Posted on 12/03/2006 10:41:30 AM PST by jazusamo
The Washington Post recently published a harshly anti-Bush op-ed by Douglas Brinkley, who does not bother disclosing his John Kerry connections.
Shortly after Thanksgiving I had dinner in California with Ronald Reagan's best biographer, Lou Cannon. Like many historians these days, we discussed whether George W. Bush is, conceivably, the worst U.S. president ever. Cannon bristled at the idea.
Bush has two more years to leave his mark, he argued. What if there is a news flash that U.S. Special Forces have killed Osama bin Laden or that North Korea has renounced its nuclear program? What if a decade from now Iraq is a democracy and a statue of Bush is erected on Firdaus Square where that famously toppled one of Saddam Hussein once stood?
There is wisdom in Cannon's prudence. Clearly it's dangerous for historians to wield the "worst president" label like a scalp-hungry tomahawk simply because they object to Bush's record. But we live in speedy times and, the truth is, after six years in power and barring a couple of miracles, it's safe to bet that Bush will be forever handcuffed to the bottom rungs of the presidential ladder. The reason: Iraq. Fair play? I think not. Don't you think some disclosure might be warranted that Brinkley wrote a book about John Kerry and his Vietnam experience, was his campaign biographer and promoter whose integrity has been questioned before, and and who reportedly hoped to play the role that historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. played for the other JFK (John F. Kennedy) had Kerry won the last presidential election.
Might that be considered before the Washington Post ran this op-ed speculating about George Bush being the worst president ever?
Sour grapes, anyone?
Update: Greg Richards adds:
Ignorant of economics, Brinkley fails to note that Bush steered the economy around the shoals of the first investment-led recession since 1929 and then the blow of 9/11. His supply side policies of lower taxes have been an outstanding success as the economy has plowed along steadily since those policies were implemented. Douglas Brinkley has published a piece of small-bore vituperation against President Bush.
Yes, the Iraq War has not gone well and, in truth, has been undermanaged by Bush. But Brinkley misses a crucial point. One of the objectives of going on the offensive in war - which is always a choice - is to force the opposition to defend its territory rather than attack yours. So far, that has worked in terms of further attacks on the U.S. For those of us who live here and particularly for those of us who knew friends and loved ones in the World Trade Towers, that is no small accomplishment. And one that would not have been achieved by the confused and indecisive Sen. Kerry, Brinkley's beau ideal.
Kerry has company. Al-Qaida still resents Bush's victory.
When I belonged there were 6,000 members of the American Historical Association. The two that appear on Tv are political hacks.
BUMP!!!
That, I believe, was the photoshopped picture. There's a picture of the two of them, but Kerry is far in the background.
W-H-E-R-E do you find these pictures?? I have never seen the one with Kerry in his little red cap with the BIG message!!!!
Nancee
You could be correct. I've only seen this one once and the other many times.
With Kerry, one does not even have to resort to Photoshop. Kerry creates his own Kodak moments with winners like the 'Bunny suit' photo as NASA (the bunny suit ears, did make a nice touch, however). ;-)
"John Kerry HAS blown his '08 chances"
Methinks Ann Richards got it wrong: It was John Kerry who was born with a silver foot in his mouth, not GW!
R-E-A-L-L-Y???
Thank you for the tip!
Nancee
That's more like it!!!!
I resent Kerry!!
Where did they rank Pres. Reagan during his last 2 years? It certainly wasn't at the esteemed level most have him at now. Not with Iran-Contra going on and the media against him, although not even 50% of the negativity from the media and Hollywood etc that Pres. Bush has faced. It is ridiculous to put G.W.Bush in the "bottom rungs", no way does he belong there. It's all about their hatred for him that has raged for over 6 long years.
That is definitely a photoshopped pic...done by none other than Registered. Kerry was at the rally but the photos are scarce and the only one that shows up is owned/copywrited by corbis showing Kerry in the audience. Corbis has asked FR to not republish it's copywrited photos. :o)
copywrite=copyright
doh! .. more coffee
OHHHH so now the dim wit kerry says Bush won????? That's what I'm reading here??????
About time the dim wit idiot tells the truth for once in his miserable life....
Thanks LV.
Admin Mod will you delete my post #5, thanks.
I agree, BonnieJ. The hatred for President Bush by the Dems has existed since election day, 2000 and it won't go away.
Check out History News Network if you want to gack. Impartial, NOT!
Brinkley has a .22 cal brain tied to a .357 mag. mouth.
No..
Kerry wasn't born into great wealth, he married into it....TWICE
The Kerry camp resents Bush's victory? I have one thing to say to that: NYAAAH NYAAAH!
Before his marriages Kerry's rich aunt also contributed to his support.
Shortly after Thanksgiving I had dinner in California with Ronald Reagan's best biographer, Lou Cannon. Like many historians these days, we discussed whether George W. Bush is, conceivably, the worst U.S. president ever. Cannon bristled at the idea.
He will eventually be judged by the Almighty, I'm glad I'm not him.
The economy is booming, unemployment is down, no terrorists attacks on our soil since 9/11, two conservative supreme court justices on the bench, Bin Laden is hiding in a cave, and Hussein has a date with a rope with his wmd factories forever shut down. That's not too shabby.
Why was post #5 deleted?
It's a shame about Douglas Brinkley. So much intellect and so much potential, and, now, little more than a mouthpiece for left wing revisionism. Sad, really.
Bush labors under some of the same drawbacks Harry Truman did...fighting a new kind of war which the country doesn't have the patience to try to understand, and looked down on by the elites.
I had the misfortune of having to sit through a Douglas Brinkley after-dinner speech once. He was mainly telling us how much he loved Jimmy Carter.
Registered, I believe, photoshopped a picture of Kerry with Jane Fonda. It looked realistic and any credits to the alteration has been cropped. It eventually got around the net along with a real photo with Kerry sitting in the background of a Jane Fonda address. The Kerry campaign then complained about a "photoshopped picture" about this, purposefully attempting to muddy the waters.
In any case, I believe it is JimRob's policy not to have that photo, lest people be confused.
Brinkley also did books on Hunter S. Thompson and Jimmuah Carter. He seems to specialize in losers.
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