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George W. Bush: The bygone American

JOHN IBBITSON

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 8:27 PM EST 30/03/08

The race for the Democratic presidential nomination is consuming most of the political oxygen, and what's left is taken up by Republican nominee John McCain's efforts to define his candidacy ...Read the full article

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  1. Brendan Caron from Canada writes: Thanx George. You were a tool but... thanx.
  2. smelter rat from Canada writes: The sooner GWB is forgotten, the better. Worst President in the history of the country, and quite possibly a war criminal.
  3. The Bubble from Canada writes: After all this time and being 100% right about what Bush has done and wondering how anyone could hijack American society, it's legal system, the military, cause all this destruction, pollution, death, economic suicide and watch the American people believe him lying like an escort and the media doing nothing to stop it, after all this time, saying I told you so has no meaning. There are 300 million people just a few miles away who are about to start looking like beggars. I guess it was always predicted, I'm still unsure that he won't do something really stupid before he goes, he hasn't pressed the button yet, he might like to see what that's like. I remember when a US nuclear sub hit a Japanese trawler at the start of his first term. No one would say who was in the sub. I figured it was George on a joy ride. The absurdity of it all makes it all seem so meaningless.
  4. Fred Forest from London, Ontario, Canada writes: What respectable democracy would put that much power into the hands of one man? It's not just GWB being ignored.. it's the entire country.. what a debacle.
  5. Gabriel Stefan from Toronto, Canada writes: Just to put things in perspective Fred, the Canadian Prime Minster has more domestic power the the US President.
  6. Keystone Provincial from NOT Winnipeg, Canada writes: George W. Bush has the ignominious status of having been a lame duck president for all 8 of his years. His first win in 2000 is understandable in a way, but 2004?? One bright side is that even Ralph Nader could be an improvement.

    'Right man for the right job...' if you're looking for a puppet.
  7. Vickky Angstrom from Canada writes: McCain stayed in the Republican party and supported Bush's wacko military, foreign and social policies. That is all you need to know.
  8. martha stewart from Canada writes: Wishful thinking. He's still there and he can cause a lot more damage before he's gone.

    Paul B - Either your sarcasm is dead on or...
  9. guy tozer from Saskatoon, Canada writes: GWBush, as his father and grandfather before him is a warmonger. Google ZEITGEIST and learn the whole truth.
  10. Alias No Name from Vanuatu writes: His dad was the ambassador to China,CIA director,VP,President etc....And guess what his 'idiot' son became???.... a President as well...???

    The other one{son} from Florida appears much more intelligent....
  11. Chuck the Canuk from Kanada, Canada writes: I shake my head every time I hear about that dolt Bush on the news. It absolutely amazes me that the US people, who are supposed to be so bright, so smart, so inventive, so savvy, and so forward looking, could even consider putting another Republican in office. McCain is probably more of a hawk than Georgie, right up there with warmonger Cheney. Now that would be sweet, eh? Can we say 'invade Iran and maybe even start a war with China over Tibet or Taiwan. Jeesh. Can you imagine: 3 TRILLION dollars in debt for the the war in Iraq and it's side effects. Bush came to power with a surplus of $500 BILLION dollars thanks to Clinton. Bush has squandered that, plus over 2.5 TRILLION more, and the country is ready to go down the toilet. The neonazi Repubs screamed bloody murder and impeachment when Clinton lied about sex in the Oval Office. Big deal. Bush lied over and over about all the reasons why he started an illegal war that has cost $3 TRILLION bucks and over 4,000 American lives, destroyed a country, and left well over 100,000 civilians dead. What a great legacy to leave. Disgusting, I would say. Anyone who says he did the right thing by starting this travesty should take their narrow minded heads out of their butt and ask themselves one question, why the rest of the world hates your guts now, more than any time in history. A sad ending to a great world power. China and India and Russia will push the US aside in the next 20 to 30 years (or sooner), until they are in the class of Columbia or Chile, heard about but never really having any world decision making, largely ignored. Thank you and your oil industry butt kissing daddy, George.
  12. C J from Canada writes: Throughout the history of any empire, you always get a few whose reign made a reverberating impact throughout the empire, even the world. Whether the impact pushes the world towards one direction or the other, that's the million (was it trillion)-dollar question.
  13. Steve . from Western Canada, Canada writes: It kind of sums up Georges whole presidency. The people of the US have already moved on to the next president and are desperately trying to forget how badly George has embarrassed them. That's pretty bad George. You've secured your position on the bottom peg of US leadership. (ooops, did I use the word Leadership?)
  14. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    Paul B....LOL
  15. National Action Committee on the Status of Elvis in Canada from Ottawa, Canada writes: George W Bush did one thing right. He has stayed alive and spared the US and the world a Dick Cheney presidency. Could anything be worse that a George W Bush presidency? Oh, yes.
  16. Tkk Z from Canada writes: John McCain, 70, the bygone American as well? He has no new ideas. What will he do? What can he do at an age past due for retirement home? In McCain, voters face a clear simple choice. Do you want to put Mrs McCain in charge of converting the White House into a retirement home?
  17. Robert Boyd from Windsor, Canada writes: McCain's problem (as far as the limp wrists in the media) is that he isn't a a black woman.
    The Democratic party and it's media support is tip-toeing around, hoping that the house of cards isn't going to be toppled.
    The party has no coherent plan either for the war or the economy - except some vague drivel about things being different somehow.

