tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18243814.post114074984490414452..comments2023-10-12T21:03:12.188-07:00Comments on Left-Over: The Presidential Pendulum Wrecking Ball (Part 2)left-overhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05090065395667863082noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18243814.post-1140796265608776072006-02-24T07:51:00.000-08:002006-02-24T07:51:00.000-08:00On the contrary, I believe that should subsequent ...On the contrary, I believe that should subsequent executives make use of the so-called Bush Doctrine or the War on Terror be mentioned by his successors for more than a decade than I think the characterization, and the speech, may enter the history books as one of the more important speeches of the past fifty years.<BR/><BR/>Truth be told, I don't think Bush is entirely blameworthy for his stature. Had 9/11 not happened, he may have been little talked about and become an historical footnote instead of one of the most important (for better or for worse) presidents of the past century. He wasn't terribly popular or terribly unpopular; it betrays the historian in me to engage in a counterfactual but I would imagine he would have been characterized as a knave and thumped by any reasonable opponent in 2004. No president who endured 9/11 was going to be low-key. That said, I think we agree that America might prefer someone low-key. I disagree with Mark Warner politically but I don't dislike him, and as such I would much prefer him to Hillary Clinton who I find personally loathesome. Without attributing blame, this presidency has been polarizing and I think Warner (or Romney or even McCain) could help reinvigorate civil discourse.Anonymous Conservativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09509934085187722682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18243814.post-1140795103660982072006-02-24T07:31:00.000-08:002006-02-24T07:31:00.000-08:00You seem to be saying that America will want a "lo...You seem to be saying that America will want a "low-key" president after Bush's my-way-or-else approach, no? I would tend to agree with that. It's one of Bush's negative qualities that just missed the cut as I was paring them down. <BR/><BR/>I also agree that some of Bush's speeches have been well written, and that he is much stronger when he has a well written speech to deliver. However, I disagree that the space allotted to him in the history books will be for his speeches!seenoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830315020073256903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18243814.post-1140789009366198572006-02-24T05:50:00.000-08:002006-02-24T05:50:00.000-08:00First, Bush is a big government conservative. Ent...First, Bush is a big government conservative. Entitlement spending has jumped by a considerable margin...indeed he created an entirely new entitlement with his prescription drug program. You may not deem it compassionate, but it is as close to that adjective as any self-described conservative will get.<BR/><BR/>Second, Bush has a record of faux pas but he has also given a number of speeches (most notably his second inaugural address) that will probably occupy more space in the history books than said missteps. He is no master of the spoken word, but his speeches have been as well-written as anyone in recent memory, Reagan included.<BR/><BR/>Third, as per the major thrust of your post, I think the perception of intellectualism has long been a drawback. Carter and Wilson were the sole bona fide intellectuals to inhabit the White House and they have gone down in the history of the twentieth century as two of the least successful presidents. Clinton was obviously intelligent, but his greatest asset was his charm, both in front of a crowd and on an interpersonal level. My guess is that the victor in 2008 will be someone like Mark Warner on the Democratic side of the house or George Allen or John McCain on the Republican side. Only McCain and Clinton really have a presence, most of the other hopefuls are more low-key and I believe that likely to resonate well with a public that may shun a strong executive after eight years of BushAnonymous Conservativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09509934085187722682noreply@blogger.com