Opinion

We’ll miss you, President Bush

It may be the fashion of the day to despise him, but history will smile upon George W. Bush and the achievements of his eight year tenure in the Oval Office.

Posted on Jan. 22, 2009, at 12:00 a.m.

As the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush had both the highest and lowest approval ratings in the history of the office. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, he had ratings of more than 90 percent. In recent years, his rating fluctuated around a third of that number. Many people think he will be unfavorably remembered after leaving office – but what president in the past 50 years can say he wasn’t? History will be the judge of the president’s service to America.

Popular opinion is against the outgoing president largely because of the war in Iraq. The Congress that authorized him to start the war, and then turned against him as popular opinion wavered, caused him to lose more support. Once the heat of the moment passes, and the positive outcome of the war in Iraq – a nation freer now than before the war – is realized, he will be remembered as one of this nation’s better presidents.

Many will disagree, but they need only to think of the good things he did for our country. Cutting taxes, fighting for morality and American values and leading the nation through its darkest hour are a few of his achievements that should be mentioned. The economy was also booming under his watch, until the downturn in 2008 due to problems that began in the 1990s. Aside from all of his achievements and perceived failures, he is going to be remembered for possessing a rare quality in a president: the ability to be himself at all times.

President Bush was always honest with Americans and admitted when he was genuinely wrong. His farewell address exemplified his true character. As far as I could tell, he was not using a teleprompter, and it showed in the substance of his speech. He was speaking from his heart, and that is when he speaks best. It is hard to argue that he was not an honest man.

During the administration of Ronald Reagan 20 years ago, the media hounded the president as much as they attacked Bush during his two terms. Now liberals and conservatives alike accept him as one of our greatest presidents. He was even praised by President Obama in the primaries. Reagan took the strength out of communism much as President Bush has done to terrorism. Our enemies feared what makes us great: our liberties. Thanks to George W. Bush, they do once again.

History was kind to Ronald Reagan, and his legacy lives on in politics today. I have a feeling that time will bring the same for President George W. Bush.

Jonathan Zappala is a third-year psychology student.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.