Anything But Failure?

Posted on June 7, 2007    Posted by John Scalzi

I don’t think it comes as a major shock to anyone at this point that the general consensus on the Dubya presidency is that it’s a monumental sort of failure, the sort of all-round awful presidency you get maybe once a generation or so (excuse me while I go find a forest to knock on for that). Some folks have even gone so far as to declare it the worst presidency ever, although I continue not to be one of them (Buchanan’s still got it, in my opinion), but however you slice it, it’s pretty bad.

So here’s an interesting thought experiment that I’d like for you to take seriously: in the 20 months or so that Bush has left in office, what would it take for Bush & Co not to be viewed as failures? Is there anything — realistically, now — that Bush and his administration can do at this point to salvage their reputations and their standing in history? If so, what is it?

Bear in mind that for this question you should answer from your own political/social point of view, not from the point of view you think I or others who frequent the site hold.

I’m genuinely curious as to what the opinions are out there. I personally don’t hold much hope for Bush, et al to do anything other than fail even harder between now and January 20, 2009, but if any of you can see a different path, I’d love to hear about it.