father's advice on the Middle East. As much as I might deplore Bush Sr's. role in keeping the Iran hostages in Iran a little longer, the guy had a lot to impart about the problems of that area of the world.
Steve
Steve, very good analysis of President Bush. I would say you're a bit too charitable in places, but overall more fair and evenhanded than I've read anywhere else.
I am developing increasing respect for Bush senior, who after all managed to fight a (1)successful war with (2)limited objectives and (3)limited casualties on (4)other people's money. But I suspect that his advice would be the last thing in the world Bush junior would want. In fact, trying to outdo his father was probably one of his major motivations.
"average" in what way?
IQ? Emotional health? Practical sense? Sure he was "born with a silver spoon in his mouth," but most of the people who get ahead in life in one way or another have that.
Truman was thought "average"; but is now being recognized making important contributions to his time.
"admitting he was wrong" but maybe he was not...probably won't know that for a long time. Just because you think he was wrong proves nothing about his character.
"further polarizing the country" And whose fault was that? I am not responsible for what someone does; I am responsible for my emotions and attitudes. If you are polarized, maybe you need to look at your own heart first.
Bush had the courage to work with Democrats on education and health. Whether I agree or disagree with those particular policy initiatives is not relevant; the significant point is that, at least from my perspective, he tried everything to avoid being polarizing. And then we've had six years or so of constant MSM Bush-hatred ("Rethuglicans", "Bushitler," etc.)....
(For the record, polarization in politics is a good thing. It is what makes the system work. Either accept the side-effects, or stop being involved in the system. But one needs very strong spiritual fibers to participate in the system without being corrupted by it.)
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