You’re knocking Palin’s experience as governor of an irrelevant state of only 600,000?

I’m not trying to pick a fight or anything — just curious — are you from the US?

I couldn’t imagine being governor of any state to be a simple task no matter how few people; however I would reckon that governing Alaska would have many unique challenges wrt the lower 48.

As far as experience that translates well for POTUS and VPOTUS credentials, I would place governing Alaska much higher than say, governing Connecticut (~5x Alaska population), Missouri (~9x Alaska population), etc.

That’s exactly right, WR, but right there, you’re already in it way, way above the understanding of most people who take this tack on him. They have no earthly idea what you’re talking about or what it means.

Palin was mayor for a decade (town of about 9000), Lt Gov for four years, and Gov for two.

She also is a pilot and ran a fishing business.

Are you old enough to remember some guys by the name of Johnson, Nixon, or Carter?

We’ve had far worse than Bush.

You forgot to mention-Dark 8 mo’s- cold 10 mo’s, mosquitos the size of light airplanes, blackflys the size of small birds and did I mention it’s cold and dark most of the year?
So is Siberia, doubt that Siberia(I haven’t checked the stat’s so that’s a ‘guesstiment’) has 600k year round residents, but hey, in todays “energy world/resource game” it’s , in the term of the “street” “ah playa’ on the world stage.
Alaska is rich beyond measure, but it’s 90% ?(guestiment again)locked down under US Fed. regulations.

Given that Alaska is an “oil kingdom” in it’s own right, I hardly find it “irrelevant “.
“Drill here, drill now” anyone?

In M’s defence, it should probably be pointed out that M doesn’t actually know any better, most likely … M probably believes that Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister because of “identity politics” … after all, anything else just isn’t possible, now, is it ?

For M, “critical thinking” seems to mean ‘actively expressing criticisms’ … poor dear – the echo-chamber tolls again …

he’ll be regarded as one of the all time greats

Are you smoking crack?

I do have to depart from what appears so far to be a collection of generally backhanded defenses of Bush’s intellect, all the while allowing for his performance in office. I actually voted for the man twice, and am fairly satisfied with the majority of the job he’s done. There are some aspects that he could have handled better, mostly on domestic issues, and the White House message operation for the last 7 years has been absolutely nothing short of totally buffoonish at times – still -

Based on results, the actions this man initiated, once spurred to action by 9/11 have been radically historical, of a sort that will long be noted. He’s led a coalition (yes, despite the cries of unilateral action) that has brought a semblence of Western Style Liberal Democracy to over 35 million people, directly, who were previously living in fear under either a Stalinist or Medieval Theocratic regime. Counting simply the women that gained the right to vote – that’s one hell of a voter registration drive. His quiet (as in – not glamorized and sensationalized by the media) work to fight AIDS and improve lives also helped and touched millions in Africa – far more than the plans and programs of those before him ever did. And despite the liberal proclivity to mention the words ‘Plame’ and ‘Scooter’ together, then begin writhing in orgasmic glee, and the continuing crack pot calls for impeachment proceedings (which, in the end, really, really sound like ‘they did it to our guy’ payback) – for all of that – where are all the indictments, subpeonas, grand juries, and the entire three ring DC circus that surrounds scandal and corruption? With anecdotal memories going back to the days of Carter, I can’t really recall a less scandal plagued administration. It’s certainly been awfully quiet compared to the previous bunch.

I think history will look very respectfully at Bush, and once there’s some distance from the heat of the partisan rancor, he’ll be regarded as one of the all time greats – a man that not many expected much from, who rose to the occasion literally thrust upon him by circumstance.

That evaluation is certainly going to come along, particularly once it’s considered by those who don’t have a huge personal investment despising the man, or a long standing dislike to begin with.