by Frank James
The Associated Press has a little news segment on the difficult state of affairs President Bush leaves his successor to deal with.
We all know the litany by now: the ailing economy and financial markets, Iraq, Afghanistan, global warming and so on.
The video includes a snippet of what looks to be a Bush press conference in the White House East Room in which he says his view of his job was "to confront problems, to not pass them on to future Congresses. Or a future president."
Obviously the president missed the mark on that goal.
The video led me to think. did Bush accomplish anything that could be viewed as helpful to his successor?
We're obviously still too close to the Bush presidency to have enough perspective but a few things came to mine.
The next president won't have to contend with Saddam Hussein or his equally despotic sons creating mayhem in the Middle East. Getting rid of the Iraqi dictator came at a great price in blood and treasure, a price that's still being paid.
But the next president will at least not have to worry about Hussein miscalculating, as was his wont, and causing another Middle East crisis.
Of course, Hussein's Iraq was an important counterweight to Iran which has flexed its muscles ever since the Iraqi strongman was ousted. But, again, Hussein was a problem for successive presidencies, Republican and Democratic alike, and now that is gone.
Staying on foreign policy, Bush also so harmed America's standing in the world that the next president, particularly if it's Sen. Barack Obama, will benefit from simply not being Bush.
On the domestic front, the next president also won't have to start the discussion about education accountability from scratch. With No Child Left Behind, Bush got the ball rolling and now the questions are more about funding and tweaking the program rather than whether or not federally mandated accountability needs to be done.
As in foreign affairs, the next president should benefit domestically from not being Bush, again particularly if Obama wins the White House since he is viewed by many voters, and has certainly positioned himself, as a clearer break from Bush than Sen. John McCain.
Along those lines, because Bush and Vice President Cheney pushed so hard to extend the limits of executive power, the next president is likely to be seen as an improvement in the eyes of Democrats and Republicans alike who worried about the Constitution during the Bush presidency. And that may be true even if the new president jealously guards his presidential prerogatives, which presidents typically do.
I admit, this is a tough list to lengthen. The easier list is definitely the one comprised of challenges Bush will leave for his successor.
Feel free to weigh in with any of your contributions.
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Comments
Two major things Bush accomplished as president:
1) Preventing further terrorist attacks on the U.S.;
2) Keeping Frank James's political buddies out of power and out of our wallets.
Thank you, Mr. President!
Posted by: James Otis | November 3, 2008 1:41 PM
It may not seem important now, but Bush was the most forward thinking president in U.S.-India relations. The nuclear deal, increased economic integration, and military cooperation with such a large country will become more important in the years ahead.
Posted by: KXB | November 3, 2008 3:02 PM
Did Bush accomplish anything that could be viewed as helpful to his successor?
Yes, the destruction of the Republican party.
Posted by: Quippy | November 3, 2008 3:16 PM
The important thing is he's LEAVING. I shudder to think what four more years of Bush would do to this country.
Posted by: Op109 | November 3, 2008 3:30 PM
This is why people think there is liberal bias in the media. Unbelievable. It's all Bush's fault -- the mortgage melt-down, the crash of the worldwide financial markets, Islamic extremism, global warming (!).
Partial list of accomplishments:
1. No terrorist attacks at home, largely a result of successful war on terrorism.
2. Democracy in Afganistan.
3. No Saddam Hussein.
4. Rise of democracy across Middle East.
5. Prescription drug benefit added to Medicare.
6. No Child Left Behind.
7. AIDS assistance in Africa.
8. Established largest marin reserve in US.
9. Started debate on immigration reform.
People like Mr. James can't allow themselves to give Bush credit for anything. I believe history will be more objective and kinder.
Posted by: JR | November 4, 2008 9:35 AM