    'And if Mr. McCain beats the odds and wins in November, giving the Republicans 12 straight years in the White House'
  18. Duane Freemantle from writes: George W. Bush will be forever remember as the man who undermined the various institutions that we have come to trust. Who ever becomes the next president of US; whether it is Clinton, McCain, or Obama; will undoubtfully restore some of these institutions to the level of trust that we had for them.
  19. Shawn W from Toronto, Canada writes: This is what happens when a whack-job Jesus-freak rides into the White House on a wave of Evangelical Christian support. At this point, I don't think the world much cares WHO ends up being the next president; he or she will undoubtedly be a huge improvement.
  20. puddin and pie from calgary,center of new west, Canada writes: one black man
    one white woman
    one white man

    race
    gender
    age

    my money is on the old fella
  21. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Ummmmm...... Why is this a top story ?

    Can we go back to talking about the Leafs' playoff hunt - TM ?

    PS. Can someone in TO also please inform David Frum that Bush apparently was not 'The Right Man' after all ?
  22. Robert Dryburgh from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada writes: George W. Bush will go down in history as one of the greatest presidents in history. He knew what had to be done and did it.
  23. Eye Sore from Dog Pound, Alberta, Canada writes: George Bush will be remembered in US history in the same way that Nero
    and Caligula are remembered in Roman history: As an incompetent goofball
    with a vicious meanstreak.
  24. Georges Clermont from Canada writes: George Bush destroyed the fabric of the US through sheer stupidity and incompetence.
    Worst though, he has destroyed the US as a world leader: the country has no credibililty left and few care what it does or say or stand for (e.g. Middle East policies). Watch out for the Russians and the Chinese!
  25. Vik J from Proud Ontarian, Canada writes: Free The West from Free the West, BC, Canada writes: 'What you Toronto types don't understand is that Bush would probably win the next election if he was still able to run.' Exactly my point, its because of foolish americans who think like you voted for the great BUSH {if you get the meaning of the word!}. GOOD RIDDANCE! TO HELL WITH THE WARMONGER!
  26. john doe from Canada writes: Bush made some mistakes but it usually takes 20 years before we really apreciate what a president was like. Bush i don't think will look good although it's not all his fault. I mean the americans eleceted him twice and the republican party decided that it would be a good idea for him to even run for a second term.

    On a more serious note can we bring back bill i think it would a be a true test of his abilities if we put him in power during a recession because while clinton was good he had the forturne of the tech boom and cheap oil during his presidency to cover up and blunders
  27. Hendrick Larose from Calgary, Canada writes: George was not a great president but he has also been scapegoated by the media for all the problems in the US. The reason he is being ignored as he has been a convenient excuse for everything wrong. Many of his policies were supported by Clinton and other members of the democrats.

    If you think that all the problems will start getting better with the democrats in power you are sadly mistaken.

    The failures of the Bush government would have been the failures of the Gore/Kerry government if they had succeeded. The fault is not with Bush but the American arrogance that they are the moral leaders of the free world. There isn't a democrat who would dispute this claim and therefore who was in charge was irrelevant to the outcome.
  28. Ontario LawMan from Kanata, Canada writes: Robert D....Paul B.....maybe first you should read a little US history....then name a single meaningful domestic or international relations accomplishment of GWB that would compare to any other US president of significance. He sat mesmerized in a primary school classroom while the World Trade Centre burned....the US economy went from a massive surplus to a multi trillion dollar deficit....and is now in a recession...and world opinion of the US is at an all-time low....and all this despite having Republican majorities in both houses for most of his two terms....he would be a joke if it wasn't so sad.
  29. D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: My take on the Bush legacy: It's not too late to . . . head for the hills !!!!! Find a country home with good water and a big garden. Learn to shoot a rifle (to hunt), learn to fish, get lots of gear, get lots of firewood, bring lots and lots of canned goods. Bring books. A generator would come in handy.
  30. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Bye Shrub - and don't bump your *ss on the doorknob on that way out. Ya doorknob.
  31. Vik J from Proud Ontarian, Canada writes: puddin and pie from calgary,center of new west, Canada says 'one black man, one white woman, one white man: race, gender, age'

