During George W. Bush's tenure as president the phenomenon known as Bush Derangement Syndrome hit its stride. But it actually got started during the elder Bush's time in office.
I saw an example first hand. You see, some friends held a small Super Bowl party sometime during the Clinton administration. GHWB was at the game, and inevitably the camera crew zoomed in on him. Well, someone at the little party I attended came unglued. I don't know how many of the others were as stunned as I was, but it was quite a sight. The guy began a rant about GHWB that lasted several minutes and must have included every negative talking point that ever existed about the former president.
The one that sticks with me is the claim that Bush was responsible for countless children's deaths due to the oil embargo of Iraq. That claim had long since been debunked, but here was this guy citing it as true.
Rush Limbaugh likes to remind listeners that conservatives were complacent about false claims about Republicans -- they simply thought no-one would believe those claims. Well, Limbaugh was right. Plenty of Democrats believed them and probably still do.
George Herbert Walker Bush died the other evening. May he rest in peace.
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1:27 PM 12/1/2018
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