George W. Bush vs Richard Nixon

[Indy Texas]

Anyway, I'm voting for the president who didn't support Genocide in East Timor or Bangladesh, thanks.

Bush's foreign policy aims were less sinister and very idealistic, but very costly for the US and very destabilizing to the world thus far.

Nixon's foreign policy aims were ruthless, cold and calculating Realpolitik, but arguably helped stabilize the Cold War chessboard in the West's favor.

Nixon supported genocide in East Timor and Bangladesh. Bush pursued policies that are allowing genocide to happen in the Middle East as we speak. Does intent really matter?

[Indy Texas]

I expected better of this forum. Seriously, let's compare the "big flaws/failures" of each:

Bush:
-Iraq
-Afghanistan
-Katrina Response
-Campaigning on Homophobia
-Guantanamo

Nixon:
-Chile
-East Timor
-Bangladesh
-Secret Wars in SE Asia
-Watergate
-Greece/Cyprus
-Sabotaging Vietnam Peace Talks
-War on Drugs starting
-Manipulation of 1972 Election Process
-Appointment of Warren Burger to SCOTUS
-Campaigning on Racism

I don't see how you can compare starting a war and invading a country (Iraq; Afghanistan) with indirectly supporting another country in its military campaigns (East Timor; Bangladesh).

Bush all but demanded the Palestinian government hold democratic elections, which ushered Hamas into power. Are you going to hold Bush responsible for rockets fired into Israel? Are you going to hold him responsible for Palestinian children killed in the various Gaza wars?

Bush supported plenty of authoritarian regimes that aren't much better than 1970s Chile or Greece: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan...