Goodbye, Mr Bush!

George W Bush, Idiot and Murderer. Stole Power 7th November 2000 (and again on 2nd November 2004); Dumped in some god-awful ranch in Texas 20th January 2009 (eight years too late)

Nine days ago, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief as the most unpopular president in the history of the United States of America (second only to Everybody's Favourite Crook and Disgraced Politician, "Tricky Dicky" Nixon) was finally escorted out of the White House amid a pantheon of pomp and ceremony, as is customary for these occasions. Of course, the celebration was double, considering his successor, but more of that later.

Regarding the polls, President Bush had this to say: "I frankly don't give a damn about the polls... to assume that historians can figure out the effect of the Bush administration before the Bush administration has ended is... in my mind... not an accurate reflection upon how history works." Hmm: no, but to figure out the effect of the Bush administration during its tenure is a very effective means of recording contemporary attitudes for the sake of future historians. Sorry, chum, but you lost that one.

The reasons for Mr Bush's lack of success both at home and abroad are varied and arguable, ranging from his mishandling of the American economy (turning Clinton's budget surplus into a deficit within eight years; allowing the beginnings of a worldwide economic failure), his neglect for an entire region of the country at a time of local turmoil (the name Katrina rings a bell), his somewhat "folksy" (read "simple") nature and his heavy-handed foreign policy (I'm holding my tongue). Personally, I think it's mainly down to the fact that he was a blundering moron who cared only for pushing a neo-conservative agenda on the rest of the world, and bullying "rogue" states into submission. As far as US history is concerned, he was the most honest of the recent presidents...

Having said this, Mr Bush has provided the world with so much entertainment. Who remembers the trouble with naming foreign head of states while campaigning for the most important job of them all? Or the incident involving a dog and a pretzel? How about the time he was caught lying live on air? There is always, of course, the final fling with a shoe?

History may say what it likes about the man. I wonder if there'll ever be a sitcom, though...

Mr Bush, you will not be missed, and I dare say very eagerly swept under the carpet...

Any daring lawyers willing to take this one on...?