    Aren't you the definition of the blind person who's racist, sexist and age biased - all at the same time? Small wonder the west was the reason why the cons are in power in Canada too - for people like you would even vote for canadian policies to be faxed from the bush's {yes, THE BUSH.. ha!} coffee table labelled 'Canada' in the white house. Its people like you, Sir, who're destroying the fabric of the Canadian economy, polity and society in general.
  32. Wasabi Jones from Canada writes: Free The West from Free the West, BC, Canada writes: 'What you Toronto types don't understand is that Bush would probably win the next election if he was still able to run. Twenty years from now he will quite possibly be viewed by history as the first President to take a stand and defend the West against the Muslim enemy in World War 3. Socialists of course prefer feeling fear of terrorist attacks over feeling envy of American culture. For now.'

    Just so. History is going to view GWB extremely well. He stood up to the biggest and most dangerous enemy of our times, and of the future. The lefties will be wrong about this leader...but then again, have they ever been right about one (e.g. see love of Trudeau, Stalin, Lenin, Castro, Arafat etc. / disdain for Truman, Churchill, Thatcher, Regan etc.).
  33. X. T. from Canada writes: Paul B from Vancouver, Canada writes: George W. Bush will forever be remembered as a man who had stood up for the freedom of the world. Right man for the right job, all for the bright world of freedom.

    No doubt Stephen Harper will continue Bush's plans of righteousness & liberty. Oh, Canada!
    -----------------------------
    So Canada will be the leader of the free world in a few months. Now I feel much better. Thanks.
  34. Robert Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: You Bush haters and ignorers have such short memories !

    Do you not recall GWB's infamous executive order of 20 October 2007 for the protection of Striped Bass and Red Drum Fish populations?

    In doing so, GWB lived up to these immortal Presidential words:

    'I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.'
  35. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Baseball season starts this week.

    That should take up President Bush's attention until October.
  36. Pierre-Yves P from Toronto, Canada writes: The fate of GWB has less to do with Jesus-freak-this and Jesus-freak-that, than with the fact that he`s not very smart (which is probably why neo-cons found him convenient to use as a puppet in the first place). That certainly cannot be said of Stephen Harper, neither is he anybody`s puppet.
  37. Canadian Eh from Canada writes: I love the byline the Bygone President. He should've been the by-gone president four years ago when the Americans tried to say BYE. If it weren't for hanging chads just before he was first elected and the fact that African-Americans were denied their right to vote in Florida, this war criminal would never have been president in the first place. I hope since he'll be out next year that The Hague considers him for judgment!
  38. robert quinn from Japan writes: It can't be argued that GWB struggled with his native language. (For hours of rib-tickling entertainment, visit Slate.com and click the 'Bushisms' archive. Eight years worth of priceless fumblemouth preserved for posterity there.) And the economy does now resemble a spavined Clydesdale, finally giving Krugman of the Times reason to celebrate. All that and much else granted, smugly denigrating any thoughts of a positive Bush legacy is both premature and peurile.

    9/11 became the fulcrum upon which Bush's tenure in office rested. No doubt backchannel word went out soon after that were there to be another similiar 'event' Mecca would be a radioactive sinkhole for the next ten thousand years. Still, diplomatic jawboning doesn't impress your Visigoth element. So the Taliban and Saddam were turfed. That may prove the cockup of the ages or uncommonly far-sighted imperial action that actually saved lives. We can't know yet. And most of us weren't privy to the kind of information upon which 'realpolitik' decisions are made. Thus, you can dismiss and disparage Bush, as does La Ibbitson, all you like. But his true legacy is an unknowable mystery at this time. (Stick around, though. These interesting times look set to continue.)
  39. F Isher from Canada writes: This man will never be forgotten, certainly not by the 4000 families who have lost young folks in Iraq nor the many maimed who don't show up in the US death statistics or the countless Iraqi families who suffer every moment . Nobody as vile and pathetic a Bush, a weakling being lead by so many vile advisors, a person who has done so much damage to the social fabric of his own country and the world will be forgotten.

