Paranoia

The history of American politics is one marked by personal attacks, unreasonable scrutiny, and the absolute lack of privacy. While the American  voter may have  right to know as much as they possibly can about their Commander in Chief, somtimes this can become excessive and lead to our leaders in failing to do their best. President George Bush was one such president.

President George Bush declared war on Iraq in 2003. This moment was met with at first a decent approval rating. Many people still remembered and felt the raw pain of the September 11 tragedies and as a result believed that going to war was a good move. However, the left soon saw an opening. When they realized that Iraq did not, in fact, have WMD they began to call President Bush a war mongerer and idiot. They attacks became so numerous and harsh that many people actually began to believe the claims. They called out President Bush for killing our troops for "no reason" and wondered why he wouldn't stop the war if what we came there for never existed. These attacks on Bush foreign policy shaped his Presidency and legacy.

A second example of the villification of Bush came during his supposed economic depression that he casused. During his second term, many believed that President Bush caused the economic collapse (one that was even worse than the Great Depression). He cut the income tax on almost every American (Bush Era Tax Cuts which are still continued today) while waging to wars the liberals said. How can our economy get better. This was the point of view of Bush opponets at this time. However misfounded, they believed that his policies were the reason for the economic depression, not becuase of actual evidence, but becuase od the notion that the two HAD to cause a depression. This was a second many vilinification of the George Bush Era Presidency.

Finally, knowing that Bush was constantly scrutinized and criticizied, how could his presidency have changed? For one, his war policy and targeting would have been much more aggressive. In his second term, Bush was forced to back down from many important engagements that could have led to the capture of suspects such as Osama Bin Laden in order to focus on the country of Iraq. This was done solely for political reasons and to keep favor within the House. Another important change could have been the Medicare Act Bush introduced in his first term. In order to appease both sides of the table, Preseident Bush had to sign this act which led to improved prescription medication for seniors. Before this bill, Democrats had shoot down Bush take on Medicare which was a blow to his credentials for his second term. These are major changes that could have embarked from a more accepting American public.





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