Who do you think is a better politician,Obama or Bush?

There's kind of a three-sided coin going on with Bush. Some folks approved of his policies, his personality and his poise under pressure, among other things that start with P that my mind can't pull up at 6am. Some folks disapproved of his presidency because he proved to be just like other partisan presidents past following his "decided" agenda and not really willing to play ball in the middle of the field. I'm on this side. I like Bush, but I don't approve of his presidency. Some folks absolutely despise Bush to the point of painting "KILL BUSH" signs, making movies about his assassination, writing about killing him, calling him Hitler very, very often, etc. Even liberal politicians were setting up rallies calling him a liar and worse. I'm not sure what everyone's doing today in 2010, but I vividly remember America's atmosphere during the latter years of Bush, and he was opposed a heck of a lot more than our current president - and was opposed most vehemently by those claiming today's dissenters are racists and right-wing terrorists. So to folks on that side of the Bush coin, I have only one thing to say: Bush owns you! I've seen you around on myLot for a whle now, JB, not necessarily sticking up for America's current president, but pointing out that a lot of people unfairly make mountains from mole hills and blast him with the water hose constantly. Bush got this far worse. Every problem in the world is tied back to Bush from the haters' lips to some progressive's ears. It's like a game they play. It's like they feel power by being able to attack relentlessly. Obama's starting to get it, and might eventually get more of it, but even Palin (YES! That just happened!) gets it worse than big O. And to put a point on it: I agree with you that Bush was a lot smarter than folks gave him credit for, and I think he even played into that "dumb" persona simply to give more of a for-the-folks apperance. Bush is, for all intents and purposes, an elitist. But he plays folksy like no other. And one thing that I do give him credit for during his presidency: I never once heard him attack fellow politicians or the media despite how they constantly tore him to shreds in everything from the New York Times to weird fiction hybrid Michael Moore donkumentaries. Our current president can really take a lesson there. He earns my favorite Christopher Walken quote: "The rest of us really are suckers."

i think bush was actually craftier than many gave him credit for - i know there were lots of jokes doing the rounds about his iq and of course the endless malapropisms but i suspect a lot of people actually found these endearing and down to earth. he was not a stupid man and i am sure could have avoided doing this if advised to.

Thanks to both of you folks for sharing your thoughts with me and it is also heartening to note that my discussion topic has managed to arouse a lot of interest in you.

me and laglen came up for a way for politicians finally to be useful - by generating electricity in giant hamster wheels. plus it keeps them fit. i'd be very happy to see for example blair at long last doing something productive, i am sure obama and bush could do the same.

Hi xfahctor it appears that you are swayed by the personality of Obama and you dislike Bush..indeed the way he behaved is really distasteful.However don't you think that it is too early to make a judgement of Obama as a politician..maybe there will be slip ups in his rank just like bush..howver even I support Obama and thanks for your response.

Hi jb you are right friend that the politicians need to do something productive..however I think that if they are asked to generate electricity then they will either make a mess of it or they will try to form trade unions and become leaders by instigating others and then only indulge in attending meetings with the management.Thanks for your response.

6: EXACTLY. Maggiepie EVERYONE! GO TRY THE NEW CATEGORY: Open Mike! ALL opinions WELCOME!

Naxous, A politician will make any promise necessary to get your vote, but feels no obligation to keep promises made. A politician plays off people's emotions, understanding that many people vote based on emotions rather than good judgment. What's most important is getting reelected, so promise them anything. It's himself first, party second, constituents third, and maybe the country fourth. A statesman is wise in the ways of government and will do what's best for the country even if decisions made are unpopular and could cost him his job, or even if he's maligned by naysayers. A statesman loves his country beyond the now and makes decisions based on how the country will be affected now and in the future.

Can you please elaborate your point a little bit.

Thanks for your comment my dear friend and even I think that if morning shows the day then there are definite signs that he is far better than Bush and I also believe that he will not indulge in any kin of war in his tenure but concentrate on lifting the economic well being of America.

USA is going through a very tough time mu\y dear friend however the economy seems to be recovering though it will take some more time to get back to normal.I also sincerely hope that Obama can achieve his targets and ca\n serve the people better than any other president of America.

Indeed Obama appears to have a better personality than Bush.However we need to judge politicians by their acts and not according to their looks.I agree that it is too early to say that Obama is better is worse than Bush but even in these days he hadn't done anything noteworthy except maybe the health bill.Let's hope that he will fare better during the remaining years of his tenure.

Your wish may be fulfilled one day though I must admit that the qualities that you are looking for is not available in a politician my dear friend..still miracles do happen.So it will be better ti keep our fingers crossed and wait for the appearance of such a leader.

I know that there is a recession, but you said depression. There is a difference.

Your statement that America is not affected by the meltdown sounds to be a bit strange my dear friend.Maybe you are oblivious to the facts that are all around you.Haven't you seen people becoming homeless?Haven't you seen people losing their job and companies are filing for liquidation?Haven't you seen the unemployment rate increasing by leaps and bounds ?If all these are not signs of recession then my dear friend let me tell you that you don't know what recession is.It seems that you haven't been affected by the change in the economic situation and you are looking at things from your perspective.Still thanks for your response.

Can you please specify how much of a difference is there between a depression and a recession?Every business goes through a recession period my dear friend and it is absolutely normal.A business moves in cycles.Recession is generally followed by recovery and then again the business peaks.What we witnessed since the last couple of years is not recession but depression basically where firms started closing down and started to apply for insolvency.There are instances when the American Government thought of taking over the firms or nationalising them in order to save the country.May be the great depression of the 1930's wasn't repeated but it is a depression none the less. Now what do you think about a depression?Can you elaborate.

Thanks for your response.

Obama is making a bigger mess than this country was in when he walked into the White House. His health care is nothing short of a fiasco. I would rate his performance at minus 5 or lower for his first year in an office that he has yet to prove he is eligible to hold.

Hi lelin1123 I appreciate your quick response and hope that Obama will carry on with the unfinished work but remember that he has a long way to go and the road is bumpy too.So let's hope for the best.

Hi us2owls I can understand that you wanted Obama to be much better and he failed to deliver.This is just the first year my dear friend..give him some more time and he will definitely remove if not all then most of your grievances..I am sounding a bit like Obama himself..but really you need to give him some more time to prove his mettle..at least I think he will not be as aggressive as Bush and attack any other country on a flimsy pretext.

NAXOUS: Maybe so, but it's far less nasty & poisonous than what he's been "spitting" (I have another less nice term in mind here) on us! He has called his own constituents "Nazis," & less polite terms! Even the Democrats who voted for him have begun to see the light. Oh, & your hope he'll help your country? Don't hold your breath. Maggiepie EVERYONE! GO TRY THE NEW CATEGORY: Open Mike! ALL opinions WELCOME!

You are literally spitting venom against Obama my dear friend.Thanks for your response.

Naxous....since you do not live in the U.S.....what exactly is it you expect Obama to be doing for you??

Winning Nobel Prize doesn't imply that a particular politician is brilliant.After getting the Nobel even Obama would have been surprised.However I agree with you that a good leader needs to be a good orator and Obama has that quality in him.Even I prefer Obama to Bush but I also expect him to do a lot more than what he is doing right now as we all have high expectations from him.

America is considered to be the greatest Super power in the world.So there is always a lot to expect from such a country.The bilateral trade between America and my country can be increased.The outsourcing of jobs must not be stopped.Terrorism must be eradicated and the dominant nature of a few countries must be carved down.These are the few things that I need Obama to deliver in the future.