Open Thread

December 23rd, 2008 10:27 AM

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Bush’s Legacy May End Up Better Than You Think.

On foreign policy, Bush emphasizes that he pursued a “freedom agenda” and spread freedom to Iraq. While the Iraqi future is far from clear, it is possible that the country becomes a democracy and a reliable ally of the U.S. If that transformation is completed, then it could well be viewed as a turning point in the war on terror. On the home front, to virtually everyone’s surprise, we’ve avoided a terrorist attack since Sept. 11...We are in the midst of the worst recession of our generation, yet it is hard to attribute this crisis to anything that Bush actively did. If his large deficits produced skyrocketing interest rates that crushed the economy, then the argument that Bush caused the mess we’re in might hold water. If he was the one who deregulated the financial sector, then we could justifiably blame him for our predicament.

Read the whole thing and share your thoughts about how history will view President Bush.