While that part is somewhat true, I think Trump significantly hurts himself by only trying to appeal to his base when he is campaigning for the general election. While his base is loyal to him, there is about 3% of the electorate that he needs to convince to vote for him in order for him to win. In order to do this, he needs to clearly explain how he will improve their lives and why his opposition is an inferior option when compared to him. That involves reaching across the aisle to voters who are skeptical about him, but could end up voting for him if he gives them a good sales pitch. Bush understood that, and that is the main reason why he was a two-term President.Ag with kids said:The Democrats actively worked to stop ANYTHING Trump did, EVEN IF they would normally support it.zb008 said:Dad-O-Lot said:
I was a big fan of GWB.
As president he tried to be bi-partisan and "reach across the aisle". As a result both parties considered him weak. Dems took advantage and Reps felt betrayed.
I still think he is under-rated as a President.
Being bi-partisan is a major factor in winning elections. Bush embracing bi-partisanship is a big reason why he was able to win reelection. Trump has yet to figure out that reaching across the aisle would help him win significant amounts of voters.
Reaching across the aisle just gets his hand cut off.
Yes, the modern Republican Party is far different from when Bush was President. The Republicans caving into the Tea Party movement in the early 2010s along with Trump's candidacy radically changed the Party. Those two factors signaled that the GOP had decided to cater exclusively to the radical right and completely disregard moderate voters.TA-OP said:Because, as much as this board likes to say the left is super radical now, the modern right is just as bad.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
captkirk said:
He lost me at Hillary
I still think that he was a much better President than either Kerry or Gore would have been. His biggest strength was understanding how to appeal to independent voters and suburban women. Those two groups are the keys to Republicans winning general elections.Urban Ag said:
I feel pretty good about my opinions of GWB.
I enthusiastically voted for him 2000 based on my opinion of him as TX governor and just being young and naive.
I was posting on this board by 2002. I was against the Iraq invasion, thought it completely unnecessary and dangerous, and a huge distraction to the overall WOT/Afghanistan. Slapping Saddam around via air and naval power was all good but committing to a ground war, not so good.
I remember posting here in 2004 that I was holding my nose to vote Bush just to vote against Kerry. This was a turning point in my life when I realized I was in fact not a fan of the GOP and for the most part simply voting against dems. I have not strayed much from that perspective in the last two decades.
All in all, I don't think W is a bad man, I just think he is an empty suit neocon which is in reality an arm of the deep state. I think he believed in what he did and believed he was doing the right thing. Sadly, much of it wasn't.
As an aside, I will always remember this exchange on Jeff Ward's show on KLBJ which I listened to daily on my evening commute home in Austin, early in W's first term. Jeff Ward was parroting the media narrative that Bush spends like a "drunken sailor". He takes a call from an old guy that say he served in the Navy in WWII. Old Navy vet tells Jeff he takes great offense to Bush being compared to drunken sailors. When asked why he told Jeff that "as a former drunken sailor, I stopped spending money when there was none left in my pockets".
LOL.
Your first point is accurateAtticusMatlock said:
A lot of people here including me were pretty gung-ho about the Iraq invasion and defended it. It took me a long time to realize how much of a boondoggle that really was.
He also inherited a budget that was near balance and immediately started spending money like it was going out of style.
Personally, I think the villain of that administration was Dick Cheney. Remove him from the equation and I'm wondering how different the entire world would look right now. I fault Bush for naming him VP.
Bush supported McCain and Romney when they ran for President. I don't blame him for not openly supporting Trump, considering that Trump said awful things about him, his father, and his brother.zephyr88 said:
Self over party. Backstabbing sonofa*****.
Rather go silent than support the Republican running for office.
