By Judith Gayle | Political Waves
George W. Bush didn’t do much for his party. His financial policies should have been suspect early, considering their proximity to the Enron debacle, but Bush never paid a price for that; nor did most of the Enron perpetrators, for that matter. Eventually, both of Bush’s wars turned toxic, pushing the electorate to the left, but it took a long time to clear the air. For years, the nation remained unaware of the flow of money to the top one percent or overseas by the plane-load in foreign misadventure; for years we were unaware of how close the muck of failed capitalism came to the brim of the glass. When it eventually spilled over, taking housing and jobs with it, the Republicans were (temporarily) delighted to turn the keys of the kingdom over to anyone — even that black guy.
What did the Dub accomplish for his party? He made them what they are today. George W. Bush and his neocon friends radicalized politics, making wingnuttery legitimate. Dressed in nationalism and flag pins, the American template for international imperialism and plutocracy took shape before our wondering eyes, forcing us to pick a side and dividing the country as it had not been divided in over a hundred years.
I doubt that Bush had a clue how, simply by being his own obnoxious self, he added the final bit of poison to the well of political discourse. But it changed everything, giving historians fodder for their texts and causing mortified citizens to hide their eyes as Bush stripped the last veneer of statesmanship from the role of executive.
Bush’s tenure left the Republican field so decimated, and expectations so low, that in 2008 the party went with crusty old John McCain, who sniffed the wind and, at loose ends, selected as running mate the only person who could make George Bush look studious. When Sarah Palin took the podium, even the pretense of intellect flew out the window.
What we lost during the first decade of this century is still being assessed and is likely immeasurable. Obama, a man who apparently wastes no energy on battles he thinks he can’t win, inherited a country intentionally broken, and yet has passed through more progressive legislation than the nation has seen in 40 years, mostly without the approval of progressives. I wish Obama and his leftie base could come to the table now. It’s the worst possible timing for a feud, as we consider strategy for another Democratic term, up against frightening economic statistics. All that’s been accomplished, while battling a wall of Republican obstruction, is only a drop in the bucket of what is needed to stabilize the economic free-fall that threatens us from within.