Interesting article on George W. Bush and pandemic preparedness. After reading a book about the Spanish Flu (do we have to re-name that now since Spanish Flu is racist?) and how he launched a preparedness initiative. Of course, it stopped by the subsequent administration.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/george-bush-2005-wait-pandemic-late-prepare/story?id=69979013

Like the housing crisis that was ignored by Barney Frank, another good example of Bush being a darn thoughtful president despite constant barrage of attacks. Not perfect but did thoughtful.

" In the summer of 2005, President George W. Bush was on vacation at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, when he began flipping through an advance reading copy of a new book about the 1918 flu pandemic. He couldn't put it down."

Remember when Bush's political opponents delighted in calling him stupid (probably failed the SAT!) and lacking in intellectual curiosity? Remember when they *****ed incessantly that he spent too much time in Crawford on "vacation?" As bad as this pandemic is, our preparedness, which was better than most, was due in large part to his insistence on becoming prepared. And his motivation to do that was because he took the time to read and understand, while on "vacation," what we would be facing.

He also was instrumental in blunting the effects of another great pandemic. (HIV/AIDS in Africa). A lot of people owe him an apology.

D. C. Bear said:

---

" In the summer of 2005, President George W. Bush was on vacation at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, when he began flipping through an advance reading copy of a new book about the 1918 flu pandemic. He couldn't put it down."

Remember when Bush's political opponents delighted in calling him stupid (probably failed the SAT!) and lacking in intellectual curiosity? Remember when they *****ed incessantly that he spent too much time in Crawford on "vacation?" As bad as this pandemic is, our preparedness, which was better than most, was due in large part to his insistence on becoming prepared. And his motivation to do that was because he took the time to read and understand, while on "vacation," what we would be facing.

He also was instrumental in blunting the effects of another great pandemic. (HIV/AIDS in Africa). A lot of people owe him an apology.

---

He also did an effective transition to the Obama team which was then made into law.

Can anyone imagine the current iteration of Donald J. Trump actually reading a book, much less one about history? I can't. The best thing that could have ever happened for W Bush's legacy was the election of Trump, because it illustrated what idiocy really looks like. W Bush wasn't stupid by any means, but compared to Trump he looks like Albert Einstein.

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

HuMcK said:

---

Can anyone imagine the current iteration of Donald J. Trump actually reading a book, much less one about history? I can't. The best thing that could have ever happened for W Bush's legacy was the election of Trump, because it illustrated what idiocy really looks like. W Bush wasn't stupid by any means, but compared to Trump he looks like Albert Einstein.

---

So you become a hugely successful billionaire businessman and one of the most successful POTUS's to date we've ever had (yes this completely out of left field virus that's entirely not his fault has been a setback, but just sit back and watch us recover strongly before the election) by being an "idiot"?? Give me a break. You continue to demonstrate how stupid your overwhelming TDS has made you.

There are a lot of parallels between Bush's presidency and Truman's. Both men faced very tough decisions and led what became unpopular wars. When Truman left office he was not that well thought off but history has burnished his reputation. I think the same will happen for 43.

Johnny Bear said:

---

HuMcK said:

---

Can anyone imagine the current iteration of Donald J. Trump actually reading a book, much less one about history? I can't. The best thing that could have ever happened for W Bush's legacy was the election of Trump, because it illustrated what idiocy really looks like. W Bush wasn't stupid by any means, but compared to Trump he looks like Albert Einstein.

---

So you become a hugely successful billionaire businessman and one of the most successful POTUS's to date we've ever had (yes this completely out of left field virus that's entirely not his fault has been a setback, but just sit back and watch us recover strongly before the election) by being an "idiot"?? Give me a break. You continue to demonstrate how stupid your overwhelming TDS has made you.

---

You know he's a billionaire? How?

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

This times 1,000. If you want to see and hear what it truly means to stand up and lead in a time of crisis, listen to George W.'s speeches and press conferences after 9/11. For awhile, 95% of the country was ready to run through a brick wall for him. I showed my son a You Tube of his first address to Congress post-9/11, and him throwing that first pitch at Yankee Stadium in the World Series. He was the perfect person for the job at that time. People will debate Iraq for a hundred years, but there should be little debate about the months immediately after 9/11.

