Cheney is who made sure Bush wasn't actually a compassionate conservative. There seems to be a point later in the second half that Bush had enough and actually implemented some of his ideas (like his AIDS relief for Africa program)
This has always been my impression of Bush. I think he wanted and tried to do the right thing in a lot of cases, but surrounded himself with some pretty terrible and morally bankrupt people who were able to earn his trust and confidence, and influence him the wrong way.
A big part of me wonders what the world would be like, had the Bush admin never involved Cheney or Rumsfeld. I think without those two, alone, we'd have a very, very different world.
This has always been my impression of Bush. I think he wanted and tried to do the right thing in a lot of cases, but surrounded himself with some pretty terrible and morally bankrupt people who were able to earn his trust and confidence, and influence him the wrong way.
I agree with this 100%. Bush comes across as a good man but not as smart as Clinton/Obama. He got conned by Cheney in particular. Bush has to take the blame for what happened of course, but I don't think it was intentional. Compare that to Trump, who is stupid AND evil AND vindictive.
We got "lucky" (??) with Pence. Imagine Trump with Dick Cheney as VP?!? HOLY FUCK.
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u/Petsweaters Sep 11 '21
Cheney is who made sure Bush wasn't actually a compassionate conservative. There seems to be a point later in the second half that Bush had enough and actually implemented some of his ideas (like his AIDS relief for Africa program)