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|NEXT STORY »

PEGGY NOONAN

It's Not Bush's Mess Anymore

Obama needs to stop complaining about what he inherited, start fixing it

By Rob Quinn| Posted Oct 23, 09 5:47 AM CDT|

(Newser) – President Obama needs to stop complaining that he inherited a mess and realize that the mess is now all his, writes Peggy Noonan. The White House is once again reminding people what dire straits the country was in when Obama's presidency began, but—as the president's free-falling poll numbers prove—that excuse doesn't work any more, Noonan writes in the Wall Street Journal.

President Bush—when he had been in office for a shorter time than Obama has been now—truly owned his presidency from the moment he stood atop the rubble of 9/11, Noonan writes. Obama, standing on the rubble of a battered economy, now owns his presidency whether he likes it or not. "Excuse-begging and defensiveness won't work," Noonan writes. "Everyone knows he was handed horror. They want him to fix it."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

President Obama speaks at a campaign rally for Gov. Jon Corzine in Hackensack, N.J., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

What they inherited was, truly, terrible: again, a severe economic crisis and two wars. But their recent return to this theme is unbecoming. Worse, it is politically unpersuasive. It sounds defensive, like a dodge. - Peggy Noonan

The problem isn't his personality, it's his policies. His problem isn't what George W. Bush left but what he himself has done. - Peggy Noonan

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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28 comments

VIEWING:

Stasis
Oct 23, 09 5:57 AM CDT

This comment has been removed by Newser’s community. You must be logged in to view this comment. Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

cedarkey
Oct 25, 09 7:39 AM CDT

stasis is your average liberal---uninformed,hateful,wacky,intolerant,closed-minded, etc.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Face-Of-RNC
Nov 11, 09 9:42 AM CST

Sounds just like the christians peaderhead thinks should rule America.

| 0 minutes ago

RockyPneumonia
Oct 23, 09 6:05 AM CDT

It's flattering that Republicans think that President Obama is 12 times better than Bush -- that he should have fixed in 8 months what Bush took eight YEARS to destroy. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

rkossik
Oct 23, 09 8:07 AM CDT

I am SO surprised that the WSJ is reprinting Republican talking points, not! Afghanistan was lost when Bush pulled the rug out from under our troops by diverting them to Iraq. His failure can't be blamed on his successor.

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Oct 23, 09 3:31 PM CDT

Well put, Rocky.

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Oct 23, 09 6:07 AM CDT

Hell they were blaming Bush for a recession in progress BEFORE he even took over from Clinton...but Obamma on the other hand got passed some baggage also and it's still bushe's fault...funny how that works Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

Stasis
Oct 23, 09 6:56 AM CDT

Yeah...that's really not what happened. But thanks for playing!

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Oct 23, 09 7:28 AM CDT

Nobody blamed Bush for the 2000 dot.com bust, which in retrospect I am actually feeling nostalgic for, but the right wing did try to blame Clinton for 9/11 and still do. Thanks for playing.

IN RESPONSE:

Carpediem4U
Oct 23, 09 9:04 AM CDT

yea riff...thats what happened...lol...I want whatever it is youre smoking too!

IN RESPONSE:

susanai
Oct 24, 09 5:56 PM CDT

Sweetie, it will always be Bush's fault because it was no-one else's. You can't blame Clinton or Bushs' dad or Obama - this mess [worldwide] began and unfortunately did not end with bloody Bush. NO-ONE else.

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Oct 23, 09 6:10 AM CDT

He does have to own it, though. We all know he didn't make it. But he's been charged with the task of fixing it, and the expectation is great...which makes the desire for his failure especially sickening. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Middleman
Oct 23, 09 6:58 AM CDT

I'm not sure it's so much a desire for failure, as much as concern that it could happen. Change is scary. Sometimes change is good, but not always. The quickest way for the President to sway the moderate Republicans and thereby the Independants and other groups in the middle (which is really the group that would continue his politcal future) is to do something and prove that his "change" is positive. With each successive decision that ends well, his popularity will rise and we can stop hearing about how it's Bush's fault, etc. Basically, if President Bush was the worst President ever and tried to destroy America, Captialism, etc., it shouldn't be hard for President Obma to do something positive... so let's see what you're going to do....