It is embarrassing comparing that to what we see and hear now. And George W. was someone also under constant criticism from the media. So that is not different.

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

---

Wrong. First of all no POTUS, even including Nixon (although it was close) has been viscerally attacked, lied about and slandered like Trump has by the dimcrat propaganda arm otherwise known as the MSM. This is nothing like "every other POTUS". Secondly, he correctly pushes back with the tools he does have (i.e. Twitter, etc.) in his own defense after he has been unfairly attacked and lied about because he wisely realizes if you just smile and take it (like Bush) just to "look Presidential" a lot of the populous will assume the lies are the truth. It is both refreshing to see and totally justified and it's one of the reasons (among many) that he's going to be re-elected.

Johnny Bear said:

---

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

---

Wrong. First of all no POTUS, even including Nixon (although it was close) has been viscerally attacked, lied about and slandered like Trump has by the dimcrat propaganda arm otherwise known as the MSM. This is nothing like "every other POTUS". Secondly, he correctly pushes back with the tools he does have (i.e. Twitter, etc.) in his own defense after he has been unfairly attacked and lied about because he wisely realizes if you just smile and take it (like Bush) just to "look Presidential" a lot of the populous will assume the lies are the truth. It is both refreshing to see and totally justified and it's one of the reasons (among many) that he's going to be re-elected.

---

Really? Is that the story you want to believe?

Trump doesn't really get attacked. He gets fact checked. He controls that.

If you can, name for me all the presidents that had issues with judges, the media, our allies, our enemies, a porn Star, gold star parents, his staff, and women?

And addressed it with attacks on Twitter.

Johnny Bear said:

---

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

---

Wrong. First of all no POTUS, even including Nixon (although it was close) has been viscerally attacked, lied about and slandered like Trump has by the dimcrat propaganda arm otherwise known as the MSM. This is nothing like "every other POTUS". Secondly, he correctly pushes back with the tools he does have (i.e. Twitter, etc.) in his own defense after he has been unfairly attacked and lied about because he wisely realizes if you just smile and take it (like Bush) just to "look Presidential" a lot of the populous will assume the lies are the truth. It is both refreshing to see and totally justified and it's one of the reasons (among many) that he's going to be re-elected.

---

Obama was treated so kindly. Well except for that part were we claimed he wasn't even an American and decided our no. 1 policy goal was to keep him a one-term president.

Johnny Bear said:

---

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

---

Wrong. First of all no POTUS, even including Nixon (although it was close) has been viscerally attacked, lied about and slandered like Trump has by the dimcrat propaganda arm otherwise known as the MSM. This is nothing like "every other POTUS". Secondly, he correctly pushes back with the tools he does have (i.e. Twitter, etc.) in his own defense after he has been unfairly attacked and lied about because he wisely realizes if you just smile and take it (like Bush) just to "look Presidential" a lot of the populous will assume the lies are the truth. It is both refreshing to see and totally justified and it's one of the reasons (among many) that he's going to be re-elected.

---

This is exactly what I've been saying.... for decades, Republicans have let the left define who they are with no push back. We FINALLY have a president that will call out their BS and tell it like it is.

Too many Republican presidents would "take the high road" and "not dignify" the left's BS with a comment. That's the wrong approach. The liberal left will always take the low road and in order to fight them, unfortunately, you have to crawl into the sewer where they live. Glad to see we have a president who isn't afraid to get his coveralls dirty.

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

---

Wrong. First of all no POTUS, even including Nixon (although it was close) has been viscerally attacked, lied about and slandered like Trump has by the dimcrat propaganda arm otherwise known as the MSM. This is nothing like "every other POTUS". Secondly, he correctly pushes back with the tools he does have (i.e. Twitter, etc.) in his own defense after he has been unfairly attacked and lied about because he wisely realizes if you just smile and take it (like Bush) just to "look Presidential" a lot of the populous will assume the lies are the truth. It is both refreshing to see and totally justified and it's one of the reasons (among many) that he's going to be re-elected.

---

Really? Is that the story you want to believe?

Trump doesn't really get attacked. He gets fact checked. He controls that.

