It's clear how history will judge George Bush

No amount of determined single-mindedness or public display of patriotism by President Bush can make him anything more than a failed president and his administration a disaster. The Bush administration has misled this nation from the start. It is amazing and disheartening that they still get away with it. It is disappointing that more people across the political spectrum do not speak up clearly in opposition to this arrogant and hypocritical presidency. Many Americans were morally offended and repelled by the behavior of Bill Clinton in the Oval Office and his attempt to wriggle his way out of the situation; why are they not more outraged and repelled by this administration's ineptitude, blatant cronyism, its turning a surplus into a huge deficit and, worst of all, putting the lives of our soldiers at risk in a personally vindictive war in Iraq where carnage is continual? It does not require a Nostradamus to predict history's judgment of the Bush era. It will be seen for what it is: A time when the nation was led on a wild goose chase instead of uniting with a multitude of allies to fight global terrorism. From Halliburton's profits on unbid contracts to the miserable federal response to Katrina, the Bush administration has shown its colors for all to see. Midterm elections are coming up, and there may very well be a significant change in the balance of power in the Congress. Let us hope that the well-oiled, well-heeled Republican machine does not come up with some fabulous piece of good news just before the vote. If it does, fellow citizens, let us not be fooled this time. Jerry Hyman, Ventnor - Published in the Atlantic City Press, September 21, 2006