New at Reason

Dave Weigel looks at conservative political reporter Bill Sammon's new book of praise and reverence for President Bush.

Comments

John-David | November 19, 2007, 2:26pm | #

Oopsie.

Russell Seitz | November 19, 2007, 2:33pm | #

If Millard Fillmore had Sammon at his side ,by now Iraq would be the center of the Whig Empire

joe | November 19, 2007, 3:07pm | #

Great, the more the better. I hope every passionate Iraq War supporter and George Bush booster writes a book like this.

They make for useful vaccinations for our body politic. The more people see this sort of "thinker" yammering on about treason, da troops, and the other old saws we've come to know so well, and doing so as everything they stood for falling down around their ears and highlights the vast distances between their words and reality, the less likely it will be that those tactics will be to work in the future.

Jamie Kelly | November 19, 2007, 3:10pm | #

Maybe they could sell that book at the Creation Museum.
You could put it right next to the display of Adam getting it on with a lamb.

joe | November 19, 2007, 3:10pm | #

This time, in English:

The more people see this sort of "thinker" yammering on about treason, da troops, and the other old saws we've come to know so well, and doing so as everything they stood for is falling down around their ears, it will only serve to highlight the vast distances between their words and reality. The more this happens, the less likely it will be that those tactics will be effective at swaying people in the future.

James | November 19, 2007, 3:10pm | #

The delusions keep coming. This is the state of American politics and a good lesson for anybody who is incredibly incompetent. If you learn from the Bush Administration you simply never admit you mistakes, in fact it is best not to even attempt to explain things. You just tell people who disagree 'Fuck You' and proceed to the next unbelivable blunder...

Syloson of Samos | November 19, 2007, 3:15pm | #

Lots of historians have noted that during the Civil War the divided political scene in the Union north was a great aid to the prosecution of the war. If things do eventually turn out well in Iraq, etc. a similar argument can also be made about our particular time of war.

James | November 19, 2007, 3:28pm | #

I think what this book shows is that there is still a sizable portion of the country(it has been falling during the past 4 years, still around 25%) which is actively living in a fantasy world. The neo-cons and the religous rightists are so wrapped in ideology/religion that they continue to feed delusion upon delusion and every time their worldview disagrees with reality they treat it as a 'he said-she said' situation.

R C Dean | November 19, 2007, 3:44pm | #

I think what this book shows is that there is still a sizable portion of the country(it has been falling during the past 4 years, still around 25%) which is actively living in a fantasy world.

Nah. Its much higher than that, and it hasn't fallen at all. Once you accept that not just neo-cons and fundies are reality-challenged, anyway.

TrickyVic | November 19, 2007, 3:46pm | #

Syloson,

I'm not sure if that is analogious. We fought our civil war. We are trying to prevent Iraq from fighting theirs.

"""The delusions keep coming."""

No kidding. Bush has done much to create an all knowing government, and push human rights back to the pre-Magna Carta days, deceiving the public the whole way.

James | November 19, 2007, 4:00pm | #

"Its much higher than that, and it hasn't fallen at all. Once you accept that not just neo-cons and fundies are reality-challenged, anyway."

Oh of course...but these are the people who have believed the SAME lies over and over again...I at least like people to lie to me in different ways...show me a bit of respect:)

Bingo | November 19, 2007, 4:02pm | #

This book sounds so ridiculous i might have to pick it up

James | November 19, 2007, 4:09pm | #

The best way to get a book deal is to either become a professional contrarian or to have a niche audience that will purchase whatever you write no matter what...this author has achieved both.

Andrew Glass | November 19, 2007, 4:59pm | #

I love this. David, you have a great sense of humor.

bigbigslacker | November 19, 2007, 5:25pm | #

GWB is the best president we've ever had. He must have copied most of his policy from Clinton, the previous best president we ever had. I've heard the next one is going to be really great.

Rimfax | November 19, 2007, 5:55pm | #

Adams and Grant may have a new coat of varnish, but Jackson and FDR have certainly collected some extra detritus in the past 10 years, and Johnson's rep just keeps getting worse and worse.

While there will always be those who are inclined towards a James Lipton-esque rimjob of their ideological heroes, I'm not so sure about the future of W's legacy outside of the Archie Bunker crowd.

"Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again."

Gleeful Reaper | November 19, 2007, 6:30pm | #

If GWB turns out to be the GOP's undertaker, who knows, perhaps history will be kind to him.

Cesar | November 19, 2007, 8:31pm | #

Bush's legacy? It will rank somewhere between James Buchannan and Chester A. Arthur.

In 100 years, he'll be best remembered for being the son of Geroge H.W. Bush, and standing on some ruble. That will be about all.

joe | November 20, 2007, 9:09am | #

I wish I was as optimistic, Cesar.

I fear he will turn out to be of much greater consequence than that.

GILMORE | November 20, 2007, 1:11pm | #

Good article dave.

rudecrusade | November 21, 2007, 8:42pm | #

I hate how all GW can argue on is the premise for why we are at war and why we should still be there. I belive most Americans would follow with his thinking if given the chance to do so. But his incompetence did not allow sane people to stay on the Bush Train to Obscurity. If this war was waged properly Americans would still support the reasons for being there (and there are reasons are people.) Don't forget, other countries did help us with our Civil War too.

wayne | November 22, 2007, 8:47am | #

George Bush will not be judged a great man by future generations. He is dumb, and he surrounds himself with yes men, and cronies and the children of cronies. He is uninteresting.

My guess is that Rove, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld will be much more interesting topics for historians.

The whole notion of "great man" turns my stomach. Presidents, like CEOs, are all "great men" in their own minds. In reality, they are narcisists verging on sociopathy, and no more capable than any other group randomly selected from amongst the general population of average intelligence citizens.

rudecrusade | November 22, 2007, 12:58pm | #

Actually he doesn't surround himself with yes men, he is the yes man. That's why I must agree Rove and company will be much more interesting for historians. They are the ones that made the crappy decisions.

I think the country would actually be worse if we followed any original ideas that came from Bush's head, because to date no ideas have ever been his.