this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2023
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Just watched the Boy Boy video on George Bushโ€™s Masterclass, and they made me think about which U.S. President was actually worse.

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[โ€“] [email protected] 133 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Speaking as a Canadian, the Bush presidency was certainly wince-inducing. I was genuinely surprised he got re-elected after that clusterfuck of a first term. By the end of the 2nd, I was fairly convinced the best days of America were behind it.

But the difference between him and Trump is the wounds were more self-inflicted on the country with Bush. Still not great for Canada, whose fortunes rise and fall on what happens on the other side of the border.

But Trump had a genuine animosity for freedom-loving, democracy-respecting American allies and a love for oppressive dictatorships. He tore up trade agreements, levelled tariffs, etc. against Canada and Europe while advancing diplomacy in person in the likes of North Korea.

And on a more social level, he poisoned public discourse and stoked right-wing authoritarianism all over the world. I have family members I can't talk to anymore. And the lunatic fringe came out of the woodwork under his term. We even had a mosque shooter here in Canada who was quite candid about Trump being his inspiration.

Within the US, Americans hate Americans with a passion. What a mess. Another civil war is not out of the question. As such, I am coming down on Trump being far, far worse.

[โ€“] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

Thank you for your perspective.

[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

โ€œno brainerโ€ said one paper the morning after.

Even worse, George W. Bushโ€™s 2004 reelection was the only time a Republican president has won the popular vote since the Cold War.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

You think Canada is in favor of democracy and freedom? You must be joking

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Bush was like a bad bout of alcoholism, bad, but treatable. Trump was like doing two kilos of fentanyl at once.

[โ€“] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago

I agree with lots of what you said, but lots not pretend like Quebec doesn't already have an existing culture of Islamophobia and racism.