The George W. Bush Presidency is almost at an end.  For Presidential historians, the real work is about to begin.  


With eight years of facts to consider, it is hard at this juncture of time to effectively rate his Presidency relative to others. When Presidential historians rank the Presidents, the most cited criterion is how the country was at the beginning of his Presidency compared to the end.  Judging by this aspect, Bush will be considered one of the worst Presidents by historians. But I am going to do something that I have never done, and that is defend George Bush. Kind of....


Within his first year as President, the country was attacked. His moves directly after showed the signs of what could potentially be a great President. His approval rating soared to a record of over 90%. He had the support of the American people and was given the green light to attack Afghanistan. George Bush’s approval rating began to tumble as 2003 came. Early in that year, his tough rhetoric and subsequent invasion of Iraq caused him to look tyrannical. This was the beginning of the end for George Bush’s Presidency. Luckily for him, his actions directly after September 11th gave him the political currency needed to be reelected in 2004.


As his second term continued, so did the war in Iraq. And as the war in Iraq continued, so did the fall of his approval rating.


It is my contention that the war in Iraq will be looked at just as the war in Vietnam has been. Now, I am not comparing Vietnam to Iraq. The creation of a subculture such as the hippies demonstrates just how important the Vietnam War was to Americans. Iraq will never achieve such a status. But I think the relationship between Bush and Iraq will be the same as Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam. Forty years after the fact, Lyndon Johnson is not blamed for the faults in Vietnam. As time goes by, the relationship between Iraq and Bush will do the same.


In regards to the economy, George Bush is the unfortunate President to have it happen under his watch. No matter who was President, the fall was inevitable. Some of George Bush’s deregulation policies expedited the fall, which is why he should get some of the blame. As a captain that goes down with his ship, so should George Bush.


His approval rating has reflected his Presidency. He went from being the most popular President to being the most unpopular in just a few years. His actions following Hurricane Katrina are a perfect example of his Presidency. He was given the chance to do something great, but in the end messed it all up.


Do I think he was a bad President? Yes I do. But I do not think he was the worst. James Buchanan let half of the country secede in 1860. Herbert Hoover saw the country seep into a depression and did nothing to alleviate the problem. Richard Nixon committed felonies in order to keep the Presidency. So there are three examples of worse Presidents. Like Americans directly after them, we will accept the losses and move on and try to make the future a better one.