The Sunday, November 7th New York Times Week in Review section has an article titled "Now Appearing" that discusses President George W. Bush's image and new Book: "Decision Points." After reading the article (see link above and below) summarize it and post your opinion in the blog.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/weekinreview/07baker.html?_r=1&ref=weekinreview
Hi Professor! This is Annelys Hessing's comment. I'm doing it for her because she is having trouble posting it.
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Sociology MWF 10:00-10:50AM
Apparently, former President Bush has a new outlook on his life since the presidency. Kanye West, for example, can relate to Bush in the sense that West understands how he feels when he could be inconsiderate of a person's background or interests. Bush stays out of political affairs. In fact, the best way he could express his feelings was by writing a book about his past presidency such as protecting the country and confronting international terrorism. He has learned from his past mistakes with the public. I believe that it is a good thing that he stays out of political affairs because it is no longer his focus. He has moved on to other areas of his life by expressing himself in his book. Even though some people do not like Bush for the choices he had made in the past, others favor him more currently. Making statements and enforcing U.S. policies is no longer his career. He is starting anew, with a clean slate.
Moriah Bryan
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This article discusses the reappearance of former President George W. Bush. After nearly two years of silence, he emerges from his self-imposed exile to defend his record and to begin the process of defining his legacy. He plans on releasing his memoir called "Decision Points", he has started hitting the television circuit with interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Matt Lauer, and Candy Crowley. Although the newly elected Republicans are very eager that Mr. Bush has returned to public stage, Mr. Bush finds himself in an evolving place in American society. Most Americans still do not favor him and a good portion still despise him for invading Iraq, “waterboarding” terror suspects and presiding over the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. To some he is still a failed president, the source of today’s economic and foreign policy troubles. However, with President Obama’s unpopularity and “Miss Me Yet?” T-shirts, some polls suggest softer views from some citizens. Mr. Obama’s blame-Bush strategy did not stop voters last week from returning Republicans to power in the House and handing them more seats in the Senate. However, Democrats hope Mr. Bush’s new high profile will help them frame the emerging Republican generation. Mark Mellman, a Democratic strategist, called Mr. Bush’s public tour “great news for Democrats.” With rare exemption, like helping out with Haiti earthquake relief at President Obama’s request, Mr. Bush has remained out of sight since leaving office, determined not to complicate Mr. Obama’s life with commentaries about current affairs. Even as he begins to promote his new book, “Decision Points,” which will be published on Tuesday, he is avoiding any involvement in the political debate that is consuming the country. Mr. Bush has said for years that he imagines history will ultimately appreciate his presidency, crediting him with confronting international terrorism and protecting the country from further attack after Sept. 11, 2001, while promoting freedom abroad and perhaps, if Iraq eventually improves, transplanting the idea of democracy to a once-hostile region. In his book, he recalls that as president he eulogized both Reagan and Gerald R. Ford, noting that both were remembered more warmly by the time they died, and he hopes that he will be too.
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, I have to say maybe Pres. Bush wasn't so bad of a president. I find it funny how people can quickly change their perspective about someone. I believe that his reputation will improve over time because of previous Pres. who were favored after their term. He has a new book he's writting that will be out tomorrow. It's named "Decision Points". I believe the book maybe about the choices he would have made if he had a chance to go back to his Pres. term. He said that “Whatever the verdict on my presidency, I’m comfortable with the fact that I won’t be around to hear it,” he writes. “That’s a decision point only history will reach.”
The article indicated that the American people voted Republicans for the House and that the Democrats are looking to Pres. Bush's new high profile to help them frame the emerging Republican generation. Mark Mellman, a Democratic strategist, called Mr. Bush’s public tour “great news for Democrats.” He added: “The G.O.P. was lucky he was out of sight and out of mind through Tuesday. His reemergence on the national stage will reinforce voters’ already negative views of the G.O.P.”