U.S. News Mag Shocks With 'Is Bush Delusional?' Cover Story

Photo of Tim Graham.

U.S. News & World Report is traditionally known as the staid sister of Time and Newsweek, so it’s a little shocking to see these harsh words on the cover this week: "Bush’s Last Stand: He’s plagued by a hostile CONGRESS, sinking POLLS, and an unending WAR. IS HE RESOLUTE OR DELUSIONAL?" (Capitals theirs.) The cover story by Kenneth T. Walsh is loaded with Bush-bashing quotes from named and anonymous sources. Walsh began by noting Bush has compared his trials to those of Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman, and the diagnosis that Bush is mentally ill emerges from DNC chairman Dr. Howard Dean: "This is delusional – comparing yourself to two of our greatest presidents!" Liberal historian Robert Dallek added, "a great majority see him as stubborn and unyielding...And everything he touches turns to dust."

In his article, titled "A Sinking Presidency," Walsh quotes a "Bush adviser" and "another confidant" to explain the White House view, and near the end, he included White House spokesman Dan Bartlett on the record suggesting the president receives a diversity of opinion and "I don’t believe there any blind spots in the White House." But most of the people Walsh found to comment had negative things to say:

– Columnist William F. Buckley Jr wrote a column predicting the waning of the GOP: "The political problem of the Bush administration is grave, possibly beyond the point of rescue."

– Howard Dean a second time: "Some critics say Bush has lost his image of competence because of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. ‘It ended the day after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans,’ exposing vast faults in the government’s disaster response system, says the DNC’s Dean."

– Former strategist Matthew Dowd declared Bush is "secluded and bubbled in."

– An unnamed "former adviser" piled on with a "boy king" insult: "Because of the war, he’s gone from incredible strength to incredible weakness. Shakespeare couldn’t have written it any better – the boy king."

Walsh concluded that while "legislators, journalists, and friends" are dazzled by the president's "command of the issues dear to him," the public at large is not: "The problem may be that many other Americans are tuning him out." If that's true, it might happen in part because "news" magazines are suggesting it's quite possible that he's nearing insanity.

—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center


Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Is there a cure for BDS? I th

Is there a cure for BDS? I think many cases are getting worse. Is the CDC checking into this?

I am glad you responded CitA

I am glad you responded CitA first.

What I wanted to post and still do would get me kicked off of here....with that... I had better get off here.

Deplorable...what the left is doing to this man, our President since the beginning of his Presidency to now, especially during a time of war is despicable ....

I really keep thinking there cannot be any depths to sink lower to...but these evil creatures keep surprising me....and finding it... despicably.

 Endless.

BTthe lasting judgement does

BT

the lasting judgement does not happen in this here and now, but it is certain

Supreme Court,  National Security,  Borders,  Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.   

bot,Amen to that.With those s

bot,

Amen to that.

With those sentiments...I will close.

Night to all who are still posting...catch ya when I catch ya.

It does seem that they are ju

It does seem that they are just getting lower and lower. With this kind of reporting, it woldn't suprise me if the left set torch to Washington then did all kinds of story on how Bush danced while the capitol burned.

You know...since I work with so many people that are firmly in the left camp I can tell you with 100% truth that people on the left will shoot themselves in the foot or cut their legs off just to spite you. It doesn't matter if it hurts them at all, it only matters if it hurts you or makes you look wrong.

With this kind of reporting

With this kind of reporting, ...C it A

Conserv....you should have put quotes around "reporting". This is the best "news" that US News can come up with? for a cover story? This is not reporting, IMO; not even "news analysis". It's an invitation to a Bush-bash. "Hey, I know! Let's do a cover story on how pathetic Bush is! Yeah, that's the ticket!

They are unbelieveable. Just imagining the questions that they went to Howard Dean and the others with, in order to get those quotes from them, boggles the mind.

 "everything he touches

 "everything he touches turns to dust..."

They cannot give Bush credit for anything. When Bush was Gov here in Texas, he was a big pusher of wind energy. Now, Irony of Ironies, "Big Oil" Texas is now the leading wind energy state, having beaten "Green" California. I believe the media is deliberately ignoring this because they would have to trace the roots of this to efforts to Bush when he was GOV.

"As of April 2007, Texas has an installed wind generating capacity of 2,768 MW, which is enough power for over 600,000 average-sized homes a year. One megawatt of wind power produces enough electricity to serve 250 to 300 homes on average each day. According to AWEA, an additional 1,000 MW of wind power are currently under construction in Texas. " found at following link: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_wind.htm 

So have those evil liberals i

So have those evil liberals infiltrated U.S. News & World Report?

Oh puhleeeze boa.Even you are

Oh puhleeeze boa.

Even you aren't gonna be able to pull this off.

