2008 Republicans Keep Defending Bush

Unless George W. Bush changes his ways in his last two years, he will go down as the most failed two-term president in American history. Still, many Republicans stubbornly stand by Bush despite poll numbers like these from USA Today:

In the poll taken Thursday through Sunday, just after Democrats swept to majorities in the House and Senate, those surveyed said by nearly 2-to-1 that they want Democrats to have more influence than President Bush on the direction of the nation. Nearly half said the country will be better off under Democrats; 16% said it will be worse off; and one-third predicted no difference.

Bush's job-approval rating was 33%, tying his second-lowest ever. The Republican Party was viewed favorably by 35% — an eight-year low.

Yep, instead of leaning on Bush to drop his reckless ideology and fix what ails his presidency, 33% of the nation still stands by Bush and still makes excuses for him. That probably includes Rudy Giuliani, if he stands by his endorsement of Bush at the 2004 Republican convention. Although Giuliani is considered a moderate Republican, his foreign policy judgment doesn't seem to be any better than Bush's as reported in Yahoo News (via The Raw Story):

Giuliani has tried to sidestep those differences and offered strong praise for President Bush at the 2004 GOP convention in New York.

"It doesn't matter what the media does to ridicule him or misinterpret him or defeat him. They ridiculed Winston Churchill. They belittled Ronald Reagan. But like President Bush, they were optimists. Leaders need to be optimists. Their vision is beyond the present, and it's set on a future of real peace and security," Giuliani said.

"Some call it stubbornness. I call it principled leadership."

Well, Republican hyperbole has become a source of national humor (okay, sometimes a few other things) but let's still consider this a moment. First, Winston Churchill knew what he was doing in World War II and our president doesn't. So, no comparison there. Second, Churchill spoke in complete sentences on important matters of state. Again, no comparison there. Third, Churchill lead a coalition government. Bush stubbornly refused to do so and has been using an unneeded war in Iraq to divide the nation. Fourth, Churchill learned from his mistakes. Bush... well, there's no need to go on.

McCain and Giuliani are both running for president and both insisted for the longest time on tying their fate to the president. McCain is just beginning to sing a little different tune in time to distance himself from President Bush. It's too little and too late. I'm sure we'll hear Guiliani's excuses any day now.

In 2008, we're going to need people with better judgment.