Does anybody forgive Bush his trespasses?
 

Right now, I can't. Maybe never.

I've never been a big supporter. I didn't vote for him in the 2000 primaries, and I voted 3rd party in the general. I never believed he was a true conservative so I while disappointed, I wasn't really let down by his domestic record because it was expected. I've disagreed with much of what he's done. I think Iraq was probably a mistake.

That said, I believe he is a fundamentally decent man who truly did what he felt was in America's best interests (and ultimately he may very well be vindicated). While much of the criticism is warranted, much of it is gross hyperbole. He certainly doesn't deserve the Bushitler scorn heaped upon him from the left since day one.

So can I forgive him? Sure, but since I never have felt betrayed I'm not sure there's a need.

The one thing he could have done that would have been unforgivable for me would be to go after guns. He didn't. Plus he appointed two great judges to the SCOTUS. Those two things alone make him vastly superior to Gore and Kerry and there's no question he'd easily get my vote over Obama.

I can probably forgive him. He gave future presidents a lesson on how not to govern. That alone is a great service to our country.

It's a shame that he didn't learn from Carter, eh?

It is a shame! Sadly, I would still take Carter. I still remember everyone singing "Jimmy Carter has a way of screwing up the USA" to the Oscar Mayer tune. My mom used to get mad at me because she said we should respect the president. Bush can still be redeemed if he follows that Carter route and becomes a humanitarian. Carter has done a lot of good in the world (post presidency).

I wouldn't take Carter and his double-digit inflation.

I agree that Carter's humanitarian efforts have been very commendable. But his meddling in foreign affairs has been a disgrace. I can't appreciate someone who kisses Hamas ass.

I might be mistaken, but I think the way inflation is reported has changed since Carter was president. I would be surprised if inflation isn't a least ten percent now. Doesn't the government take out food, energy, and housing when calculating inflation?

you are correct. Nearly everything that people actually purchase has been removed from the inflationary index.

You crack me up.

It's true. All the stuff that people purchase on a regular basis has been removed.