Comments on: Leading Democrat: Bush 'the worst president we've ever had'

By: GOP Supporter

GOP Supporter — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:32:29 +0000

Harry Reid....another one!! Just wait. You think GWB was the worst. Obama doesn't have a chance with these clowns! A decent man, but I feel sorry for him. He really is a Republican but he wouldn't have been elected that way.

By: Palin Fan

Palin Fan — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:32:19 +0000

Another prediction – Palin will be elected president and Bush ratings will be higher than Obama's in 2012.

By: Tom in TN

Tom in TN — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:32:13 +0000

Doesn't the blame REALLY lie with the American people?

We all knew he was a liar and a traitor by 2004.

Succumbing to fear in the face of the terrorist tactics used by Bush and Co. during the 2004 election I believe DOES put the blame for the last four years of the doward spiral of America squarely in the lap of the people of America.

The same line of reasoning goes for Congressmen (like Reid) being reelected when they are known by the people to be worse than worthless.

We have met the enemy and he is US.

By: Grant E in MD

Grant E in MD — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:31:37 +0000

in my opinion, although he was not a very good president, G W Bush is NOT the worst president – he falls in at 3rd place behind Buchannan and Hoover. Harry Reid's sense of history is a bit distorted. But, then, he is to senate majority leadership as G W Bush is to presidency – also very bad. The Senate needs a Lyndon Johnson – very badly. And the House needs a Sam Rayburn. We have pipsqueeks running the congress. I wonder how Pres.Obama will get anything done.

By: GOP Supporter

GOP Supporter — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:31:33 +0000

By: Ann

Ann — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:31:16 +0000

Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black to me.

By: Ken Rigsby

Ken Rigsby — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:31:07 +0000

In ten years, if Iraq stabilizes, I bet Bush will be seen as a great president. He spent his entire time in office trying to protect us after 9/11. Really, his entire presidency has been dominated by anti-terrorism, in one form or another. Like his tactics or not, like the war or not... we haven't been attacked since. No one can say for sure if that's because of him or not, but I don't care about the "why", just the results.

By: AlwaysRight

AlwaysRight — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:30:53 +0000

If you want a President who'll negotiate with terrorists go find another country. Otherwise, get on your knees and thank your lucky stars that we have had a President who was not afraid to act. God bless President Bush.

How ungrateful we Americans have become that we can't stomach the reality of the world we live in. If you think Israel is the problem, I'd like for you to spend a few minutes in their shoes. How long do you think we'd tolerate Mexico firing rockets into Texas?

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:29:57 +0000

Anyone who claims Bush is the worst president we've had has never opened a history book.

By: Slappy Gillis

Slappy Gillis — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:29:49 +0000

Let's see- we've been attacked how many times since 911?

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:29:16 +0000

Anyone who claims Bush is the worst president we've ever had has never opened a history book.

By: Annie, Atlanta

Annie, Atlanta — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:29:04 +0000

As ineffective as I think "go-along" Harry Reid may be, I certainly can't disagree with him regarding the presidency of George W. Bush. I just hope we, collectively as Americans, have learned a lesson here (probably not after all the votes McCain/Palin got), can dig ourselves out from this mess, and heal. It's a tall order, sadly.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:28:50 +0000

I can't believe some of you voted for him. Twice! What's that saying? Fool me once shame one me. Fool me twice... I think this was the quote he messed up on too. With the success of the Clinton presidency, the taxpayer SHOULD have paid for that indiscretion. There was plenty in the surplus and no wars to pay for. We should at least try GW and Cheney in civil court. The American taxpayer should go for every penny they've got. Like OJ. They got away with murder. But we can at least turn Crawford ranch into an eco-friendly wilderness preserve.

By: End Of An Error

End Of An Error — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:28:46 +0000

Bush is not only the worst president ever, his actions probably are treasonous.

How many times did he stand in front of audiences and proclaim that he had absolute proof that Saddam Hussein was trying to acquire WMDs? What about his and Rice's comments about the smoking gun would be a nuclear bomb going off in the USA?

