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Contrary to popular belief, I think that Bush is a very well meaning, thoughtful man who trusts his instincts and believes in going with his "gut feeling" rather than spending large amounts of time "sweating the details". He makes the big decisions and allows others to put them in action. By all accounts he is very personable and has strong convictions. He believes that approaching government in the manner one approaches running a business will ulitmately benefit the nation. He has a strong religious faith and believes intently in Neo-conservative ideals. He is both a Yalie and a cowboy and this allows him to connect with a wide variety of people. He is arrogant (like most politicians) and believes he knows what is best for the nation and dislikes people questioning him or his decisions. This trait, even when he is right about something, tends to create resentment and thus he has become a highly divisive individual.(Something that he never thought he would be.)
He believes in promoting business at almost any cost and in doing so is willing to do great damage to the environment, to education, to a myriad of social programs in the belief that in the long run we will be able to repair this damage and in fact improve the condition of all these things. Short term pain for the masses, will give us all long term gains.
I personally believe he misguided. I do not think he is a Machievellian(sp?) figure, but I do believe that many who surround him are. His lack of intellectual curiosity concerns me greatly, and the like-mindedness of his closest advisors denies him a variety of opinions from which to learn. Dissenting voices are not encouraged (Paul O'Neil is gone an Powell is almost always the odd man out and will be gone if Bush wins a second term).
I think President Bush has made innumerable poor decisions on economic, environmental and social issues. I disagree with his handling of the War on Terror and the manner in which he approached the Iraq War. I personally believe that he has done severe damage to the image of the United States. He has unneccessarily offened long time allies and his poor communication skills are frankly an embarassment.
I believe that this country can and should find a more capable man to serve as our President.
Overall: well-meaning, misguided man who thinks more of his abilities than he has a right.
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Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
-Douglas Adams
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