The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Bubba Got Crushed

Posted on | November 9, 2011 | 10 Comments

by Smitty

Over at Althouse, a poll choosing between a third round of Bubba or W. For 2K votes, W has 80%. I don’t know that Ann’s readership is all that right of center, either. While retaining some personal regard for Bush, I don’t think his policies did too much to help attack the generational Ponzi scheme.

That noise has got to be stopped. For the World’s Youngest Blogger’s sake, and the rest of WYB’s generation. After the Baby Boomers finish going ‘boom’, maybe we can get on with economically sustainable improvements.

Category: Ann Althouse, Instapundit

Comments

10 Responses to “Bubba Got Crushed”

  1. Anonymous
    November 9th, 2011 @ 3:40 pm

    I wonder what kind of presidency GWBush would’ve had if 9/11 never occurred. His entire tenure revolved around managing one of the greatest assaults on our nation and the event essentially rewrote his entire vision. Personally, I think he should’ve gone with guns, no butter, to handle the crisis; however, Bush was never the ultra-conservative he was painted to be (naturally). Expansive government with absurd spending was inevitable… and devastating to conservatism in the GOP ranks.

    Understanding that, there probably wouldn’t have been that wide a gap in the way either Clinton or Bush “ran the economy.” Both were Statists for the most part – Clinton moreso than Bush – but both are infinitely less Statist than Obama since Obama is a Socialist.

    I have to think part of that poll is a reflection of the rejection of the Democrat/Progressive party because of Obama’s footprint. Bush being the most Not Obama in recent history gets bonus points by default. Plus, he was genuinely, honestly likable and personable. With Clinton it was like “liking” a used car salesman. Also, the Ick Factor never goes away kinda like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry’s car remains tainted by valet B.O. no matter how many washes are made.

  2. CalMark
    November 9th, 2011 @ 4:10 pm

    2 terms and 8 years is almost too much.

    This is just the political establishment trying to find new ways of keeping conservatives out of government for as long as it takes, as they are thinking, to stomp out the whole Tea Party thing, as they think of it and which they HATE.

  3. smitty
    November 9th, 2011 @ 5:19 pm

    Counter-factual at best. Maybe the second term answers your question.

  4. Finrod Felagund
    November 9th, 2011 @ 5:23 pm

    Don’t forget that Bush tried to reform Social Security in 2005 but Democrats fought it tooth and nail until they killed it.  Then Katrina happened and it all went to hell.
     

  5. Anonymous
    November 9th, 2011 @ 5:50 pm

    Yes, Katrina was really the beginning of the end. Bush was sailing along and was quite popular while the Democrats wondering desperately what could they possibly do to derail his presidency. Well, Katrina was the dog bone they were starving for and the MFM went nuts for it. Naturally. And who wouldn’t what with all of the cannibalism going on and with the fine leadership of Blanco and Nagin getting cock-blocked by Bush!

  6. Anonymous
    November 9th, 2011 @ 5:54 pm

    Possibly, but that second term was still saturated with the consequences of the first. The focus on global terrorism (which was and is profound and proper) surely diverted vital energy and resources. Maybe diverted isn’t the right term. Compounded the continuing grab for more resources seems truer.

  7. Anonymous
    November 9th, 2011 @ 7:41 pm

    The other thing to remember about W is that he never had a solid legislative majority, and unlike Obama he wasn’t willing to trash the Constitution to get what he needed. DHS, remember, was essentially a payoff to the Senate Copperheads so he could defend the country.

    We needed to take out our Disloyal Opposition first.

  8. Anonymous
    November 9th, 2011 @ 7:42 pm

    Same thing with Fannie and Freddie, only it was 2001, 2003, and 2005.

  9. Anonymous
    November 10th, 2011 @ 4:33 am

    Right-of-center is definitely not what I think of when I follow a link to Althouse’s blog.

    I’m not a conservative, and I think that site is too far left to bother with much.

  10. Bob Belvedere
    November 10th, 2011 @ 9:17 am

    Well said, but let us not forget his constitutional cowardice when it came to McCain-Feingold.