September 30, 2006
Clinton/Bush Equals Charles II/William III Posted by John Steele Gordon at 11:50 AM EST A short while ago Joshua Zeitz and I discussed whether George Bush would be remembered as a latter-day Harry Truman or a latter-day James Buchanan. Obviously the jury will be out on that question for quite some time.
The inestimable Michael Barone, of U.S. News and World Report, yesterday chimed in (go here and scroll down) with a striking analogy of George Bush as King William III and Bill Clinton as King Charles II. I recommend it to all as a first-rate example of the power of history to explain the present. As Barone notes, historical analogies must not be taken too far and always break down at some point but can illuminate nonetheless. I found it fascinating.
In the same column, Barone analyzes poll results regarding the Iraq War. Barone is the co-author of The Almanac of American Politics, which, I promise you, is on the desk of every American politician, regardless of party, above the level of deputy assistant dog-catcher. He has a wide reputation for being an unusually acute analyzer of polls. His analysis is well worth reading here, even if you disagree with his conclusions.
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