If you can, name for me all the presidents that had issues with judges, the media, our allies, our enemies, a porn Star, gold star parents, his staff, and women?

And addressed it with attacks on Twitter.

---

If you don't think the left attacks Trump on a regular basis, you're delusional. I've always suspected it... but you just proved it.

Bush was a good guy, every President makes mistakes. He had a commonness/simpleness about him that made people think he was less intelligent than he was.

Not a perfect President at all, but between Trump/Biden vs. Bush, I'd take Bush 100 times out of 100.

Remember when that sleazy New York conman with the stupid hair and orange spray-tan held a press conference where he claimed to have sent investigators to Hawaii and said they were finding "tremendous information" about Obama's birth certificate?

As long as Dick Cheney is nowhere near that transaction I would probably do the same.

riflebear said:

---

tommie said:

---

riflebear said:

---

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

---

We finally agree on something. I also agree the press is so below the office but I do disagree that they shouldn't be attacked. This is part of the reason he won. For decades conservatives have been tired of being run over and ignored and dismissed and manipulated and not having a voice. This was the first candidate (obviously w/ many flaws) who finally fought back. I don't like a lot of the ways he does it but it drives the media mad that they've finally been exposed for the country to see who they really are. It's so bad now, they don't even hide it anymore.

For that, I will always be thankful for this President because the media will do the exact same thing to the next GOP nominee as they did to Bush and everyone else before Trump

---

He won because presidents are selected via the electoral college not the popular vote. Trump doesn't have some magic that drove the majority of Americans to the poll for him.

Clinton lost sight of that.

---

According to all the pollsters and 'experts' he was going to lose in a landslide. So yes, people did come out in waves for him even w/ a damning video released weeks ahead of the election.

LOL - popular vote still being brought up. I bet you are the parent who coaches the last place team and gives everyone a first place ribbon.

---

Nope. My kids walk home if they don't win and I take their Big Macs away.

What I don't allow from them is to have the best times but come in second because they go to a bigger school.

No shame in Trump winning. Those are the rules. He just needs to become the President of the United States of America not Red State America.

Right now, we have about 10,500 people dead from a pandemic and we can't get the president to stop bragging about his Facebook followers. You know who else does that? Teenage girls.

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

tommie said:

---

Johnny Bear said:

---

The greatest debt of gratitude owed to G.W. Bush should be his leadership following 9/11 that insured the USA wouldn't endure another massive terrorist attack - at least internally. On 9/12/01, how many people thought we wouldn't be massively attacked again throughout the rest of his first term, let alone both of his terms? As I recall all of the chatter, fear and panic at that time was about where and when will we be attacked again, what kind of attack will it be (i.e. suicide bombers again, biological, etc.) and how many more thousands more will die. Thanks largely to G.W.'s leadership it didn't happen.

He definitely also made some mistakes, not the least of which was never really responding or pushing back against the vicious and unfair attacks from the left (unlike Trump). In hindsight the Iraq intervention was a mistake as well, but again to me the most positive part of his legacy was how he reacted and led the country in the aftermath of 9/11.

---

Every president gets attacked. Every president doesn't punch down.

Trump attacks people so below the office that he devalues it's dignity.

---

Wrong. First of all no POTUS, even including Nixon (although it was close) has been viscerally attacked, lied about and slandered like Trump has by the dimcrat propaganda arm otherwise known as the MSM. This is nothing like "every other POTUS". Secondly, he correctly pushes back with the tools he does have (i.e. Twitter, etc.) in his own defense after he has been unfairly attacked and lied about because he wisely realizes if you just smile and take it (like Bush) just to "look Presidential" a lot of the populous will assume the lies are the truth. It is both refreshing to see and totally justified and it's one of the reasons (among many) that he's going to be re-elected.

---

Really? Is that the story you want to believe?

Trump doesn't really get attacked. He gets fact checked. He controls that.

If you can, name for me all the presidents that had issues with judges, the media, our allies, our enemies, a porn Star, gold star parents, his staff, and women?

And addressed it with attacks on Twitter.

---

Not a Trump fan (even before he was a politician), but to say he "doesn't get attacked" is absurd, as it would be to say that President Obama didn't get attacked.