Hey Lib,

How do you think history will judge George Bush?

Sincerely,

Curious in Tucumcari, NM

 

Dear Curious,

If history had a sense of humor, it would detain George Bush indefinitely without trial and subject him to frequent waterboarding. But alas, he’ll probably get off with just being considered a monumental dimbulb.

Bush has a keen interest in history; ironic for someone who seems intent on ending it. People are usually surprised to learn that our president was a history major at Yale. It’s kind of like finding out Hitler studied ethics at Brandeis. I guess those who study the past at a grade C level or below are indeed condemned to repeat it.

Bush certainly seems to think history will vindicate him, though he would probably render the term as “vin-de-catered.” In April of 2007 he spoke about his legacy by noting that books are still written about George Washington, saying “My attitude is, if they're still writing about (number) one, 43 doesn’t need to worry about it.” True, historians do debate many aspects of Washington’s presidency, but there’s a general consensus that he wasn’t an idiot.

Bush likes to take the long view. He truly believes that from the vantage point of a distant future, his policies will be seem more benign. And when you consider that in 7.5 billion years the sun will expand to become a red giant class of star and completely engulf the earth, maybe warrantless wiretapping is no big shakes.

My own feeling is that George W. Bush will go down as the worst president America has ever seen—and that includes Jefferson Davis.

Sincerely,

Frederick Douglas Trotsky-Goldman