Plus, he's all buddy-buddy with Michelle (Michael) now.
zb008 said:While that part is somewhat true, I think Trump significantly hurts himself by only trying to appeal to his base when he is campaigning for the general election. While his base is loyal to him, there is about 3% of the electorate that he needs to convince to vote for him in order for him to win. In order to do this, he needs to clearly explain how he will improve their lives and why his opposition is an inferior option when compared to him. That involves reaching across the aisle to voters who are skeptical about him, but could end up voting for him if he gives them a good sales pitch. Bush understood that, and that is the main reason why he was a two-term President.Ag with kids said:The Democrats actively worked to stop ANYTHING Trump did, EVEN IF they would normally support it.zb008 said:Dad-O-Lot said:
I was a big fan of GWB.
As president he tried to be bi-partisan and "reach across the aisle". As a result both parties considered him weak. Dems took advantage and Reps felt betrayed.
I still think he is under-rated as a President.
Being bi-partisan is a major factor in winning elections. Bush embracing bi-partisanship is a big reason why he was able to win reelection. Trump has yet to figure out that reaching across the aisle would help him win significant amounts of voters.
Reaching across the aisle just gets his hand cut off.
Because he's a fake career politician POS. A dem sympathizer. Dems are the literal #1 enemy and threat to my country, culture and offspring. If you vote or advocate for them, you are my number one enemy. Pretty simple.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
BuddysBud said:zb008 said:While that part is somewhat true, I think Trump significantly hurts himself by only trying to appeal to his base when he is campaigning for the general election. While his base is loyal to him, there is about 3% of the electorate that he needs to convince to vote for him in order for him to win. In order to do this, he needs to clearly explain how he will improve their lives and why his opposition is an inferior option when compared to him. That involves reaching across the aisle to voters who are skeptical about him, but could end up voting for him if he gives them a good sales pitch. Bush understood that, and that is the main reason why he was a two-term President.Ag with kids said:The Democrats actively worked to stop ANYTHING Trump did, EVEN IF they would normally support it.zb008 said:Dad-O-Lot said:
I was a big fan of GWB.
As president he tried to be bi-partisan and "reach across the aisle". As a result both parties considered him weak. Dems took advantage and Reps felt betrayed.
I still think he is under-rated as a President.
Being bi-partisan is a major factor in winning elections. Bush embracing bi-partisanship is a big reason why he was able to win reelection. Trump has yet to figure out that reaching across the aisle would help him win significant amounts of voters.
Reaching across the aisle just gets his hand cut off.
I keep reading that Trump is only addressing his base and not reaching out to new voters.
He went to the NABJ specifically to reach out to new voters.
When the media never covers his campaign, except negative spin and lies, how do we know whether or not he is reaching out to beyond his base.
As the MSM continues to expose themselves as fraudulent hacks, hopefully those CM's in the middle will look for additional sources of news and see how they are being deceived by the media propaganda.
At that point people can freely choose if they want the liberty and riches of a free open market or rely on a maternal government to equitably "take care" of everyone who agrees to be subjects, except of course those in power.
This is HILARIOUS. Republicans are far less war hawkish and more moderate in general than back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every republican I know is ok with legalizing/decriminalizing weed. Every republican I know admits that we were duped by George Bush into unnecessary wars that we had no business being in. If anything, we have drifted a bit closer to center.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
El Gallo Blanco said:This is HILARIOUS. Republicans are far less war hawkish and more moderate in general than back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every republican I know is ok with legalizing/decriminalizing weed. Every republican I know admits that we were duped by George Bush into unnecessary wars that we had no business being in. If anything, we have drifted a bit closer to center.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
What's really absurd about your statement is...how insanely different the modern DEMOCRAT party is from back then. The absolute fringe has become mainstream. The most recent democrat wackjob appointed on SCOTUS literally cannot define what a woman is...she thinks you have to be a biologist.
The modern left is an absolute carney freak show LOL. Topless trannies celebrating on the white house lawn...trans freaks who like to dress up as dogs in bondage gear appointed to high positions...gay staffers buttf***ing in the senate chambers etc etc.