    For those defending this enemy of mankind, click on http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home to see the mounting toll of economic loss to the United States. Bush deserves the most vitriolic of memories.
  40. CD W from Canada writes: Keep on calling him dopey, Claudius understood that very well and so does George. I think when I listen to American Radio, I hear the phrase,'Bush derangement syndrome' it is applied to everyone that hates George, I think it has some weight. Remember, as far as every democrat was concerned, both algore and euroKerry were light years ahead of Mr. Bush, but the electorate thought otherwise. And now so does the Democrat Party, that is unless they do a draft to avoid trouble at the convention. I still think that Jimmy Carter has been the worse president in the modern age. Bill Clinton was just the worst man to have ever been president, but he was an okay president, he just had to bend to the will of the congress, something he wished he could have avoided.
  41. Alias No Name from Vanuatu writes: The USA will recover in some way as the 'financial' problems are easy to fix for them...

    The worse thing is what to do with Afganistan and Iraq....

    They should have gotten Saddam Hussein and Mula Omar and Osama,one by one,without going to war.....
  42. George Bain from Canada writes: As I look through my George W Bushisms I find a gem! ' There's no such thing as legacies . At least, there is a legacy, but I'll never see it.

    In the words of American political writer, Alan Bock it's time for the clown to go back to Crawford.
  43. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Alias no Name ... writes 'They should have gotten Saddam Hussein and Mula Omar and Osama,one by one,without going to war.....'

    And truer words have never been spoken.

    The post 9/11 invited increase special ops., covert intelligence gathering and assassinations. Putting a hundred thousand pairs of boots on the ground just put a lot of targets out there for the wack'os to take aim.
  44. aging oldtool from Canada writes: Chuck the Canuck etc, I'm with you on puzzlement over how 350 million Americans could elect the idiot, but I'm not going to get into a big fap over it lest those 350 million people look north and ask the same think of 33 million Canadians.

    At least the Americans have the calming knowledge that he's a lame duck. We may be the laughing stock of the hemiphere if our idiot gets re elected.

    Free the west etc, this socialist leaner certainly doesn't fear 'terrorists,' bin Laden, or whatever form the next boogey man is given.

    But George Bush certain scares me, and I doubt that will chance until sometime next year.

    Right now, the only thing I can say about Dick Cheney is that because of him I haven't had to resort to laxitives in the past seven years.

    Now that's impact!
  45. John Deriso from Edmonton, Canada writes: The problem is that George W. Bush might have actually been the best candidate. Remember Al Gore? Wasn't the criticism back then that Bush and Gore didn't really have any differences in the things they said? And John Kerry? No, never mind all that 'flip flop' stuff, and the bizarre things the right said about him because he could speak French (it's as if someone whose read a book before is a national enemy to the Rush Limbaughs), no, what I mean is this: can you remember ANYTHING that John Kerry said that was good or notable? Hell, what has he done since the election, as I understand it he's still a senator, isn't he?

    The Democrats need to have a platform that isn't 'we are for the opposite of whatever the Republicans want!', and for the love of all that is good and decent, can the Democratic party actually try to be somewhat leftist? Right wingers call Hillary Clinton a radical Marxist! If Mrs. Clinton is a radical Marxist, then George W. Bush was a great centrist, and a master of compromise.

    What a joke. And the 2008 election is playing out just like that terrible Christ Rock movie, 'Head Of State', where the opposition party decides to let some random black guy with no experience run for president because they don't think they have a chance in hell, but the young, inexperienced guy ends up getting a lot of support. And when American politics starts to mimic the plot of a movie that had Cedric the Entertainer in it, it's time to just give up and call the game. It's over. Let's get some people together and come up with a new government.
  46. Alias No Name from Vanuatu writes: Sorry,no one else had a 100 million dollars to run...Not that no one else wanted to....That's different!!!!!!
  47. Raymond Durrani from Ajax, Canada writes: To all of you, all I can say is this. You will remember George the Great (GWB) and then remember me that I said that today. All you who say nay, have to good and all you who say yes, will be proud of yourself. Please continue to be at the 'Yes' side. You will say to the 'nays' shame on you, I am sure.
  48. S Muhlberger from North Bay, Canada writes: What has GWB got to compare to Truman's legacy?

    Why, the post-Katrina rebuilding of N.O., of course!

    I guess that doesn't help very much...
  49. S Muhlberger from North Bay, Canada writes: Now I've got it! The capture of Osama bin Laden!

