Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Thank You, George

I’m one of those in the minority who think that George W. Bush will finally be judged a decent, if not great, president. But today there’s no point in rehashing arguments that will continue long into the future. History will play out and render its judgment. In the Sixties, more than twenty years after his death, mentioning Franklin Roosevelt made certain people apoplectic. GWB’s name will do the same.

Today George Bush looks happy to be leaving Washington. No one enjoys being vilified: he had to make some tough decisions, he’s been called every name in the book, and, with a few exceptions, he didn’t respond in kind. But it’s more than relief from the burdens of the Presidency. I don’t think that he would look that happy if he felt that Barack Obama wasn’t ready to be Commander-in-Chief. On his face we can read GWB’s judgment, which I believe has grown much better over the past eight years, about his successor. That's another reason that this is a hopeful day. © 2009 Stephen Yuen

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