Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

George W. Liberal

He’s racked up quite a record, with the biggest nation-building effort ever, a general neo-Wilsonian approach to foreign policy, a semi-socialization of the financial sector, and a bailout for the automobile industry. Never mind the debate about whether he’s the worst president in American history — he is beginning to feel like a nightmare version ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
590868_090102_bush2.jpg
590868_090102_bush2.jpg

He's racked up quite a record, with the biggest nation-building effort ever, a general neo-Wilsonian approach to foreign policy, a semi-socialization of the financial sector, and a bailout for the automobile industry. Never mind the debate about whether he's the worst president in American history -- he is beginning to feel like a nightmare version of American liberalism. I can't believe some conservatives still defend this guy. I'm also surprised I haven't seen more queasiness on the right expressed about the round of legacy-polishing farewell interviews Bush and Cheney are doing.

He’s racked up quite a record, with the biggest nation-building effort ever, a general neo-Wilsonian approach to foreign policy, a semi-socialization of the financial sector, and a bailout for the automobile industry. Never mind the debate about whether he’s the worst president in American history — he is beginning to feel like a nightmare version of American liberalism. I can’t believe some conservatives still defend this guy. I’m also surprised I haven’t seen more queasiness on the right expressed about the round of legacy-polishing farewell interviews Bush and Cheney are doing.

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

Read More On George W. Bush | Media

More from Foreign Policy

Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.
Children are hooked up to IV drips on the stairs at a children's hospital in Beijing.

Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak

Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.

Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.
Henry Kissinger during an interview in Washington in August 1980.

Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage

The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.

A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.
A Ukrainian soldier in helmet and fatigues holds a cell phone and looks up at the night sky as an explosion lights up the horizon behind him.

The West’s False Choice in Ukraine

The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.

Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi
Illustrated portraits of Reps. MIke Gallagher, right, and Raja Krishnamoorthi

The Masterminds

Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.