The modern right hasn't really changed...just more anti-war and pro MJ legalization. But yeah, we are pretty vocally p*ssed about where the modern psychotic left wants to take our country...and what future they envision for our children. Hardly extreme...very reasonable.
This sums it up...
Sounds exactly like turtle-face's treatment of Obama, which came long before Pelosi's response to Trump.BuddysBud said:
Trump tried to compromise his first two years, but Nancy said that she wouldn't allow anything to pass that might give Trump a win.
The democrats even supported a border wall until Trump requested the wall to be funded.
The democrats strategy was go go against everything that Trump supported, even if it was something they supported a year earlier.
Talk to Nancy and her democrat puppets about paying nice with others.
Funny how even recent history gets buried and forgotten by liberals.
So republicans are more moderate now (With Trump clearly being more moderate than GWB), and democrats are FAR more left-winged...and GWB votes for democrats now? Make it make sense.zb008 said:El Gallo Blanco said:This is HILARIOUS. Republicans are far less war hawkish and more moderate in general than back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every republican I know is ok with legalizing/decriminalizing weed. Every republican I know admits that we were duped by George Bush into unnecessary wars that we had no business being in. If anything, we have drifted a bit closer to center.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
What's really absurd about your statement is...how insanely different the modern DEMOCRAT party is from back then. The absolute fringe has become mainstream. The most recent democrat wackjob appointed on SCOTUS literally cannot define what a woman is...she thinks you have to be a biologist.
The modern left is an absolute carney freak show LOL. Topless trannies celebrating on the white house lawn...trans freaks who like to dress up as dogs in bondage gear appointed to high positions...gay staffers buttf***ing in the senate chambers etc etc.
The modern right hasn't really changed...just more anti-war and pro MJ legalization. But yeah, we are pretty vocally p*ssed about where the modern psychotic left wants to take our country...and what future they envision for our children. Hardly extreme...very reasonable.
This sums it up...
It's undeniable that the average Republican today is vastly different from the average Republican in 2009. Elon Musk never would have supported Republicans in 2009. Also, there was so much outrage after 9/11 that Bush had no choice but to retaliate in some kind of way. He got too carried away by attacking Iraq in hindsight, but it was a very popular idea when it first happened. There's no denying that 9/11 was unlike any other tragedy a President has had to before or since then, and I can understand why an impulse reaction to it would be made that would look bad in hindsight.
El Gallo Blanco said:So republicans are more moderate now (With Trump clearly being more moderate than GWB), and democrats are FAR more left-winged...and GWB votes for democrats now? Make it make sense.zb008 said:El Gallo Blanco said:This is HILARIOUS. Republicans are far less war hawkish and more moderate in general than back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every republican I know is ok with legalizing/decriminalizing weed. Every republican I know admits that we were duped by George Bush into unnecessary wars that we had no business being in. If anything, we have drifted a bit closer to center.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
What's really absurd about your statement is...how insanely different the modern DEMOCRAT party is from back then. The absolute fringe has become mainstream. The most recent democrat wackjob appointed on SCOTUS literally cannot define what a woman is...she thinks you have to be a biologist.
The modern left is an absolute carney freak show LOL. Topless trannies celebrating on the white house lawn...trans freaks who like to dress up as dogs in bondage gear appointed to high positions...gay staffers buttf***ing in the senate chambers etc etc.
The modern right hasn't really changed...just more anti-war and pro MJ legalization. But yeah, we are pretty vocally p*ssed about where the modern psychotic left wants to take our country...and what future they envision for our children. Hardly extreme...very reasonable.
This sums it up...
It's undeniable that the average Republican today is vastly different from the average Republican in 2009. Elon Musk never would have supported Republicans in 2009. Also, there was so much outrage after 9/11 that Bush had no choice but to retaliate in some kind of way. He got too carried away by attacking Iraq in hindsight, but it was a very popular idea when it first happened. There's no denying that 9/11 was unlike any other tragedy a President has had to before or since then, and I can understand why an impulse reaction to it would be made that would look bad in hindsight.
