Posted by
RecknHavic on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 2:07:31 PM
Steve Martin once said, "Some people have a way with words, and others..oh..not have way I guess". Which brings us to George W. Bush. And, rather than try to defend or define the Bush II presidency (sure I could point out how well off we are "economicanally" or the success Bush has had "Hispanically"), I'll let our chief "strategerist" make the case for his legacy in his own words.
Bush on security:
"We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure." Crawford, TX May 3, 2003
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our people, and neither do we." Washington, D.C.; August 5, 2004
"It's in our country's interest to find those who would do harm to us and get them out of harm's way." Washington, D.C.; April 28, 2005
Bush on health care:
"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country." Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Sept 6, 2004
Bush on compassion:
"One of the hardest parts of my job is to console the family members who have lost their lives." White House; April 13, 2003
"It's a time of sorrow and sadness when we lose a loss of life." Washington, D.C.; Dec 21, 2004
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." Nashua, New Hampshire; Jan 27, 2000
Bush on destiny:
"There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead." Washington, D.C.; May 11, 2001
Bush on the economy:
"It's going to require numerous IRA agents." On Al Gore's tax plan; N. Carolina; Oct 10, 2000
Bush on education:
"We expect the states to show us whether or not we're achieving simple objectives..like literacy, literacy in math, the ability to read and write." Washington D.C.; April 28, 2005
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Florence, S. Carolina; Jan 11, 2000
Bush on free speech:
"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over an over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." Greece, NY; May 24, 2005
Bush on the 2nd Amendment:
"I think we ought to raise the age at which juveniles can have a gun." St. Louis, Missouri;ct 18, 2000
Bush on freedom:
"Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat." Washington, D.C.; Sept 17, 2004
Bush on energy:
"Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a product that we can find in our neighbors." Austin, TX; Dec 20, 2000
Bush on trust:
"Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness." CNN online chat; August 30, 2000
Bush on leadership:
"They have miscalculated me as a leader." Westminster, calf; Sept 13, 2000
Bush on foreign policy:
"I will have a foreign-handed foreign policy." Redwood, Calf; Sept 27, 2000
Bush on greenhouse gas emissions:
"We're spending money on clean coal technology. Do you realize we've got 250 million years of coal?" Washington, D.C.; June 8, 2005
"We have enough coal to last 250 years, yet coal also prevents an environmental challenge." Washington, D.C.; April 20, 2005
And finally, Bush on Bush:
"I think- tide turning- see, as I remember-I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of- it's easy to see a tide turn-did I say those words?" Washington D.C.; June 14, 2006
Given the alternatives: think Al "lock-box" Gore or John "flip-flop" Kerry; we have been fortunate to have the leadership we've had. And good or bad, there will never be another president quite like George Walker Bush. So lets not be too "revengeful" when looking back at these last seven years.
"And that's all I have to say about that." Forrest Gump