    I guess not!
  50. D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: He was the front man for some rich and powerful people (hi, mom). I wish the Bushisms could prove that in some way. He wasn't a terribly articulate fellow. He won't be missed by his handlers, unless there is a ceremonial title somewhere waiting for him.
  51. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: -------Mr. Bush's legacy is unambiguously dismal.--------

    Never before have so few words so accurately described the legacy of a world leader.
  52. charlie brown from Canada writes:
    to Pierre-Yves P from Toronto, Canada who wrote: 'The fate of GWB has less to do with Jesus-freak-this and Jesus-freak-that, than with the fact that he`s not very smart'. Well Perre-Yves, without judging Bush's presidenecy, he does have a BA from Yale, and an MBA from Harvard, both rated as being better than any Canadian universities. And spare me the rebuttle that he was given them free because of his father. By the way, what are your qualifications which allows you to judge his intelligence?
  53. D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: Here is one of the most important Bushisms: 'They hate our freedoms.'
  54. wwww bbbbb from Canada writes: This is what happens when you elect a 'C' student. I hate to break it to you America, you asked for it, you voted for it and you got it.

    Good luck to the Democratic President that inherits this mess.
  55. CD W from Canada writes: It wont be a democrat, it will be a socialist.
  56. Mister G. from Canada writes: This is news?
  57. I am a Con from Canada writes: GW Bush's theme song: 'Don't know much about history, don't know much about geography, don't know much about science books' :)
  58. Mister G. from Canada writes: steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: -------Mr. Bush's legacy is unambiguously dismal.--------

    Never before have so few words so accurately described the legacy of a world leader-----------------------

    Bush delivered what the american people wanted. That is why he got re-elected. Dont be surprised to see more of the same with president McCain.
  59. Kevin McDougald from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Generally, those leaders who have received the most favourable mentions in the history books have been those who were good learners and good listeners who grasped how little any one person alone knows about the world in which we live. People who knew better than to surround themselves with sycophants (who can't be relied upon to give honest advice) or to see people with differing opinions as enemies rather than just people with different perspectives who sometimes make some good points.

    While Bush's inner circle was certainly filled with some very intelligent people, he had difficulty attracting and holding on to wise people. Indeed, it often seemed as though his inner circle reinforced rather than offset Bush's most serious weakness as a leader: his tendency to see the world in stark, black-and-white terms.

    Of the two President Bushes, the father will easily be remembered as the more able executive of the two, even if he was less successful in the political aspect of the job.

    Of those presidents who held office between those two fateful dates in U.S. history, Dec. 7, 1941 and Sept. 11, 2001, there are several who will easily be remembered as having been more effective chief executives, namely Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Ford, Reagan and, again, Bush Sr. (Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon are maybes, as all three had both great strengths and great weaknesses that went uncorrected.)
  60. Dr Demento from Canada writes:

    What a maroon . . .
  61. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: The American people are facing the most crucial election in their history. They have to choose between a man who clearly deserves to be taken to the woodshed for his mindless support of the Iraq war, and another who, while somewhat lacking in credentials , is almost an automatic default candidate.

    The world will be watching, and although it is not our choice to make, we nevertheless have a right to be very critical of the American people if they fail to elect Obama. Failure to elect him will have serious repercussions for American leadership in the world. They might continue to get the support of some of the confused and naive eastern European nations, but they will lose considerable support elsewhere in the West.
  62. The Oracle from Caiman Islands, Canada writes: The forgotten president. The remembered war crimes!
  63. Paul Jay from Canada writes: Bush and his crew did us one favour. They had free-reign to implement conservative policies. The results speak for themselves. Anybody but Harper for Canada.
  64. D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: Funny thing: America plays pretty tough on the world stage. Some would say it plays outside the rules. That's exactly what we see inside America. The people at the top play outside the rules; they win big and the people lose. Think of the sub-prime scandal- who the winners were and who the losers were. Some people say the sub-prime scandal was criminal. I bet there are more examples.

    America's leaders play outside the rules on the world scene and they do the same thing inside America.
  65. Raymond Durrani from Ajax, Canada writes: How would world rate a President of USA who won 2x4 and used it too to prove himself - he is/was not afraid to use it - on extremists to put them in their place to keep his country men/women out of harms way - history will tell the whole story.
  66. who's your daddy from Canada writes: Watch out, I bet Bush still has a couple more F-ups left in him. Why can't he just go to Crawford and play with the dog.
  67. D. B. from Greater Sask., Canada writes: Who coined the phrase 'honesty will get you nowhere?'
  68. Harbinger from Out West from Prince George, Canada writes: IF Obama wins the Democratic Party leadership. IF he gets elected as President, ya better be careful chastising his decisions or you are gonna be labelled. We will see. Who is gonna replace Billy Graham as spiritual adviser to the Pres? Not Obama's reverend I hope. Should be interesting.
  69. Tim Bryson from Claresholm, AB., Canada writes: All presidents who have come under intense criticism can at least to some positive features of their term(s) in office.