Bush and Cheney husbanded intelligence and only presented and acted on the evidence that supported invading Iraq. In the end, all of the reasons Bush gave to invade Iraq were proven false – and admitted as false by Bush and his administration. Over 4000 Americans are now dead, we killed a leader of a country, killed hundreds of thousands of Iraq's citizens, drained our treasury, and all for what? Nothing.

Bush needs to be investigated and held responsible. Everything from refusing to testify under oath to the 9/11 Commission to his statements to the American public in the push for war to the warrantless wiretaps and surveillance on the American public. Every lie needs to be documented and if what he did is found to have been unconstitutional, he must be held accountable.

By: Pam Holt Los Angeles, CA

Pam Holt Los Angeles, CA — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:57 +0000

I can't imagine a worst one! Bush/Cheney really do need to be held accountable for their crimes or a precedent will be set for all future presidents that they can get away with anything!

By: Change - Yeah Left!

Change - Yeah Left! — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:43 +0000

The pot calling the kettle black. This has been the WORST Congress ever. And they decided to make things worse for the struggling President who could have done some good (maybe, if we were lucky) if Congress hadn't spit on him every chance they got.

By: Terry

Terry — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:34 +0000

Not that I disagree with the good Senator's statements, however, when such statements come from one of the worst elected officials of our time, it does not give the statement much credibility.

By: Trout slayer

Trout slayer — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:31 +0000

When I clicked on this story, I thought it may be some in-depth story. Instead, its just one Senator (a Democrat, of course) saying Republican George Bush is the worst president ever. Why is this short blurb even on the webpage? Can't CNN do better.

By: tim

tim — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:29 +0000

Reid is so old, he might remember Andrew Johnson. If he would do his research, he would find that Johnson was a terrible president.

Herbert Hoover/Calvin Coolridge were also not good.

By: mark

mark — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:21 +0000

George Bush is not only the worst president the United States has ever had, he is the most destructive. He has ruined millions of peoples lives, and cost everyone (but himself & friends) trillions of dollars. He has taken the world back a hundred years with his stone age style of governing, and created more enemies of the US then any other president.

By: Ken in NC

Ken in NC — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:16 +0000

Reid calling President Bush the worst ever is SPOT ON". While I will not argue that point, what is funny is that it is like "THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK".

If it wasn't for politicians then comedians would not have anything to talk about.

By: tom

tom — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:27:02 +0000

That's okay liberals, keep piling on. Then ask us to support YOUR president.

Just remember why Bush was elected in the first place...the impeachment of one William Jefferson Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice (in other words...not sex) and the manicial political partisianship that keep him from being removed. Bush was elected as a backlash, no different than Obama Hussein,

You liberals are as much to blame as Bush is for the last 8 years.

By: ANDROLOMA, Commerce City, Colorado

ANDROLOMA, Commerce City, Colorado — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:26:58 +0000

For prisoner torture, Mr. Bush certainly qualified. Our fathers didn't even torture Nazis, for god's sake! What made islamic terrorists worse? This stain on America's honor will take generations to remove. The capitalists took this country into places it never should have gone. Greed took its place in our democracy and our homes, our factories and our cities. Greed and apathy will destroy this nation before militants. I'll trust a Muslim before I'll trust a CEO or any politician. THE BAILOUTS WERE WRONG! The politicians have indeed sold us out.

By: C W

C W — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:26:54 +0000

I, too, am frustrated that the Dems didn't put up more of a resistence to the Bush & Company policies. The bully tactic of calling anyone who disagreed with Bush "unpatriotic," "terrorist-sympathizers," and the like, worked on the Democratic leadership like it did on so many others (including the media). Time now for everyone to grow a backbone and truly put our country first. Enough of the fear-mongering, manipulation and lies. I'm very much looking forward to a new era of integrity in government. The American people are calling for it, and after a very long 8 years, I think we have a President who not only knows how to build consensus and treat us like adults, but who also understands how important it is to serve his nation and not just his cronies.