| 0 minutes ago

Reader64481089
Oct 23, 09 6:17 AM CDT

""Everyone knows he was handed horror. They want him to fix it."" ... Oh yes he owns it but much like a home that has been gutted by fire the repairs take a little more time than 19 months to repair especially since it took 8 years to demolish it Reply

| 0 minutes ago

oldgoat
Oct 23, 09 6:20 AM CDT

Trouble is that the recession that Bush inherited wasn't as severe and the country wasn't in the trouble that Bush left Obama with. However Bush and the GOP went a long time saying that everything was Clinton's fault, but now having to deal with Bush not taking care of the economy or Afghanistan and leaving Obama with a recession that was rapidly being worried would turn into a depression the GOP wants to drop everything on Obama. I don't think that Obama has by any means done the right thing on everything. I do believe that considering the pressure he was under to take care of the problem to prevent a worse problem he did better than if McCain would have been in office. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

gabo
Oct 23, 09 6:49 AM CDT

Peggy Noonan has her head up her ass. This recession is big time and while it may have been lessened if Bush had even acknowledged it two years ago, it will be here for another at least year or so. This isn't instant sound bite gratification band aid time. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

susanai
Oct 24, 09 6:01 PM CDT

I think Fox should be banned and now I include the WSJ in that thought. I agree that Noonan has her head up there too.

| 0 minutes ago

SilenceDogood
Oct 23, 09 7:43 AM CDT

The truth is the recessionary periods that affect global economies tend to ride on 30 to 40 years cycles. Our political system exacerbated the depths of this trough by the bi-partisan repeal of the Glas-Stegal act under Clinton. Although the sitting President gets the blame for a recession, it is not his responsibility, it is really the responsibility of the Federal Reserve. Greenspan and Bernanke have failed miserably to tell the truth to the American people and congress. This debacle is the responsibility of Congress, the Federal Reserve and irresponsible bankers. But Peggy is correct; Obama should buck up and stop trying to blame GWB for a job he asked for. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

lesjunior
Oct 23, 09 8:19 AM CDT

Americans living beyond their means, and their increasing delusional sense of entitlement -----All Bush's fault as well. Bush is also to blame for their bad credit. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

hamsammichs
Oct 23, 09 11:26 AM CDT

And you're calling other Americans delusional...

| 0 minutes ago

Carpediem4U
Oct 23, 09 9:07 AM CDT

And just for a reminder...Obama has already said " I own this now" ...he wasnt blaming Bush, all he did was say "it was a mess and I've got to clean it up"....its people like Noonan who tie that to Bush becasue she knows it was Bush's fault and shes just projecting. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

QueenAlli
Oct 23, 09 9:07 AM CDT

W caused the mess, O has to fix it. Don't think for a second Noonan Poonan that the Dems won't let the American people forget that. They will use it this year and the next. The GOP would do the same thing so enough with your hypocrisy. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

hamsammichs
Oct 23, 09 11:24 AM CDT

Holy hell, this might be the best article Newser has ever run. Wait, a President having to fix a PROBLEM? You're kidding! I thought you get into office and cruise... please people, stop the bitching, start the fixing. I'm all for it. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

freethemall
Oct 23, 09 3:37 PM CDT

I wonder if she made her usual funny little faces, as she wrote this garbage. I know, I know, I'm being petty, but she does irk me so much! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

susanai
Oct 24, 09 6:04 PM CDT

You're not being petty. When I read her name I see her little smirky smiles as well. Liked your comment. Gave me a chuckle and in this day and age a little chuckle is good. Noonan is a smarmy piece of work.

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Oct 24, 09 10:09 PM CDT

Thank you, susanai.

| 0 minutes ago

Shannonals
Oct 23, 09 4:45 PM CDT

Why is it that so many radio hosts and Republicans are complaining about Carter, (well, can't really argue this one as a selection), and Clinton, but the minute Bush name is brought up they start crying foul. They can't have it both ways, if they can complain, so can others. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

freethemall
Oct 23, 09 5:41 PM CDT

A question for you, Peggy: Was the Great Depression FDR's fault 9 months into his presidency? No? Then why don't you keep your grimacing face closed from here on out? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 28 comments »

Bush administration • Peggy Noonan • George W. Bush • Obama administration • President Obama

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It's Not Bush's Mess Anymore