    Reagan met with Gorbachev in his second term after carrying on like a warmonger in his first term.

    Nixon opened up relations with China.

    Carter brokered the Camp David Accords.

    Clinton oversaw a massive economic expansion.

    Kennedy navigated through the Cuban Missile Crisis.

    What about Bush? Asleep at the switch in the months leading up to 9/11. Dropping the ball in Afghanistan in order to engage in a war of choice against a non-existant threat. Creating a quasi-police state where preventive detention and secret survielence are aprt of the landscape. Turning a massive budget surplus into a massive deficit. Violating any and all articles of international law, including the use of pre-emptive war and torture. Heck of a job in the aftermath of Katrina. Exagerating the perils of Iran.

    As for the idea that he was the right man for the times, never in my life has a president been more out of his element. Leading the struggle for our times? Comparing him to the likes of Churchill and FDR is pathetic. The people making these posts must be shilling for Karl Rove.
  70. Go Flames Go!!! from Canada writes: In response to Robert Dryburgh from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada writes: George W. Bush will go down in history as one of the greatest presidents in history. He knew what had to be done and did it.

    --------

    If it is something generally recognized as having to be done, there shouldn't need to be any reason to lie about it. Found those WMDs yet George? Nope, didn't think so.
  71. Barrie Ward from Weldon Saskatchewan, Canada writes: One who has drawn so much ire must have done a few things in a less than popular manner ... but the bandwagon was quite full as we recall back in Sept/Oct 2001 ... it would be well for all to examine their own mental place and space at that time ...

    It's bad form to speak ill of the dead (Many here are in agreement that his presidency is in some way 'Hors de combat')- and many a pundit and poster say this even though he still draws the breath of life ... We would all do well to remember that his "Legacy" is yet in formation ... I for one yet fear what final chapter may be added to the "Book of Bush" ......
  72. Cognitively Cogitative from The Far, Far East, Canada writes: Time for Canada to clean house and throw out the old neo-con guard too. Not much choice for replacements tho'. Dion is fiercely lacking in charisma and the NDP is too far down in the polls to stand a chance. Guess that leaves the up and coming Greens.
  73. guy tozer from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Tim Bryson form Claresholm, Ab: Comparing GW Bush to F.D.Roosevelt is most certainly a good analogy. Compare him also, to W.Wilson ,and LB Johnson, as they too are presidents who manipulated the public into entering an unwanted war. Wilson knew the Lusitania was sent into German waters to be torpedoed. Roosevelt was warned about pearl harbour, and Johnson knew that the Gulf of Tonkin was a fabricated lie., just as Bush Sr. new that the "princess" crying before a congressional panel swearing that babies were bayoneted by Iraquis, was a total lie, as she was a student in the States and not even in Kuwait. Now Bush Jr. stands back while the U.S. staged events of 9-11,puts the Americans at war once again to satisfy the bankers and Federal Reserve. They are the "ONLY" ones to profit from war and history keeps repeating itself. And the people allow themselves to be manipulated continually. Think the current mortgage crisis in the U.S., just happened? It was a well orchestrated plan, to further control the masses.
  74. E. Biggs from Canada writes: Gabriel. You are 100% correct.

    It seems funny that Bush had the majority of the votes to push his agenda including some of these same Dems who are now alll excited over iRAQ. If I have a major complainst about Bush is that he and most others accepted the millitary intelligent reports on WMD maybe because they wanted to or just maybe it was a logical reaction to 9/11.

    last 8 years

    - American has not been attacked by extremists
    - more money poured into education than at any time in their history
    - more minorities own homes than at any time in their history.
    - never have they fought a war with fewer casualties both civy and military.
    - when the tsunami hit the American military under orders were the first ones on the scene with help and hundreds of millions from the American people.

    President Reagan said "trust but verify" but Bush did not verify and accepted information and recommendations from his people, disaster.

    Many if not most of the people in the States don't know and could care less what the world thinks, which is a strength and also a weakness.
  75. charlie brown from Canada writes: To Tim Bryson from Claresholm, AB., Canada who worte: "All presidents who have come under intense criticism can at least to some positive features of their term(s) in office.

