Jack Colwell, a local columnist and an astute observer of the political scene, wrote a piece titled "Say What You Will, But Bush Was Prudent" in the South Bend Tribune of July 19, 2009. He expresses a sympathetic view of former President George Herbert Walker Bush, and states, "Bush 41, though not winning a second term, won't go down in history as our worst president. Not when Bush 43 is on the list." Mr. Colwell goes on to say:Bush 41 won't be ranked as a great president, but he won't end up in the bottom tier either. Not with James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Millard Fillmore, James Polk and Franklin Pierce. George W., though winning re-election over a hapless opposition, could end up in a close contest with ... well, maybe Millard. Possibly in a tie with Andrew Johnson in terms of impact on the nation.Could Franklin Pierce's position in the bottom five be at risk?
Interesting that they put James Polk in the bottom five. I admit I don't know -that- much about him, but I was always under the impression that he got stuff done. Is it because the Mexican War was pretty much just an expansionist land grab so we don't like him for that? I've heard that Polk fulfilled all his goals as president and thus chose not to run for a second term, so it's interesting that the guy who accomplished exactly what he planned on doing ranks among the bottom 5 to some.
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