“As far as history goes and all of these quotes about people trying to guess what the history of the Bush administration is going to be, you know, I take great comfort in knowing that they don’t know what they're talking about, because history takes a long time for us to reach.” — George W. Bush, Fox News Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008

As we approach the end of the Bush era, there will be a lot of talk about W's legacy. Let's face it, it ain't pretty. Some have suggested that he was the worst president in American history. The economy. The debt. The wars. The credibility. Hard to argue.

But I'm a glass-is-half-full kind of guy. I like to look at the positives. So when I consider W's presidency, I'm thankful.

I'm thankful that we Americans can now appreciate and understand the importance of intelligence, especially when it comes to those we choose to lead us.

I remember eight years ago that people were well aware that this guy wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and it amazed me that that didn't seem to be too big a concern for many. There was this sense that intelligence was overrated. I think the country was brainwashed by the Republican attacks on Bill Clinton, one of the smartest guys you'd ever want to meet. Yeah, he had some moral shortcomings, but as a president, he did all right. Remember?

And for those of you old enough, remember this guy?



That was a time when intelligence was considered such an important presidential virtue that Dan Quayle was almost replaced on the 1992 Republican ticket.

Eight years later, we were sold the notion that smarts weren't high on the list of presidential virtues.

They are.

I'd like to thank George W. Bush for reminding us of that. I'm grateful that, because we've seen the opposite end of the spectrum, and the consequences, we probably won't soon have this stuff coming from the chief:

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." —LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000

"I hear there's rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a draft." — second presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, 2004

"They misunderestimated me." — Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." — Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

Or these:



Exactly.

So I, for one, am grateful for George W's legacy. But then again, I'm not this guy:



Grace and Peace,
Raffi