    Reagan met with Gorbachev in his second term after carrying on like a warmonger in his first term.

    Nixon opened up relations with China.

    Carter brokered the Camp David Accords.

    Clinton oversaw a massive economic expansion.

    Kennedy navigated through the Cuban Missile Crisis."

    Tim: Carter accomplished nothing:

    The Accords have failed miserably,

    Clinton did not "oversee" a massive econmic expansion. He had nothing to do with it. (He was too busy in the Oval Office).

    Kennedy did not "navigate" through the Cuban missile crisis. He came to an agreement that he would pull US missiles out of Turkey in exchange for the Sovs not deploying them in Cuba. In fact, he backed down.

  76. I am a Con from Canada writes: The world will exhale a huge sigh of relief the GW Bush administration is over.
  77. Zando Lee from Vancouver, Canada writes: ....who's left to guide our Stevie after GWB exits...Sarko?
  78. James C from Chaozhou, Guangdong, China writes: never was a george bush fan, but i can see one positive in his presidency. he gave canadians a reason to feel good (better?) about themselves and gave them one more outlet for some pent up anger..... at least thats the feeling i'm getting here :-)
  79. charlie brown from Canada writes: To Cognitively Cogitative from The Far, Far East, Canada who wrote: "Time for Canada to clean house and throw out the old neo-con guard too". Cog. Isn't "old" and "neo" a bit of an oxymoron. And isn't even the use of the term "neo con", of which too many folks really do not understand its meaning (or its misuse), getting a bit tiresome.
  80. Vickky Angstrom from Canada writes: " James C from Chaozhou, Guangdong, China writes: never was a george bush fan, but i can see one positive in his presidency. he gave canadians a reason to feel good (better?) about themselves and gave them one more outlet for some pent up anger..... at least thats the feeling i'm getting here :-)"

    Be nice to put the human rights catastrophe into perspective by relating it to irrelevant comments about the Canadian state of mind. Much more comfortable than actually dealing with the disaster that Bush, Wolfowitz and the rest caused to real, breathing, living suffering people. Talk about a dissociated analysis. Clever is not the same as wise, and your clever comments are ethically lazy.
  81. Dr Demento from Canada writes:

    According to E. Biggs everything in the USA is perfect - what a maroon . . .
  82. Keystone Provincial from NOT Winnipeg, Canada writes: Bush managed to carry out what Bin Laden started, namely bringing the US to its knees. Where are the rights and freedoms that the constitution embodies? Sacrificed to the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Bay. He has managed to take as many military lives as the attacks on NYC did, his strategies have torpedoed the great American economy and his foreign policies have reduced the USA to playground bully around the world. In a nutshell, he became Osama's patsy and did exactly what OBL wanted him to. Out of fear the United States turned on itself and has been devouring its own for the past 7 years. Putz!
  83. E. Biggs from Canada writes: Dr. Demented- Not perfect, far from it, but a hell of a lot more positive, free and progressive than anything we have in Canada.

    They have a can do mentality while we wait for the Gov. to have a series of meetings and studies.
  84. Festina Lente from Tampa Bay, United States writes: E Biggs from Canada: Your comments are very objective and right on the mark. I might add that most heads of state independently believed Saddam had weapons of mass destruction including his generals. Bush, the son of an American hero in the Pacific War made mistakes in holding on too long to some of his top men who apparently were put in place on the advice of his father. Keeping Rumsfeld on too long and proving his loyalty to old hands got him in a lot of trouble. Yes, it is true, Nixon is going down as one of our most competent presidents especially in foreign policy. Carter was the worse with his road to hell paved with all those good intentions. Kennedy, the only scholar in the clan allowed the Sovs to get into Cuba before CIA finally woke up. His subsequent actions were forthright and effective and making the compromise as you so well illustrated. But Kennedy failed in Viet Nam with the build- up from advisory groups to army divisions. Giving the nod to kill Diem did not speak well for him either. All the myths came after his death when the surronding myth- contivers like Sorenson and others worked up the embellishments. How he came out of the Bay of Pigs fiasco is amazing and now the younger generations see him in his image make-over as the youthful American hero president. What propaganda does for JFK in the case of his illness from addison;s disease and the press suppressing his sexual exploits hither and thither, proves that it can be effective. Malcolm McCallum in Florida.
  85. who's your daddy from Canada writes: charlie brown

    "The Accords have failed miserably," ????
    What??? Are YOU Talking about???
  86. J Birch from Hamilton, Canada writes:

    Paul B from Vancouver, Canada writes: George W. Bush will forever be remembered as a man who had stood up for the freedom of the world. Right man for the right job, all for the bright world of freedom.