It is the conundrum of our mo

It is the conundrum of our modern times:   Media sources at record lows for viewers/subscribers telling us--repeatedly--how disliked President   Bush is in America.  I still haven't  seen a single war protestor in our metro area in 4 years!Yet, Bush smashed all-time voting records in 2004 by garnering 62 million votes.Meanwhile, Couric, NY Times, LA Times, cable and and network TV teeter at record lows  for viewers.Our Mpls Startribune newsrag just announced massive layoffs, round 2, yesterday.Who is really in the bubble/the Shakespearen tragedy, the MSM or Bush?    Please help me understand.........

BDS

Uh-oh don't egg her on Balboa , BT seems pretty p***ed tonight. Can someone tell me what BDS stands for? I'm assuming it has something to do with people complaining about Bush? Has this term been used for a while or is it a new thing?

Never mind

Never mind found my answer. thx

http://en.wikipedia....

U.S. News IS delusional. The

U.S. News IS delusional. The pinko scum run a lousy magazine. Scum of the Earth, pure scum. Can you even FATHOM what WWII might have ended up like if panzy liberals were allowed to spew venomous hatred at Truman or Roosevelt?? It's not just the magazine, it is the communist traitors that SUPPORT filth like this. God Bless the soldiers in Iraq, they are fighting for a lot of good American's, but they are fighting for a lot of disrespectful libtards as well.

Well, so much for U.S. News r

Well, so much for U.S. News right of center reputation compared to Time and Newsweek (like the perky one's gig, its a distant third to the other two).  Of course, their editorial reputation is more like right of moveon.org than the other two.  Of course, all bets are off when it comes to the topic of Israel. Zuckerman, the owner and editor-in-chief of the U.S. News is gaga over Israel.  Which makes this article that much the courorsier.  Since Bush has been a staunch supporter of Israel, some would say to the detriment of his presidency, With this article and others since Bush's presidency, Zuckerman may be helping the Hil dog get elected - no friend of Israel - except when its time to get the Jewish vote in NY. 

If you think Zuckerman is some sort of holder of the holy grail, get a load of this well . . . "load:"  "In 2005, before the Jewish settlers' pullout from Gaza, at James Wolfensohn's request, Zuckerman made a private plea to his friends including Bill Gates, and Leonard Stern and raised $14 million within two days for a private advocacy group the Aspen Institute which bought greenhouses in Gaza and transferred it to Palestinians as gifts.[6] Greenhouses set aside for them were damaged by looters after the handover, with Palestinians stipping their gifts bare and walking off with irrigation hoses, water pumps and plastic sheeting." Mideast Outlook: Palestinians can't compromise on minor issue. Bruce S.Ticker. Crisisisrael.com (August 27, 2005).

I disagree with the "det

I disagree with the "detriment" part of your comment, but you do illustrate a fundamental tenet of liberalism: all or nothing.

You see, you can agree with a liberal on many issues, even most issues, you may even agree with their basic tenets, but if you disagree with *any* part of their current ideology...YOU MUST BE DESTROYED.

This is a desperate act of wi

This is a desperate act of wishful thinking on the part of U.S. News. They know putting something controversial like this on the cover sells copies of their magazine. Both supporters and detractors of the President will buy the magazine since the cover story sparks an emotion in everyone.  It's the same philosophy that Olbermann and Rosie have when they target the President.  They don't need supporting facts in their allegations because they don't care if they're right or wrong. They just try to get people stirred up so their ratings will go up.

Like Howard Dean is the pict

Like Howard Dean is the picture of calm, cool sanity, right?

<Howard Dean: "This i

<Howard Dean: "This is delusional – comparing yourself to two of our greatest presidents!">

Well if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black, the wolf calling the rabbit a vicious predator, the snake calling the mouse a venomous threat, the pit bull calling the mailman a deadly menace ... the Geico caveman calling the therapist a neurotic thumb-twiddler.

The U.S. News and Worldly Retort article is a case study in attempted evisceration by accusation and defamation.

Last time I checked George Bush was a PRESIDENT, he was the commander-in-chief during A WAR, and he was facing THE SAME DECISIONS LINCOLN AND TRUMAN FACED.

This DNC vendetta against Bush hearkens to John Chapter 10 ...

John 10:19-21

(19) There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings [the words of Jesus Christ].

(20) And many of them said, "He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?"

(21) Others said, "These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?"

Whenever you take a stand on the Truth the naysayers, mockers, murmurers, complainers, and denigrators come out of the woodwork.

My favorite is the part about

My favorite is the part about him facing a "hostile" Congress. Since when is a President of one party having a hostile Congress dominated by the opposite party something new in history?

Bush’s greatest weakness is

Bush’s greatest weakness is his refusal to confront his domestic enemies. Bush believed he could win them over, but he badly “misunderestimated” them. They’re out for blood, and they don’t play by any rules. They deny that the nation is in any real danger; therefore, they see no need to restrain their narrow agenda for the sake of a greater good.

