When George W. Bush DiesRandy Shawbyline‚ Jan. 09‚ 2007Media coverage of Gerald Ford's death likely boosted President Bush’s decision to escalate America’s war in Iraq. Why? Because Bush made a point of strongly praising Ford for his politically unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon, saying Ford did what was best for America even though the action likely cost him the 1976 election. Bush sees escalating the Iraq war as analogous to Ford’s pardon--- a decision unpopular at its time but for which history will vindicate him. The media whitewashing of Ford---which followed even greater historical reinventions after the deaths of Nixon and Ronald Reagan ---confirms Bush’s view that history will absolve him for the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, and that expanding the war will not endanger his post-death legacy. |