George H.W. Bush: Underrated?

[Col. Roosevelt]

I feel George H.W. Bush represents the last sane Republican to sit in the White House. He wasn't a crazy Social Conservative, nor a looney tune Libertarian, and wasn't even particularly a neo-con. He got us in and out of Iraq without a quagmire or prolonged war effort, he presided over the end of the Cold War and made that period a peaceful, harmonious time of transition, at home he was a domestic moderate, raising taxes while also supporting bills such as the Civil Rights Act of 1990 and the People with Disabilities Act from the same year. Were he young enough to run for a second term again he'd have my vote. What about you?

[CountyTy90]

I agree that he was/is underrated. He was possibly the best president when it came to foreign relations in a long time. But where he lacked was his domestic policy. Time and again you hear of people saying domestic issues were where he faulted during his term. Numerous times I've watched interviews with both Dems and Repubs who all agree his domestic policy lacked any substance. It's only partly his fault though. Regan really put the US badly into debt in the 1980's then Bush came on the scene in '88 promising no new taxes and that wasn't all that smart. When the Cold War ended, it absolutely collapsed the military build-up Regan had orchestrated in the 80's... California suffered greatly because of this. Plus, when you have a good looking moderate 20 years younger, seen as a Washington outsider who plays the sax on TV... how can you beat that?

I too would vote for him today if he ran.

[Blair]

For his foreign policy wisdom read his Chicken Kiev speech

[Simfan34]

For his foreign policy wisdom read his Chicken Kiev speech

Hindsight makes for easy criticism, doesn't it?

[Dirk]

He is a man of fundamental decency and easily my favorite President of the last 30 years. I would have supported him in 1992.

[TNF]

George H.W. Bush was an awful president

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

George H.W. Bush? The bastard the sold out manufacturing in this country and actively opposed Reagan-era projects to revitalize it? Far overrated if ya ask me.

[Simfan34]

George H.W. Bush? The bastard the sold out manufacturing in this country and actively opposed Reagan-era projects to revitalize it? Far overrated if ya ask me.

I haven't heard much about this. Tell me more.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

George H.W. Bush? The bastard the sold out manufacturing in this country and actively opposed Reagan-era projects to revitalize it? Far overrated if ya ask me.

I haven't heard much about this. Tell me more.

Mostly referring to his pursuit of NAFTA, as well as his decision to get rid of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Socrates

While Reagan was hardly a protectionist, he was willing to levy tariffs at least once in an emergency to save the automotive industry, and the project cited above was allowed by his administration.

[Blair]

For his foreign policy wisdom read his Chicken Kiev speech

Hindsight makes for easy criticism, doesn't it?

Yes, otherwise political history would be very boring

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

Refused to give a loan to Israel unless they compromised with the Palestinians. Even a Democrat couldn't do that today.

[DavidB.]

Anti-Israel = HP

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

Compared to the ones before and after him, yes.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Worse than those who came before, better than those who came after.

Anti-Israel = HP

How?

[Mr. Smith]

Completely overrated actually.

[Mr. Illini]

Correctly rated I would say. He was a hell of a lot better than his predecessor, that is for sure.

[Antonio the Sixth]

If anything, he's vastly overrated.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Yes he is just considered not great due to the fact is Predecessor and Successor were the most popular post WW2 presidents and how bad Bush JR was

[OSR stands with Israel]

Correctly rated I would say. He was a hell of a lot better than his predecessor, that is for sure.

lol

[TDAS04]

No, he's not underrated.  He did a few good things, but he also supported idiotic ideas like the flag burning amendment.  I agree with Polls that he was pretty mediocre. 

[Maxwell]

If anything, he's vastly overrated.

Yes, this. He was a better President than he was a human being though.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

underrated compared to other republicans? yes, absolutely.
underrated in general? maybe not.

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

I'd say a little bit underrated, but more to do with the fact that he is overshadowed by Reagan and Clinton, and the Bush name has been tainted by his son. Plus being defeated for re-election dooms him to little notice.

In terms of policy, he was a pretty decent President. Good foreign policy, assault weapon ban, Clean Air Act, Immigration Act, ADA, budget deal, CRA, START I & II, modest increased spending on education, daycare, and R&D, etc. but he could've been better on things like FMLA and the MCAA repeal.

I do think the U.S. would've been mildly better off in the long run had he won re-election (more mild welfare reform, probably no deregulation of telecomms and finance, and the Republican Revolution would either have been stopped or delayed). #UnpopularOpinion


Of course, I'm a bit biased because I like him so much. Forgettable at worst, very average caretaker President at best. I wish he had had more of a spine to stand up to the more right wing part of his party instead of pandering to them so much.