Where Bush Was Right

Both candidates ran against him. But on a few issues they'd do well to follow W.

Published Dec 31, 2008

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"Change" was the magic word of this year's campaign. In his speech to the Republican convention, John McCain—a 26-year Washington veteran—promised to change "almost everything" that the U.S. government does. Barack Obama, of course, put the word "change" into seemingly every campaign sign, TV ad, and sound bite.

Yet there are some things the next president shouldn't change. George W. Bush hasn't gotten much good press in recent years, but he's accomplished some important things that the next president would do well to preserve and extend.

Consider three in particular:

1. The emerging U.S.-India strategic partnership. Since 1995, there have been more than a dozen joint U.S.-Indian military exercises, but the size and importance of these operations has expanded dramatically under Bush. In 2007, the two countries conducted a three-week Special Forces counterinsurgency training exercise. That same year, Indian warships joined two U.S. aircraft carriers and warships from Australia, Japan and Singapore to practice maneuvers. India has begun buying U.S. military hardware, requesting more than a billion dollars in arms in 2007 and acquiring what is now the second-largest ship in the Indian navy: the I.N.S. Jalashva, formerly the U.S.S. Trenton, an amphibious transport vessel. And the United States and India have negotiated a new deal granting New Delhi access to nuclear fuel for civilian purposes.

India isn't always an easy partner. New Delhi's strategic interests sometimes don't align with Washington's—witness India's comfortable relationship with Iran. And India is always sensitive to any hint it is being treated as anything less than an absolute equal. But with China becoming more assertive, India —along with Vietnam and other states on China's seacoast—shares some vital interests with the United States. The next U.S. president should therefore build on Bush's India legacy by drawing New Delhi into a closer defense relationship—not because Washington expects conflict with China, but in order to deter conflict.

2. A more equal partnership with Latin America. During this decade, the big countries of South America turned to the left. Former union leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidency of Brazil in 2002. The populist husband-and-wife team of Nestor and Cristina Kirchner has governed Argentina since 2003. Michelle Bachelet, a center-left leader, governs Chile.

If you accept socal handouts or not, is a matter of choice, and personal circomstances. Barney Franks, and Nancy, and Dodd, have their agendas. But till Americans demand fair Democratic elections, without the influwence of AIPAC and all these corrupt organisation, where the American President is more answerable to Israel than the people of America, this is what youre goint to get huge bailouts fro rich Bankers so every man woman and child become slaves to pay interest for loans, you never borrowed, and interest on loans for a life of constant wars around the world. And Americans lives worth nothing except to die fighting for oil companies in America. America has more chance of turning into a fascist state than a socialist one, or Communist.

Medical treatment is cheaper in every other country on earth, I would not knock the chance of every one having the ability of getting treatment, your ability to pay huge sums for what you can get cheaper else where is not garanteed. Having a good job today does not mean you will have the same luck for life.

People who lost their jobs who were paying their mortgage before is no fault of their own, many have lost out due to this engineered recession, by the Rich Bankers and AIPAC, to take over homes land.

I care not who makes your laws as long as I control the money. But who controles the money ultimately controls the country. One former President said he sold out his country, to Bankers who will cause the people of America and their children to end up living on the streets, because the Bankers knows exactly when to pull in the money out of circulation causing recessions at will. Keeping the cycle of poverty on going. 78 Million baby boomers was due to retire, 2009 what is the best way to make sure you never have to pay them what they should get, you engineer a recession 41K almost worthless.

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Posted By: Apolitical @ 04/14/2009 2:39:48 PM

You are absolutely right. Bush is at least got it right on something that I don't care about or at 1,001th concern of any other American. And Mr. Frum you seem to belong in the same league in terms of intelligence as Bush, Palin. Reagan and Quayle. Any more of these kind and we'll be a third world country soonest.
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Posted By: doodlehead @ 03/26/2009 2:43:25 AM

Americans are the problem with America today. Better all start learning mandarin.
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Posted By: Daphne Kenward @ 03/19/2009 2:05:07 PM

If you accept socal handouts or not, is a matter of choice, and personal circomstances. Barney Franks, and Nancy, and Dodd, have their agendas. But till Americans demand fair Democratic elections, without the influwence of AIPAC and all these corrupt organisation, where the American President is more answerable to Israel than the people of America, this is what youre goint to get huge bailouts fro rich Bankers so every man woman and child become slaves to pay interest for loans, you never borrowed, and interest on loans for a life of constant wars around the world. And Americans lives worth nothing except to die fighting for oil companies in America. America has more chance of turning into a fascist state than a socialist one, or Communist.

Medical treatment is cheaper in every other country on earth, I would not knock the chance of every one having the ability of getting treatment, your ability to pay huge sums for what you can get cheaper else where is not garanteed. Having a good job today does not mean you will have the same luck for life.

People who lost their jobs who were paying their mortgage before is no fault of their own, many have lost out due to this engineered recession, by the Rich Bankers and AIPAC, to take over homes land.

I care not who makes your laws as long as I control the money. But who controles the money ultimately controls the country. One former President said he sold out his country, to Bankers who will cause the people of America and their children to end up living on the streets, because the Bankers knows exactly when to pull in the money out of circulation causing recessions at will. Keeping the cycle of poverty on going. 78 Million baby boomers was due to retire, 2009 what is the best way to make sure you never have to pay them what they should get, you engineer a recession 41K almost worthless.