Because there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that President Obama wouldn’t have been possible if not for The Decider.

Obama would not have won if not for Bush’s incompetence. Got it? No matter what other things Obama has done or said, no matter what qualities he may possess, no matter what other circumstances and dynamics existed, Obama could not (in Justin’s mind) have been elected had not GW Bush been an incompetent boob. That’s what he said. And THAT is what I object to.

if you can’t see that, you’re not trying.

Nobody said it was the only reason except you. When I read through the post, I don’t see this implied either. Of course there are many reasons Obama won and some were independent of his own actions. A good example is the mismanagement of Hillary Clinton’s campaign during the primaries. To state that her mismanagement of her campaign as a factor for his success is, likewise not an insult to Obama.

If it was stated as the only reason I would agree it would be an insult. I just don’t see that.

An insult to who? To Obama, for starters, who apparently would never have been elected without the necessary boost provided by W. It’s also an insult to all the folks who voted for him. Apparently we would not have done so if Bush had only done a better job.

Why is this an insult? And to whom? I agree with Justin there’s a possibility that if this country’s status were similar to any of the previous 4 elections, it would be difficult for Obama to have been elected.

I also agree with you that the country needs to stop focusing on GW and look forward. The emotions have been high and the attacks have gone on long enough. Hopefully with the inauguration over, this will happen. Let history and future generations define Bush’s legacy.

In 2003, Robert Gates was the SecDef, and General Patreus was the Commander of Forces for Iraq before we went in. We had a plan to win the peace, and didn’t try to leave Iraq while there was a power vacuum and the insurgency never happened. By the end of 2003, Iraq was as peaceful as it is now, and there were only a few hundred U.S. casualties. There is no reason why this couldn’t have happened.

Well, every Democrat would have tried to “out-hawk” the other during the 2004 primary, Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi et al would have flaunted their pro war stance to this day, and Barack Obama’s political career would have ended before it began.

Should we therefore thank Bush for invading and then screwing up in Iraq? Were those 4000 dead G.I.s and the 10s of thousands of Iraqi civilians a worthy sacrifice to bring this “lightworker” to power in Washington? Kind of morbid when you put it that way, eh?

Because there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that President Obama wouldn’t have been possible if not for The Decider.

Wow. Just WOW. What a stunning insult to deliver on the day of Obama’s inauguration.

Even on day 1 of the Obama administration, it’s still about GW Bush. Sad. C’mon folks, here’s our chance to move on and just stop talking about GW. It’s a new day.