I did a radio show this week and the host asked a pretty engaging question: has Bush done anything right since taking office over five years ago? On the air, nothing came to mind (for either of us), but I thought I’d throw it open to some discussion. There has to be something.
On the big stuff, the president seems to have a reverse Midas touch. His tax cut proposals were supposed to create a record-number of jobs while balancing the budget. Bush failed on both counts. His invasion of Iraq was supposed to seize control of vast stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction while keeping Americans safe and bringing stability to the Middle East. That hasn’t quite worked out according to plan. His Medicare expansion was supposed to be a cost-effective way to expand seniors’ access to affordable prescription medication. It’ turned into a half-trillion dollar debacle that the administration can’t even administer properly. And let’s not even talk about Social Security privatization.
So, can anyone name a single success story? I should probably establish the parameters a bit. When I ask about whether Bush has done something “right,” I mean “with the necessary follow-through.” I think Bush was clearly right to invade Afghanistan after 9/11, but he has since allowed much of the country to slide back into the hands of the Taliban. I think Bush was largely right in working with Congress on No Child Left Behind, but the administration implemented the policy poorly and cut its funding. I think Bush was right to flip-flop on the Senate’s anti-torture provision last year, but he issued a signing statement explaining that he’d ignore the law whenever he decided that he should.
I’m looking for a full-scale, Grade A success. Bush came up with a policy/idea, won support for it, implemented it effectively, and saw it through to fruition. I’m stumped.