By: charles moore

charles moore — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:26:50 +0000

Harry, while I agree that Bush was probably one of the worst Presidents we've had, I must strongly disagree with you about his action HR6331. That bill was flawed badly, and has done great damage to the rural elderly population which depended upon PFFS. I know you think you helped the doctors, and maybe you did, but you sure hurt a lot of older people in the process.

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:26:15 +0000

What a news story CNN! A true headline!! The worst wimp Democrat Majority leader calls Bush the worst President. This is truely earth shattering. I was unsure of what Reid thought of him until you reported it. Try this news story..."Republicans hate Reid and Pelosi", "Pelosi doesn't like Cheny" "Cowboys say Redskins are worst team ever" WOW CNN you really came up with a scoop on that one!!

By: John in Tampa

John in Tampa — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:26:06 +0000

To this point in history Reid is correct, nobody has ever been able to trash our country and our planet so broadly and so deeply. However, at this point in time I do not see the point of going on about this. Both Democrats and Republicans have their own internal problems, and even those are nothing next to the real issues they need to be working on together.

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:59 +0000

Bad President, Yes! Worst president? Not even close. Jimmy Carter is the worst in my book. Most of you guys blogging are too young to remember the 70s and it was way worse back then. You think the economy is the toilet? Not even close to Jimmy's America where he envisioned us as a smaller and less important country. Thank God Reagan came along. I hope Obama can do for America what Reagan did.

By: clifford

clifford — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:49 +0000

rush Joy: If the Arab and Muslim extremists would quit strapping c-4 to themselves and suddenly exploding everyone around the world could just live in peace and relax! Now come on when you get mad at someone have you ever felt like exploding? Literally! They need to just grab a cold beer and relax for crying out load!!

By: RepublicanMicky

RepublicanMicky — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:39 +0000

Hey, that'smy POTUS you're talking about!!!!!
4 more years of GW!!!!

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:30 +0000

First bush is the WORST that we have ever had. We get to see the manifestation of all is incompetent actions. Also Bush and Cheney were the one's that provided the info that congress got to make there decisions on for the Iraq occupation that broke our country and provided fodder for extremists. Yes the dems have been the majority the last two years but they did not have the 60 seats needed to block bush and the GOP ideologues. In most cases decisions need a 60 vote in favor. When people are polled, they are polled on the congress as a whole, not just one party.

By: trudi

trudi — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:12 +0000

come on! Harry Reid calling George Bush the worst is so inane.
Harry Reid is mediocre at best...............give Bush a break

By: L. Barry

L. Barry — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:10 +0000

There is no doubt in my mind that Bush will be considered one of the worst presidents the US has ever had. Leading up to 911 his administration ignored warnings of a terrorist attack against the US, after 911 numerous people and organizations told him Iraq was not involved in 911 and he went to war with them anyway while he should have kept our military fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan. His cronyisim led to the adminstrative failures in the aftermath of Katrina. The economic crisis that is impacting the world is the worst in most of our lifetimes. I believe the biggest problem with Bush is that he would never listen to those who did not agree with him and unfortunely he wasn't all that bright to begin with. He was only elected because of his name.

By: peter

peter — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:06 +0000

In my opinion, Harry Reid is the worst senate majority leader that this country has ever had. His comments regarding president Bush were politically motivated and showed his lack of understanding of what the country needs.

By: Keith Brown

Keith Brown — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:25:06 +0000

All I can say to Senator Harry Reid, is the pot should not call the kettle black. The track record of the Senate and the House is pathetic and given the excellent response by President Bush to the 9/11 attack shows his ability to make good decisions and act responsibility. While the Senate stands and takes a stand for an instance, they back pedal so fast they trip over themselves changing positions. The House may have more members and shorter terms but they are running in reverse. I believe George Bush did his very best to represent the views and desires of those responsible Americans who work hard each day, I cannot say the same for Congress because I am not sure who they represent except special interest groups and themselves. Wake up Congress and smell the roses and coffee.

By: Ash

Ash — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:24:46 +0000

Just get this man out of office now...he has screwed up everyone and everything in this country for the past 8 years...shame on the people who voted him for a second term because it was just as bad, if not worse than his first term. Let Obama be the man to change the world...

