Bush officially the worst president in history

[malatesta1137]

I am posting the whole thing, because Salon charges for access to most of its content.

One for the history books

How will historians tell the tale of George W. Bush's presidency? Some history professors aren't waiting 50 years to weigh in. The History News Network conducted an informal poll of professional historians -- eight in 10 said Bush's tenure has been a "failure." Twelve percent said Bush's presidency is the worst in all of American history.

Here's how historians finished the sentence "Bush's presidency is the worst failure since ____" and how they came to their conclusion.

REAGAN: "I think the presidency of George W. Bush has been generally a failure and I consider his presidency so far to have been the most disastrous since that of Ronald Reagan--because of the unconscionable military aggression and spending (especially the Iraq War), the damage done to the welfare of the poor while the corporate rich get richer, and the backwards religious fundamentalism permeating this administration. I strongly disliked and distrusted Reagan and think that George W. is even worse."

NIXON: "Actually, I think presidency may exceed the disaster that was Nixon. He has systematically lied to the American public about almost every policy that his administration promotes." Bush uses "doublespeak" to "dress up policies that condone or aid attacks by polluters and exploiters of the environment . . . with names like the 'Forest Restoration Act' (which encourages the cutting down of forests)."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/archive.html?blog=/politics/war_room/2004/05/19/historians/index.html

[squidbro]

1. shrub is worst of the worst

shrub's presidency is worse than all of the mentioned, including Reagan, Nixon, Hoover, Coolidge, Harding, McKinley and Grant combined.

In fact, the future history books may even dare to compare shrub to other delusional persons in positions of great power such as Stalin, etc.

[liberalhistorian]

2. As someone with a history degree,

I definitely agree with every single word, and I don't think I could have said anything better. I could continue, but I'm a little too tired right now, lol!

[Leilani]

3. I lived through Nixon & Reagan

& this is much, much worse.

Nixon s domestic policies were quite liberal in terms of today. And he was very competent internationally, even if you did not agree.

Ronald Reagan had faults, but he knew the limits of American military, & would never have launched this neocon war. Reagan loved the military, & the troops returned it. He would not use them as cannon fodder. His trickle down policies were bad, but never reached the current level. Reagan talked to the religious right, but he never went to church, & was never even seen with those idiots. When Gov. of California, he had the most liberal abortion policy besides New York.
I think he used them, more than they used him. I also heard his biographer, Lou Cannon, say that Reagan always had openly gay people working for him. Coming from Hollywood, he thought nothing of it.

This current Administration is the most secretive, most incompetent, most corrupt, most devisive and most destructive of my life.

[Philosophy]

4. Here's a link directly to the History News Network survey article

http://hnn.us/articles/5019.html

[DansantCaparet]

9. ahh!

I love manson!

[Zero Gravitas]

5. I hated Reagan

But Dumbass Dubya is a million times worse than St. Ronnie Ray-Gun

Worst. President. Ever.

[napi21]

6. Why do the Pubs always say Reagan ans so great?

I think I realize it's the fundamentalist Christians who are so vocal in making people think GWB is so wonderful, but why do almost ALL Pubs think Reagan was Great? I wasn't paying too much attention when he was Pres., but I sure remember how I thought it was so phoney when he would pretend not to be able to hear any questions he didn't want to answer.

Every Pub I've met speaks of him as some Idol.

Other than he was a Pub, why do they think he was so great and very few Dems think he was doing anything more than playing another movie roll?

[west michigan]

7. He stands alone.

The us vrs. them mentality has taken us to far to fast down the wrong track. Our prestige and credibility have sufered immensely. Are we still the best place to invest in or will that change over the next few years?

[Poiuyt]

8. Only 12% think Bush is the worst in history?

They're being awfully generous with him!

[Moderator]

10. malatesta1137

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
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news source.

Thank you.

DU Moderator

[cap]

11. worse than Hoover

Hoover did lose more jobs... but Hoover at least practiced some compassionate conservatism.

Hoover did start a roads project to get people back to work...he knew he had to use the federal government at least a little bit to soak up the unemployment. Hoover's wife ran relief from the White House. After his presidency, Hoover did a lot of humanitarian projects. Hoover was a great ex-President. W and Laura will retire to their ranch and drink.