    No doubt Stephen Harper will continue Bush's plans of righteousness & liberty. Oh, Canada!
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Well those comments should, hopefully, wake people up and cost the CONs about 5 points in the polls.

    But I agree with you on one point

    Steve Harper is the George Bush of Canada.

    Nice to see a CON supporter agree.

    We'll let the voters take IT from there.

    Canada really can't afford our own version of GWB

    .
  87. J Birch from Hamilton, Canada writes:

    S Muhlberger from North Bay, Canada writes: What has GWB got to compare to Truman's legacy?

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Truman dropped the Atomic Bomb

    And Bush Dropped the Economic Bomb

    I suspect the fallout from the Economic Bomb may have a half-life longer than plutonium.

    .
  88. who's your daddy from Canada writes: Asked whether he considers water boarding legal, Mr. Bush replied, “I'm not going to talk about techniques. There's an enemy out there.”
    Bush and his followers have been the worst thing to ever happen to American. We who criticize American policy do so because we pray that America will recover from her god awful horrid stumble and pull herself out of the sewer of hate, lies twisted truths and fabricated fear that the White house has propagated.
    The world wants and needs America to kick out the phony Christians and make believe conservatives from the American political scene. As Bush says "There's an enemy out there.” and that enemy is living in every American that wants to know the the truth behind the story .
    Bush is a master of misinformation and he has fooled many.
  89. chetan shah from Canada writes: thanks a lot mr. bush.. you unfortunately were the dumbest and stupidest of all... but the world had no choice but tolerate you for a long time..with lots of dead people..

    including saddam... i believe you are responsible for killling more people than you killed saddam for.. wonder what should we do with you??

    but alas... the supremacy of whites, the americans..

    not a racist, but history is proof...

    hope we can bring real humanity... without prejudice.. but lennon....
  90. 1 i from northish gta, Canada writes: I think a pool is in order. How many days post White House will it be before gw pulls up stakes and leaves Crawford for a more ... congenial evironment?
  91. ginny ! from Canada writes: You're giving far too much credit to Reagan. His people ran the shop while he slept.
  92. Cognitively Cogitative from The Far, Far East, Canada writes: Charlie Brown, glad you picked up on my attempt at irony.
    By neo con I mean the new cons. Thats to say the ones who took progressive out of the mix. The old cons like to distance themselves from the "neo" cons in both Canada and the USA. New cons will use any trick in the book to execute their policies, including lying. Old cons are religious but believe in upholding the law. Neo cons use religion to manipulate the law.
    Thats the way I see it. Please enlighten me end tell me what a neo-con is to you.
  93. Old blue from Canada writes: The U.S. has its George Bush and Canada had its Jean Chretien.

    Canada's Harper is about 500X better than any alternative currently offered to Canadians. .....and 2nd through 10th place in alternatives are occupied by Conservatives.
  94. Will Hoaccio from Toronto, Canada writes: Eye Sore from Dog Pound, Alberta, Canada writes: "George Bush will be remembered in US history in the same way that Nero
    and Caligula are remembered in Roman history: As an incompetent goofball
    with a vicious meanstreak"

    Nah, Caligula had a pretty kinky movie made about him. I can't see Bush in a quasi-porn anytime soon.
  95. Eye Sore from Dog Pound, Alberta, Canada writes: Will Hoaccio from Toronto, Canada writes:

    "Nah, Caligula had a pretty kinky movie made about him. I can't see Bush in a quasi-porn anytime soon." True, but...

    Bush, who's reasonably fluent in Spanish, could've played that homicidal Mexican sociopath in No Country for Old Men.
  96. J Birch from Hamilton, Canada writes:

    Old blue from Canada writes: The U.S. has its George Bush and Canada had its Jean Chretien.

    Canada's Harper is about 500X better than any alternative currently offered to Canadians. .....and 2nd through 10th place in alternatives are occupied by Conservatives.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Ok old blue, about 30% of Canadians would agree with you.

    I would not be one of them.

    We really can't afford Harper

    .
  97. Lemmy Nothor from Exiled in Barcelona, Spain writes:
    Soon to have his picture in every post office around the nation : Wanted, Dead or Alive Bush Cassidy and the Wall Street Gang...
  98. Lemmy Nothor from Exiled in Barcelona, Spain writes: ginny ! from Canada writes: You're giving far too much credit to Reagan. His people ran the shop while he slept.

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Slept and drooled all over himself...
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