by Rayne Britt

Created on: October 31, 2008

There never seems to be a middle ground when speaking of President Bush. People either love him or hate him. There's never a question of "Bush: A Decent President? An Okay Guy?" It always seems to be "Bush: Legendary Hero or Spawn of the Underworld?"

Visionary for me is probably going a bit over-the-top, but I would not think him to be a villain either, not in the truest implication of the word. But history has its own way of turning heroes into villains and villains into heroes. What would history be like without the outlaws Jesse James or Billy the Kid? In spite of their criminal deeds (or is that misdeeds) many people idolize these men turning them into legends. Some historians will tell you the Pilgrim settlers were the vilest people to walk the face of the earth despite the fact without them we wouldn't be here. It is time that will tell how the legacy of George W. Bush plays out.

Without a doubt, George W. has had one of the most interesting Presidencies in American history. He went from having the highest approval rating ever to having the lowest ever. He was one of only three presidents who won by electoral vote and did not get the popular vote. (That was in the 2000 race. A figurative gold star for whoever can name the other two.) At points in his presidential career, he has succeeded at getting Democratic approval and at others Republican disdain. Bush has gone from one end of the spectrum to the other.

George Bush Jr.'s presidency had two of the greatest disasters in American history. The man-made disaster of 9/11 occurred during the first term and the worst natural disaster to hit American shores, Hurricane Katrina, during the second. Add to that the recent economic crises and it is easy to see the man's term has been anything but easy. He has taken the blame for things that can't be contributed to him and has accepted responsibility for things beyond his control.

There will undoubtedly be historians who turn George W. Bush into the greatest president ever (if they can do it for a certain 16th President who ignored the entire Bill of Rights and committed war crimes not witnessed again until the coming of Hitler, I'm sure they can do it for Bush) and others who will make him out to be the devil incarnate. In all truth, it matters not what my opinion of the man is but rather what the schoolbooks teach my grandchildren about the man. Ninety years from now, if the internet has not been replaced by direct telepathic communication, they can get on Helium and give a better response than I can.

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