By: Brook Mantia

Brook Mantia — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:23:51 +0000

Are we still talking about that guy?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:23:45 +0000

I yam what I yam.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:23:45 +0000

Given Reids perspective from Pelosi's anal cavity this wouldn't surprise anyone. History will prove the facts but greed and Clinton policy set the stage for the Socialist spiral we are on and Bush and all the King's horses can't correct the result. The first bailout and next with no ability to ever pay it back without either bankruptcy or Socialism are the only alternatives. We have greed, Bill, Hillary and their friends to thank for our headlong fall.

By: GOP Supporter

GOP Supporter — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:23:30 +0000

If you guys think GWB is worst president, look at Richardson withdrawing from Obama cabinet. This is just the start!! I think Obama is decent man, but not a leader!! GWB's legacy will be determined in the next generation. Stay tuned!!

By: Fred

Fred — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:23:27 +0000

Oh yeah, and great work on the ticker line on your website CNN "Bush declared worst president". When you go to the article and read that this is according to the joke of senator named Harry Reid, you have to laugh. Do you have any real news stories to cover today CNN, aside from the phony Richardson stepping aside, due to being a criminal?

By: LifesaJourney

LifesaJourney — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:23:19 +0000

EVIL LIVES WHERE MADNESS RULES....This is the Bush/Cheney Legacy. I really do believe Bush is not all there mentally. I have honestly wondered if the years of abusing alcohol and drugs left him brain damaged. He certainly never acted like he know what was going on around him at all.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:23:13 +0000

Harry's just trying to change the subject away from his newly disclosed contact with Illinois Gov. Blago over the senate appointment. He's got dirty hands.

By: Leigh

Leigh — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:22:56 +0000

I didn't need to read this to know Bush was the worst president. Anyone stating this glaringly obvious fact is just being redundant.

By: Janice

Janice — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:22:55 +0000

Please someone, remind Senator Reid of his dismal work record! He's done nothing except show up most of the time. If Reid, (and a lot of others on the federal payroll) worked in private industry, he would have already been fired! Senators, Congressmen/women, vice-president and others are over paid and a lot of them were wealthy anyway.

By: Citizen

Citizen — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:22:31 +0000

He is the worst thing happened to U.S. He should be brought to trial for war crimes.

By: Johnson

Johnson — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:22:25 +0000

I'll add my vote for Bush as the single worst president in US History.
And even as he is on his way out, he's still using his "powers" to make things worse.

May we never to be so dumb as to elect another Bush. That includes Jeb, and the rest of his whole family.

By: michael flanagan

michael flanagan — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:22:25 +0000

Reid has been a despicable liar and a fool for his entire term as Senate Majority Leader. There's nothing he won't say for political gain (e.g.,"This war is lost"), regardless of who ends up paying the price. He's a cranky old lady in a suit, and given his stunning level of ignorance and deceit in so many instances, there's utterly no reason to think he knows one blessed thing about which presidents were more accomplished than others, nor how to decide that question.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:22:04 +0000

I do not think he was a great President and am not sorry to see him leave. But no one man could have done this all by himself. Why did Congress and the Sentate not do their jobs in overseeing the banks I believe as taxpayers we pay taxes for people to be employed in Government to over seen this not just complain and say we did not see it coming. We have the Commerce Department, the Treasury Department, SEC so where were all of these. Everyday all we see is waste in government, people caught not working etc. Where are the people making the big bucks and not seeing this. It is time for all of government to be accountable to the taxpayers. I do not think all these other countries we are telling what to do while we borrow money to be a socialist government by bailing our banks and auto suppliers make us look so powerful and so knowing. We have been fed how well off we are, by pictures of other countries but in truth there are countries as well off or even better and stronjger than us. Perhaps it is time for us to focus on what our government is doing and in truth the morality of the United States

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:21:47 +0000

Reid had better options when answering the "Regrets" question:

1) That he did not start criticizing Bush earlier;
2) That Reid could not use some more appropriate words to describe the Bush presidency, as they would be bleeped out by censors;
3) That Bush still has 16 days to screw this country up even more.