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Bush’s Legacy, In 157 Words

As a prolific Letters to the Editor writer (not all that prolific in getting them published), I appreciate a good Letter when I see one.

That was the case this morning. In the New York Times Letters, “Bush’s Final News Conference, and His Legacy,” I read this letter that truly says it all—in 157 priceless words:

To the Editor:

President Bush’s defense of his pursuit of the war on terror is emblematic of his vigilance to hold steady to this misguided course, and for that, he does not atone. While he gives a nod to lesser errors, the days of the Bush presidency are haunted by the following laments:

A lament for the war dead, and for the Iraqi families that have gone without food, water and electricity, even as the largest American embassy took root from the desert floor and United States companies bided their time while oil contracts were set up for their taking;

A wail for the quiet erosion of the Constitution, the privacy of citizens, and those interned and tortured without trial or hope;

A cry for the eviscerated social programs failing the American people, and the debt that saddles the future;

And a tear for the earth, cordoned from the caution of science and left, wounded, to its own overwhelmed defense.

Nancy Dickeman

Seattle, Jan. 13, 2009

Thank you, Ms. Dickeman

  • Well said, and succinctly.
  • StockBoySF
    Dorian, thanks for posting the letter. I couldn't agree more.
  • greenschemes
    And Yet Barak Obama steps in, not even president and is demanding a 2 trillion dollar deficit. More deficit in one year then the preceeding 5 years under Bush.

    Yet we know it will be Bush's fault. Those same people who screamed foul when the GOP blamed Bush's first recession on Clinton are now pinning the second one on Bush ignoring one simple fact. Bush does not pass a budget, he does not make legislation, he only proposes a budget which is then beat and banged out into a passable law by both parties. The democrats have been in charge for the last two years.

    The Democrats.

    The last two years we have seen this economy slip into massive recession partially because of the Democrats had an overwhelming desire to see Bush fail ignoring the consequences of what might happen if Bush did indeed fail. Well the Democrats have succeeded. Bush did fail and with it comes the consequences.

    Now we embark upon a new era with a new president and I hope. No I pray that Barak Obama succeeds and that the GOP do not mindlessly follow the democrats path down the dark road of partisan hackery. Obama must succeed for America to succeed. The die is cast and the time is at hand.

    Ms. Dickernan has it all wrong. However those who are still in the mindset of Praying for a Bush failure I am sure are gleefully celebrating the printing of such garbage as the rallying cry of the faithful. "The king is dead! Long live the king!"
  • D. E.Rodriguez
    greenschemes:

    Something tells me you didn't like Ms. Dickeman's letter?
  • greenschemes
    Her letter is a hurtful, spiteful attempt to continue to hold onto what Barak Obama keeps telling us we need to move away from.

    Yes you are right I do not like her letter for what it symbolizes. Its a symbol of division. Of hate and anger swelling and boiling and stirred by newspapers and blogs as they continue to gloat in the misery that is America brought on by a GOP party and president who were helpless in the onslaught of enemies domestic and abroad.

    The Democrats cheered this presidents failure. If Obama falters, slips, misteps as he most likely will do, Is that what you want the next Administration to face? A nation cheering Obama's failure led by a bitterly angry GOP party.

    I say stop. Enough is enough. Where indeed is the moderate voice of America?
  • D. E.Rodriguez
    interesting take, greenschemes. Are you sure you don't have the politics, the parties, the presidents, and the "hate, anger swelling and boiling" reversed, switched, and/or misdirected?
  • greenschemes
    No I'm pretty sure that Barak Obama's current 71 percent approval rating before he takes office indicates that even a majority of conservatives/Republicans are hoping he will succeed. No Im pretty sure I have pointed out the right two parties.

    The GOP Clinton Bashed for 8 years. The democrats have Bush Bashed for 8 years.

    Now its Obama/Democrats turn again. Do we really want to keep this up. Do we really want our leaders and citizens working actively for the failure of our next president simply because we don't agree with each other politically? I suggest this is counter productive and weve had 16 years of it.

    Enough is enough. Its time for the true moderate voices to stand up and shine.
  • StockBoySF
    greenschemes, "Barak Obama steps in, not even president and is demanding a 2 trillion dollar deficit. More deficit in one year then the preceeding 5 years under Bush."

    Your statement about the Dems being in charge for the past two years and causing this mess is misleading at best... the problems our country are facing just didn't pop up over the past two years. And there are more problems with our country than just a budget deficit. I will point out that the Dems have pretty much given Bush what he has asked for (and has made me mad at the Dems for caving into Bush). Actually Bush increased the national debt by $5 trillion. And whatever money is needed now is to help shore up the economy.... Bush is still president and this is where his leadership got us. Under Clinton we were on our way to having paid off our debt by 2009. But Bush took that money, gave tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and now we're in this mess.

    Going back to the $2 trillion figure and Obama and the Dems.... What about the $750 billion that Paulson and Bush asked the Dems to bailout the financial institutions? The Bush/Paulson/Bernanke cadre did not even want to attach any strings to it.... In the end the Dems caved and Bush got his money to give to the banks. Though even with some oversight that the Dems insisted upon, there is still some mystery and anger around how that money was spent.... At least the second half of the $750 billion will be parceled out under Obama's watch and most Americans seem to feel that he will better manage the money than Bush.

    You state, "Ms. Dickernan has it all wrong." Which specific bit of her letter is incorrect? Are you saying that our debt will not burden us in the future? Are you saying that Iraqis have all the food, water and electricity that they need? Are you saying that people were not tortured or held for years without charges (and trials)? Are you saying that Bush was good for the environment? Are you saying that Bush followed and protected the US Constitution?

    http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/storie...
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