Reagan had no problem attacking his opponents, forcefully, but we remember Reagan for his affability. Paradoxically, Bush refuses to attack his opponents, yet they call him “one of the most polarizing leaders in American history.” That makes Bushies carp about unfair treatment, but instead they should learn why it works like this. In game theory terms, Bush is willing to reward, but he’s unwilling to retaliate. Therefore, he enacts no penalty for non-cooperation. His opponents frustrate him consistently, and Bush never makes them pay. In game theory, you can’t do that. You have to punish non-cooperation as much as you reward cooperation. Harry Reid said the war was lost and Bush’s surge was a waste, but Bush barely released a statement. Reagan would have gone medieval over Reid. Bush did nothing. That’s not a virtue.

Bush’s enemies call him delusional, and yet liberal candidates propose pulling troops out of Iraq … but “keeping them nearby” to return if genocide happens. Of the two plans, which is the more delusional? But unless Bush confronts that idiocy directly, and forcefully, the idiots will (endlessly) tell the public that Bush is the delusional one.

Bush is trying to play chess without capturing any pieces. That’s a losing strategy.

I agree, KC. You can't off

I agree, KC. You can't offer the carrot and forget about the stick. The President seems to think that ignoring Reid's type of behavior is the way to handle it. He thinks people are too smart to believe it. He is just enabling their complete lack of respect for him. Maybe he is a big enough man, on a personal level, to ignore their attacks, but for the sake of the country and the image others have of him, he shouldn't do that.

I am so sick of Democrats who say they have to learn to fight dirty like the Republicans. If the Republicans fought half as dirty as the Democrats say they do, there wouldn't be enough of Pelosi and Reid left to pick up with tweezers. Republicans don't  fight dirty; they don't even fight at all. They are like abused wives, who think: if I just cook better meals, keep the kids more quiet, the house cleaner, maybe he won't hit me tonight. And it never works.

Republicans never, never, learn.

I looked at a recommended you

I looked at a recommended you tube video from another blog. It terrifically explains the liberal mind, mind set and what is behind their idiocy. I'll post it here. Unfortunately and most telling the audience was very small. 

"A mind is a terrible thing." - A comic I forgot the name of.

The Republican's need to go o

The Republican's need to go on the attack. I don't know how they will learn to be as ruthless as their opposition is. This stuff is now serious. If you want to go along to get along a'la McCain you become a loser. The Republicans do not know their real enemy they get caught up in minutiae which makes look like they are ditherers (the waste of time and money on the flag burning amendment comes to mind). The believe the dems are rational beings like themselves, they are not. The Dems are now a cult with a cult like singlemindedness and agenda.

Thank heaven we unsubscribe

Thank heaven we unsubscribed years ago. How any company makes money when they go radical is beyond me.

No, the MSM media is delusion

No, the MSM media is delusional and sick - they want us out of Iraq now so that all hell can break loose in the Middle East.

Another weekly bites the dust!

With every new attack of Bush

With every new attack of Bush from the MSM we strengthen the enemy.  With every projection of the American public as being dissillusioned with the WOT and supposedly blaming Bush for it all, we bolster the insurgency's resolve.  With every new spouting from celebrity pie-wholes directed at the gullible pop-culture fed masses, we cheapen our character as a free people. 

As to Bush he can handle that

As to Bush he can handle that one himself, yet, while mentioning "Delusions" who saw Clinton this morning?  Billary was almost using tears to try to convince some people that he would try he best as "ambassador to the world(?)" to keep a few days a week for his Foundation work.   Did Bill and Hillary stop studying the Constitution in Law school and take up talk of greased Arkansas watermelons when at Amendment 21?

Time to start using "TLTF" or "TLCTF" >> term limited two-fer or term limited Clinton two-fer.   They are not worth the extra key strikes.   How is Hillary justifying staying left of France?  And did anyone else see History Channel last night on History of Bin Laden and parts on Clintons efforts?

Do we have evidence that Bin Laden used our not going into Baghdad in early 1990's to rally his radicals  >>  Look at Americans, they say they are for freedom but even when they have the largest coalition in history together don't go thinking they will stop siding with Saddam, maybe.

 Walsh began by noting Bush

 Walsh began by noting Bush has compared his trials to those of Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman, and the diagnosis that Bush is mentally ill emerges from DNC chairman Dr. Howard Dean: "This is delusional – comparing yourself to two of our greatest presidents!"

   Bush is delusional? 

 The media during the terms of Lincoln and Truman was brutal on both men.  Now the media says these were two of our greatest Presidents.

  Keep in mind, all some media writers have attained is a journalism degree.  They don't have an education and have never had a real job.

Looks like Bush did wonders for stock market

Looks like Bush did wonders for stock market. Complements of Investors Business Daily, we can see that President Bush inherited an economic crash from the prior administration ($8 trillion of equity from the "irrationally exuberant" dot.com bubble was lost) , enacted tax and economic legislation to pull us through it, and a long sustained (and more sustainable)  bull stock market is being led by a strong economic rebound.

The Bush Stock Market Recovery

Looks more like what Bill Clinton touched turned to dust, Howard Dean.