Was it GWB or his dad who endorsed Hillary and Biden? Maybe I am wrong.zb008 said:El Gallo Blanco said:So republicans are more moderate now (With Trump clearly being more moderate than GWB), and democrats are FAR more left-winged...and GWB votes for democrats now? Make it make sense.zb008 said:El Gallo Blanco said:This is HILARIOUS. Republicans are far less war hawkish and more moderate in general than back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every republican I know is ok with legalizing/decriminalizing weed. Every republican I know admits that we were duped by George Bush into unnecessary wars that we had no business being in. If anything, we have drifted a bit closer to center.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
What's really absurd about your statement is...how insanely different the modern DEMOCRAT party is from back then. The absolute fringe has become mainstream. The most recent democrat wackjob appointed on SCOTUS literally cannot define what a woman is...she thinks you have to be a biologist.
The modern left is an absolute carney freak show LOL. Topless trannies celebrating on the white house lawn...trans freaks who like to dress up as dogs in bondage gear appointed to high positions...gay staffers buttf***ing in the senate chambers etc etc.
The modern right hasn't really changed...just more anti-war and pro MJ legalization. But yeah, we are pretty vocally p*ssed about where the modern psychotic left wants to take our country...and what future they envision for our children. Hardly extreme...very reasonable.
This sums it up...
It's undeniable that the average Republican today is vastly different from the average Republican in 2009. Elon Musk never would have supported Republicans in 2009. Also, there was so much outrage after 9/11 that Bush had no choice but to retaliate in some kind of way. He got too carried away by attacking Iraq in hindsight, but it was a very popular idea when it first happened. There's no denying that 9/11 was unlike any other tragedy a President has had to before or since then, and I can understand why an impulse reaction to it would be made that would look bad in hindsight.
What actual evidence exists of GWB voting for Democrats? The only evidence I've seen is based on speculation and the picture of Michelle Obama hugging him. He was a conservative his whole political career, and I think there's zero chance that he would have voted for Biden or Clinton. However, I could see him voting for a third party candidate or writing someone in.
BusterAg said:Is the concept of deregulation / decoupling a disaster, or was it execution over the last 25 years?Flavius Agximus said:
All of what everyone above said, plus electric deregulation and decoupling as Texas governor, which has been an unmitigated disaster.
TommyBrady said:
GWB is a puppet and always has been
zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
Dan Scott said:
He's not a Trump supporter. It's that simple.
If the dems indeed wanted to turn this country socialist and do so by spreading propaganda with the assist from the media, I don't think he'd say/do a thing to save our country.zb008 said:
GWB seems to not have many fans on this board. I don't understand this since he's been a conservative his whole political career, was a good Governor here in Texas, and put conservative justices on the Supreme Court while he was President. He also led the nation through 9/11 in a calm, controlled manner. I know some people don't like his recent voting tendencies in elections, but to be fair, the Republicans are vastly different from what they were when he was President. I think he gets a lot of unjustified criticism, especially when his whole body of work is considered.
The Democrats, as usual, tossed him on the third rail on that subject.BonfireNerd04 said:
I liked GWB enough to vote for his re-election.
In hindsight, I think that the War on Terror overshadowed his presidency, and he kinda ignored domestic issues because of it. Like, didn't he campaign to reform Social Security in 2000?
No one was beating Obama in 2008. It has always been really hard for a party to win three consecutive terms for President. I don't think there's much GWB could have done to prevent Obama from winning, especially since McCain distanced himself from GWB on the campaign trail due to the recession and his low approval ratings. It's hard for someone to help when their help isn't wanted.JDL 96 said:
Issues with GWB include:
1. Way too much spending. Government got bigger. Prescription drug entitlement added to Medicare. Was that GWB?
2. His lack of succession planning is partly to blame for Obama.
3. Border left open.
agz win said:
In hindsight, GWB knew how to play well with others - something don and his MAGA extremists haven't yet figured out is key to winning.
