Reply #25: Even if I accept that premise [View All]

He still gave them a free hand and sanctioned their activities. He authorized the torture, lies, illegal war, voter fraud, improper management of FEMA and whatever else happened on his watch. He did nothing to stop it and knew precisely what they were up to. So the damage can still be attributed to him

And don't compare GWB to Gerald Ford. Ford may have been bumbling and inept in some areas -although that image of him is way over-emphasized IMO -but at his core he had a fundamental decency, integrity and commitment to ethics and good government that put him way ahead of many of the other occupants in the White House. He may not have accomplished much in terms of policy -keeping in mind that he also had to deal with a Congress that had one of the largest Democratic majorities in history and which was energized and willing to flex its muscles against the President in the aftermath of Watergate -but his main focus was on providing steady leadership and good government during a tumultuous time in America's history. Don't confuse a commitment to governing well -even in the absence of any major policy initiatives -with bumbling around and doing nothing. There's an important difference