Don't Believe Your Lying Eyes

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_01/016463.php

DON'T BELIEVE YOUR LYING EYES.... Presidents don't have to give televised farewell addresses at the end of their term. Indeed, George H. W. Bush didn't bother, preferring to let his record speak for itself. The son would have been wise to follow his father's example.

snip//

This, however, was the quote that got my attention:

"Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks. There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I've always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right."

When reflecting on his two terms, in other words, Bush's argument is that he didn't deliberately fail. He acted with the nation's best interests in mind? He did what he thought was right? Well, of course he did. What president goes around trying to undermine the country, making decisions he hopes are wrong?

The president, in this sense, set the bar as low as it can go. When parents tell a little-leaguer, "It doesn't matter if you succeed, just do your very best," it's the right way to offer support to a child. Similarly, Bush seems to think having the right intentions, as he perceives them, should count, regardless of the results. He's effectively asking the nation, "How about an 'A' for effort?"

I've heard quite a few Bush defenders of late quibble with the notion that his presidency should be considered an abject failure. But how much debate can there really be when Bush's pitch to Americans can be boiled down to, "I gave it my best shot"?

—Steve Benen 8:00 AM

[Uben]

1. We've seen his best shot.....

...and Cheney's! Neither of them could hit an elephant in a birdcage!

[Jim__]

2. "When parents tell a little-leaguer ..."

But, that's just it. Bush is still just a little leaguer trying to impress mommy and daddy; a little leaguer with no clue about the world.

[4_TN_TITANS]

3. "When parents tell a little-leaguer.."

That sentence was priceless. He looked so pitiful at the podium, pleading for a pat on the back from the nation and a participation trophy.