Bizarro politics

Taking a brief break from McPalin/O’biden, it is worthwhile to start reflecting on the Bush legacy. One can argue that W. is the anti-Clinton, his photographic, negative, i.e., the Bizarro-Clinton. Consider some example bizarro evidence.

1. national security vs. political expediency:
   • Bill Clinton willingly compromised national security by turning a blind eye (at best) allowing Sino-espionage to transfer advanced military technology to the Peking in exchange for campaign cash (Charlie Trie, et.al.),
   • W. had taken no small number of political hits for fighting for common-sense measures (foreign wiretapping) via the Patriot Act.

2.  economic growth:

• Clinton gets credit for the late 90’s economic boom, when he had virtually nothing to do with it (the cap-gains tax cut and welfare reform, both passed by the Republican Congress, would be his only contribution,
• Bush gets no credit for the post-9/11 Goldilocks economic recovery powered by the tax cuts he campaigned on and did get passed,
• Slick Willie gets no blame at all for the downturn beginning in 2000 (yes, pre-9/11),
• George is getting all the blame for the 2008 “recession” which is not a recession and is a not a large slowing in growth by historical standards
• Clinton is skating scott-free on the current mortgage lending fiasco even though it was fueled by the Demo’s regulatory requirement to expand into high-risk loans in the name of diversity, and Clinton cronies ran and ransacked Fannie/Freddie (see Frank Raines, Jamie Gerolick, etc.), while Bush is blamed for same.

3.  war:

• Clinton really did take military action for political reasons (e.g., the aspirin factory in Sudan during the Lewinsky scandal).
• Bush is accused of invading Iraq even though there were numerous U.N. resolutions, inspections and warnings authorizing it. He did it and has stuck with it even though the political cost has been very high (2006).    

4.  the truth:

•  Clinton lies so much he even believes himself. 
•  Bush, though frequently accused of lying, is a terrible liar and while may have been wrong on occasion has spoken and acted in good faith throughout his two elected terms.

5.  diversity: 

• Clinton wanted a cabinet that looked like America, but blacks only every got low-level appointments, and excepting Madeline (Aunt Bee) Albright, the same is true for women,.
• Bush appointed the first two black Secretaries of State, including the first black woman, whom also served as National Security Advisor, not to mention Latinos not named Cisneros, and overall a more diverse cabinet

6.  love of fame:

• Bush appears not to be fazed by the lack of media love and low approval ratings; he appears eager to retire quietly to his ranch in Texas, 
• Clinton obviously misses the fame of the modern presidency, and has done nothing quietly since he left the White House. 

  There is more, but I think you get the point.