James Baker: Bush's legacy might be be a good one, "provided Iraq turns out OK. And it still can."

[sabra]

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-38/1191937768151930.xml&coll=6

<snip>

In Monday's speech, Baker said domestic support is "vital" to success in foreign wars, without noting that nearly 60 percent of Americans now believe the Iraq war is not worth fighting.

Still, Baker said it would be a mistake to assume Bush will be judged a failure by history.

Asked what Bush's legacy might be, Baker said it could be a good one, "provided Iraq turns out OK. And it still can."

[MedleyMisty]

1. Why are they so concerned with history?

It reminds me of that scene in Schindler's List before they shoot up the ghetto, with the commander talking about how history will see them.

What about the present?

[sabra]

2. they all think of Ronald Reagan

[bdamomma]

5. they are too busy rewriting their own history. bastards.

[DFW]

10. They are concerned with history because.........

The present perception of them is one of a gang of corrupt,
morally bankrupt, thieving, power-obsessed, cowardly incompetents
who really know full well, deep down, that they never deserved to be
in power in the first place. They hope to perform another cover-up
similar to the one in Turkish history books on the Armenian genocide
of 1915, or the Japanese versions of what they did in China from 1937
through the end of the Second World War.

I think James Baker will be disappointed. The current perception of them
will be the one found in recorded history for as long as history continues
to be recorded.

[madokie]

3. only if they succeed in killing all the Iraqi people

so as to be no one to complain

bushitler* will go down as the worstest of the worst toady pResident's of all time. he will carry that destinction for the rest of the history of this once prime country

[bdamomma]

4. James Baker another kiss up for the * regime, he is making

millions also, stinking SOB's.

just a question? did James Baker ever serve? or is he another chickenhawk?

[frogcycle]

11. Military service: USMC (1952-54)

( http://www.nndb.com/people/331/000023262/ )

off your point, but Wiki points out an interesting factoid:

On June 15, 2002, Graeme Baker, the 7-year-old granddaughter of Baker, daughter of Nancy and James Baker IV, was the victim of suction entrapment<7>.

A suction entrapment case in 1997 was John Edward's biggest. You have to wonder what Baker's personal feelings are on the topic.

[Fresh_Start]

6. How can these people possibly be so in denial?

Torture, violating treaties, alienating allies, loss of respect, loss of competence, loss of an entire gd American city.

There is no upside for Bush and his friends.

[bdamomma]

15. denial some regular American citizens are "in denial" also.

[NewJeffCT]

7. Hey Jimmy, they still haven't forgiven us for the Crusades

And, they started about 900 years ago...

So, do you mean Iraq being okay by the year 3000 AD or so will mean Bush gets moved up a notch in history?

[Mandate My Ass]

8. Let the whitewash begin. We know Bushie is planning on leaving his mess

o-potamia with the lucky winner of GE 2008. So if they screw it up it'll be their fault, not his. If they manage somehow to clean it up, it reflects well on him and not them. How convenient. :eyes:

[Solly Mack]

9. and it's your job to aid that goal

which you're doing now

you blowhard lying piece of shit scum

[L. Coyote]

12. Baker's legacy is now soiled by acting to install the Bush Juinta in 2000. No recovery possible!

[ToeBot]

13. Like the invasion of Iraq was Bush's only monumental fuck-up! nt

[Johonny]

14. I say Baker is wrong

I imagine people in the future will be more focused on the events that are most important to them. The people of the future will be wondering why Bush did absolutely nothing to prevent the global warming that affects every aspect of their lives. Why he did absolutely nothing to revamp the health care infrastructure that simply fails to service a majority of Americans. Why he did absolutely nothing (even fought against it) to invest in alternative fuels placing the country at huge economic disadvantage to countries that did invent alternative fuel technology. Ditto for stem cell research. The list can go on, the underlining point is Bush did not believe in investing in America and ultimately that was his major failure. Bush is going to be seen as a person that embraced the past and spent the huge financial resources of the United States to try to hang onto the past a little longer, instead of investing in the future that would have kept America as a world leader. The future of Iraq simply will not matter to Americans any more than the future of Vietnam matters not one whit to Americans under 30 today. America was able to recover from the waste of Vietnam, but the pressures on the US are much, much greater today and it seems unlikely the US can recover what it lost out on by blowing all it's capital in Iraq. Oh no Bush will not be remembered kindly in the future because the outcome of Iraq simply never mattered to the US but nearly every other aspect of American life that will really matter in the future Bush simply ignored, stalled or fought against.

[RainDog]

16. that's just sop to poppy

baker's good buddy daddy bush might be feeling a tad sad lately knowing that his kid is on the skids and that's not good for Jebbie in the hood since he's the anointed for all the pointy headed greedy lying stealing killing evil vibe Bush tribe.

and not only that, he's trying to put the blame for the total incompetence of Bush, Wolfie, Rummy, etc. onto the American people. hey, I've got a funny idea! Maybe if you proto-fascists didn't fuck over the people you want to support your wars of aggression, you might have more support. for that reason only I am glad that they've stayed true to their hate for the American people... i.e. anyone who is not "Bush's base" among the richest of the rich in this country.

Sorry, Baker. This time in history will be remembered as one of shame and degradation of democracy, a semi-complete overthrow of the U.S. constitution, and a heinous regime, likened to those south american and south african dictators you and poppy so loved. And that's only if we survive these scumbags.

As has been said before, a failure of the legislative branch to investigate AND PROSECUTE this administration will mean a worse future for our children and grandchildren, as is evident in the course of the Iran-Contra, Iraq-gate and nuclear components sales that are Poppy's legacy.