# Is President Bush irredeemable? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 3, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669 "2007-02-03T15:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/1 "2007-02-03T15:47:58Z")
Let’s say that, over the next two years, the following things happen: [ul] [li]WMDs are found in Iraq aong with their shipping labels personally signed by Saddam[/li][li]Israel and the Palestinians form a lasting peace brokered by GW[/li][li]FEMA does a good job following the next disaster under GW’s leadership[/li][li]Osama is caught and reveals the entire structure of Al Qaeda and GW takes them out[/li][li]Monkeys fly outta my butt[/li][/ul] …would it be possible that Bush Jr. isn’t forever reviled? I honestly don’t think he can be. If the above were to occur, I’d think it would be his handlers that would get the credit. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/2 "2007-02-03T16:11:22Z")
[QUOTE=Rysdad] Let’s say that, over the next two years, the following things happen: [ul] [li]WMDs are found in Iraq aong with their shipping labels personally signed by Saddam[/li][li]Israel and the Palestinians form a lasting peace brokered by GW[/li][li]FEMA does a good job following the next disaster under GW’s leadership[/li][li]Osama is caught and reveals the entire structure of Al Qaeda and GW takes them out[/li][li]Monkeys fly outta my butt[/li][/ul] …would it be possible that Bush Jr. isn’t forever reviled? I honestly don’t think he can be. If the above were to occur, I’d think it would be his handlers that would get the credit. [/QUOTE] He would also have to: \*Restore habeus corpus \*Dump market economy \*Re-regulate industry \*Prosecute Haliburton and Cheney \*Resign, apologize, admit he’s the worst president in history, and voluntarily accept a 10-year sentence in a federal pound-me-in-the-ass penitentiary. And then. . ._maybe_. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/3 "2007-02-03T16:26:20Z")
Honestly, I’d take a sincere, “Shit, people, I woke up this morning and realized what an ass I’ve been. I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my cold shriveled heart. Let’s actually work together and listen to the military advisers and the will of the people and Congress and see how we can clean this mess up. Oh, and I’m immediately voiding all the unconstitutional acts I’ve signed into place and releasing the prisoners we’ve been holding illegally and again, I’m so, so sorry.” For me personally, the worst part isn’t his actions (although those have been horrifying), it’s the unapologetic brashness of it all. His total screw-you-I’m-the-Decider attitude with “Free Speech Zones” insulating him from what the people who elected him (perhaps) actually want him to do. It’s like he has a 6 year old’s notion that the President is an elected King, accountable to no-one, instead of being the MOST accountable person in the US. But I think there’s more likelihood\* of **Chefguy** ’s vision, so I’ll take that. \*That is, none at all. ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/4 "2007-02-03T16:31:50Z")
Maybe if he woke up, and it was all a dream. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/5 "2007-02-03T16:39:07Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] For me personally, the worst part isn’t his actions (although those have been horrifying), it’s the unapologetic brashness of it all. His total screw-you-I’m-the-Decider attitude with “Free Speech Zones” insulating him from what the people who elected him (perhaps) actually want him to do. It’s like he has a 6 year old’s notion that the President is an elected King, accountable to no-one, instead of being the MOST accountable person in the US. [/QUOTE] To be fair, don’t the abominations known as “Free Speech Zones” predate our current Fearless Leader? I seem to recall them being set up at least as far back as at Democratic presidential convention in LA in 2000. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/6 "2007-02-03T16:44:41Z")
[QUOTE=MrFantsyPants] Maybe if he woke up, and it was all a dream. [/QUOTE] Maybe if **we** woke up and it was all a dream. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/7 "2007-02-03T17:01:08Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] To be fair, don’t the abominations known as “Free Speech Zones” predate our current Fearless Leader? I seem to recall them being set up at least as far back as at Democratic presidential convention in LA in 2000. [/QUOTE] Sure they do, going all the way back to Vietnam. Never said he invented them. I can understand, though not support, physical barriers keeping the protested safe from the protesters. But I think anyone, including Bush, who uses Free Speech Zones to isolate, limit the numbers and shield protesters from camera view AND from the view of the protested, while allowing supporters front line access, are assholes. Including the Democrats who did it at their convention in 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/8 "2007-02-03T18:30:07Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] But I think anyone, including Bush, who uses Free Speech Zones to isolate, limit the numbers and shield protesters from camera view AND from the view of the protested, while allowing supporters front line access, are assholes. Including the Democrats who did it at their convention in 2004. [/QUOTE] Well said. It’s not that Bush comes up with new sins, it’s that he employs the old ones so enthusiastically. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/9 "2007-02-03T18:56:00Z")
