BUSH LEGACY TALKING POINTS....

[ProSense]

BUSH LEGACY TALKING POINTS....

We learned last week that there's an "ongoing Bush legacy project that's been meeting in the White House," and with help from Karl Rove and Karen Hughes, the group of loyal Bushies have been strategizing on how best to paint the president's humiliating tenure in a more positive light.

Now, for those willing to help with the endeavor, the West Wing is offering talking points.

In case any Bush administration officials have trouble summing up the boss' record, the White House is providing a few helpful suggestions.

A two-page memo that has been sent to Cabinet members and other high-ranking officials offers a guide for discussing Bush's eight-year tenure during their public speeches.

Titled "Speech Topper on the Bush Record," the talking points state that Bush "kept the American people safe" after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, lifted the economy after 2001 through tax cuts, curbed AIDS in Africa and maintained "the honor and the dignity of his office."

The document presents the Bush record as an unalloyed success.

Now, I suspect this effort will fail miserably; Bushies can only ask Americans to doubt their lying eyes so many times. But I find the talking points interesting anyway.

The "keeping Americans safe" argument is pretty hard to believe given the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the anthrax attacks, and the thousands of U.S. deaths in Iraq. The economic argument is just laughable on its face. Bush's AIDS-related efforts in Africa have, in fact, been admirable, but his insistence on abstinence-focused prevention programs has been dangerous and short-sighted.

I'm especially struck, though, by the "honor and dignity" line. Indeed, the memo specifically argues, "Above all, George W. Bush promised to uphold the honor and the dignity of his office. And through all the challenges and trials of his time in office, that is a charge that our president has kept."

The meaning of the phrase is deliberately ambiguous, but if we look back at the 2000 campaign, it apparently means "no sex scandals." Since Bush, as far as we can tell, didn't have any affairs during his presidency, he necessarily has conducted himself in an honorable and dignified way.

Isn't this setting the bar a little low? Bush's presidency has been marred by scandals relating to torture, rendition, ignoring the rule of law, politicizing federal agencies, and the suspension of habeas corpus.

No, there was no Lewinsky during Bush's presidency. But my standard for "honor and dignity" has always been a little higher than that.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. This effort to "rehabilitate" Bush's legacy is simply sickening to watch

It's a MASSIVE insult to every American's intelligence, particularly those of us who saw the trainwreck unfolding before our very eyes and tried to sound the alarm. Looking back, it's hard to imagine all the BS we've all lived through (and STILL being forced to live through while we wait the clock out until 01/20/09)

[ProSense]

2. It's sickening, and it also indicates that they are fully aware of Bush's real legacy. n/t

[blm]

4. They believe they'll get away with it, the way they easily escaped accountability in the 90s....

all they need is a benevolent Dem president willing to side with their secrecy and privilege instead of with open government accountable to the citizenry, like Poppy Bush and his powerful cronies had with Clinton.

They are not going to lose control of the mainstream media, either, so they'll be helped every step of the way. In fact, predict the media will be key to pressuring the WH to 'move on' past Bush's crimes....and they will continue to target those Democrats looking to promote accountability. And they'll have some famous Dem faces piling on open government advocates, too. Just like they always do.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. Somehow we've got to find a way to keep this from happening

Although with the corporate media being so corrupt and (mostly) serving 24/7/365 as a fully formed arm of the RNC it almost seems impossible to break through the blinders they keep trying to glue over our eyes! I myself, however, will NEVER forgive nor forget the last 8 years and the havoc that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, the members of their junta/cabal, as well as all of their enablers, both Republican AND Democratic, have wreaked on this country (and the world) and how they have made our government and how it is (supposed to be) run virtually unrecognizable from what it was like even only 8 short years ago.
:grr:

I sincerely hope that Obama, if nothing else, gives the DOJ (and any other interested authorities), free reign to go after Bush, Cheney, Rove, et. al for whatever crimes they have committed while in office and cooperate in any investigations that may arise.

[zbdent]

3. Progression of talking points during any crisis during Bush's presidency ...

1. It was the previous administration's fault.

2. It was the Nancy Pelosi run Congress's fault.

3. It's the incoming administration's fault.

Need I say more?

[Poiuyt]

5. This is what Bush's $500 million library is all about

It's going to be a think tank to pour out books and articles favorable to Bush in an effort to sway future historians.

[Orsino]

6. Even the real wingnuts realize they'd better wait a few years...

...before floating the possibility of carving * into Rushmore.

[ProSense]

8. Bush gives a rare shout-out to Rumsfeld during West Point speech.

Bush gives a rare shout-out to Rumsfeld during West Point speech.

Today in a speech at the West Point Military Academy, President Bush further defended his legacy on national security, saying that the U.S. military is “stronger, more agile and better prepared” than it was in 2001. He also gave a “rare shout out to his former defense secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld, for leading the charge for a more nimble military”:

Finally, we are transforming our military for a new kind of war that we’re fighting now, and for wars of tomorrow. This transformation was a top priority for the enterprising leader who served as my first Secretary of Defense — Donald Rumsfeld. Today, because of his leadership and the leadership of Secretary Bob Gates, we have made our military better trained, better equipped, and better prepared to meet the threats facing America today, and tomorrow, and long in the future.

[This One]

9. Yes, Bush Kept Us Safe, Well Except for THAT ONE DAY

[rasputin1952]

10. No matter how hard they try to spin this...

he's going into history as the Worst President Ever bar none. He is the template for precisely what not to do as president.

The "man" is a complete buffoon...the epitome of the "Reverse Midas Touch"...everything he touches, turns to crap.

[invictus]

11. three recessions, two wars, doubled the national debt, cronyism and corruption ...

The Bush legacy was a disaster for America.