Brendan Nyhan

George W. Bush’s political legacy

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Like Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, Bush overestimated his ability to change public opinion to support his policy goals. But 9/11 made it possible for him to overreach much further than Clinton or Gingrich ever did. As a result, the scope of the backlash is even more significant. He may truly be the Jimmy Carter to Obama’s Reagan.