I would add to my list: Stop this idiotic program requiring (de facto) teaching our children how to take tests and instead require teachers to provide an actual education. While it provides a cottage industry for companies like Sylvan, it moves us closer to an idiocracy. Kill the Patriot Act, then burn it. Stop mucking around with the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/10 "2007-02-03T19:09:46Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Honestly, I’d take a sincere, “Shit, people, I woke up this morning and realized what an ass I’ve been. I sincerely apologize from the bottom of my cold shriveled heart. Let’s actually work together and listen to the military advisers and the will of the people and Congress and see how we can clean this mess up. Oh, and I’m immediately voiding all the unconstitutional acts I’ve signed into place and releasing the prisoners we’ve been holding illegally and again, I’m so, so sorry.” [/QUOTE] In my heart of hearts, in my most irrational fantasies, I wanted him to say something like this during the State of the Union speech, followed by, “If this were a fair world, I would be tried and executed for war crimes and offenses against humanity, but we all know this is not a fair world, so let me save you the trouble,” at which point he pulls out Saddam’s confiscated pistol and shoots himself in the head. But it ain’t a fair world, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/11 "2007-02-03T19:27:00Z")
I’m counting this as a Shrub pitting(Damn!, I miss ya already, Molly). Moving thread from IMHO to The BBQ Pit. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/12 "2007-02-03T19:37:24Z")
Looking back, this all could have been expected. In his 2000 acceptance speech he had a real opportunity to say something like: > [@](#): > > This was the closest presedential election in history. A handful of votes could have swung the contest either way. I praise my opponent for accepting the Supreme Courts decision with grace and dignity and avoiding a constitutional crisis. I vow to govern in a bi-partisan manner that reflects the closeness of the election. Instead he acted like TO scoring a touchdown. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/13 "2007-02-03T19:52:20Z")
[QUOTE=DanBlather] Looking back, this all could have been expected. In his 2000 acceptance speech he had a real opportunity to say something like: > [@](#): > > This was the closest presedential election in history. A handful of votes could have swung the contest either way. I praise my opponent for accepting the Supreme Courts decision with grace and dignity and avoiding a constitutional crisis. I vow to govern in a bi-partisan manner that reflects the closeness of the election. Instead he acted like TO scoring a touchdown. [/QUOTE] Actually, he made at least two speaches at the time of his inauguration that made exactly those points. He then went on to take actions, beginning the very next day, that proved he was very much just a liar. ---
**Author:** ![Heckxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@Heckxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckxx)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/14 "2007-02-03T20:40:10Z")
To the OP: I think it is possible that Bush can still redeem himself. And i think its possible that he could un-redeem himself after that. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/15 "2007-02-03T20:47:41Z")
[QUOTE=Heckxx] And i think its possible that he could un-redeem himself after that. [/QUOTE] Yeah, that’s the scary part. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/16 "2007-02-03T20:53:50Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Yeah, that’s the scary part. [/QUOTE] If he succeeds at that, we should put his face on the twenty dollar bill! ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/17 "2007-02-03T21:05:54Z")
What about the $1 coin? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/18 "2007-02-03T21:24:42Z")
[QUOTE=athelas] What about the $1 coin? [/QUOTE] I think he would have to die before 2016 to get in a coin. Of course, to be redeemable then, a Bush dollar will be worth about a Chinese Yuan. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/19 "2007-02-03T21:41:32Z")
[QUOTE=Heckxx] I think it is possible that Bush can still redeem himself. And i think its possible that he could un-redeem himself after that. [/QUOTE] And redeem himself once again. Why not, he’s got a few years left in him. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669/20 "2007-02-03T21:48:40Z")
Could Bush redeem himself if all these things were to occur? In some ways yes and in some no. I don’t think that will happen though, I think this last part of his presidency is heading full-steam ahead into what will become an infamous and embarassing trainwreck. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-president-bush-irredeemable/390669.md?page=2)