By Staff Editorial

(Vanessa Soto)

By Staff Editorial

It takes a truly special person to have changed the lives of so many in such a short amount of time.

But then again is anyone specialer than George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States?

With all the talk about the election, we feel President Bush has been neglected, so we have chosen this time to reflect back on all the good times.

There’s no question that his absence from office will be felt from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans to the streets of Baghdad.

In eight short years, he managed to start two wars, suspend civil liberties and alienate the rest of the world. A list of accomplishments that spectacular doesn’t happen every day.

America should have recognized the extraordinary effect that this man would have on the country when the Republicans literally stole the election of 2000.

This is the man who brought the people revolutionary personalities like Dick “they will welcome us with open arms” Cheney, Alberto “I cannot recall” Gonzales and Michael “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job” Brown.

President Bush is such a rebel that when the rest of the world demanded proof that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, he told them he was going in anyway, even if it meant completely isolating the US from the entire world.

You cannot argue with logic like that.

While many have questioned Bush’s foreign diplomacy skills, we have chosen to focus on his international triumphs.

All you need to do is look at former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who backed the Iraq war 100 percent and was rewarded for his loyalty with the end of his term and the hatred of the British people.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Bush, along with Vice President Cheney, made the brave decision to suspend certain civil liberties and human rights with the introduction of the Patriot Act, wiretapping and the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp.

It takes a unique kind of thinking to decide that the path to freedom is to take away the personal freedoms and rights of the people.

But that’s the kind of president we’ve had for the last eight years, a man with a unique, if somewhat childlike, take on the world.

In 2005, the Bush Administration faced its biggest challenge when a deadly hurricane named Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.

With New Orleans flooded, leaving people trapped and dying, the government sent in the head of Federal Emergency Management Agency and equestrian show expert Brown to save the city.

His timely rescue of citizens and delivery of supplies showed what masterful management skills Bush has, because he clearly picked the right people for the right jobs.

Above all, it has been his determination to get New Orleans back on track, because losing everything and living in a emergency trailer was the step-up that many of those citizens were looking for.

There is no end to the extraordinary talent of President Bush because, when others would have rested on their laurels, he had one more life-changing event in him.

In early October, the Stock Market crashed as a result of the housing crisis and the president along with Congress authorized a $700 billion bailout that, in actuality, will cost $940 billion.

Thank you, President Bush, for letting the American people know that you did not forget about them on your way out the door.

Eight years ago, President Bush wanted to be the man who changed America forever.

Well good job, Mr. President you have changed this country in ways that it may never recover from.

So “mission accomplished.”

To take a look back at Viewpoints’ live coverage of Election 2008, including blogs, videos and coverage from local campaign headquarters, visit http://viewpoints.ning.com.