Why Is George W. Bush Less Hated Now Than During His Presidency?

Yes, it is true that George W. Bush is less hated now than during his presidency. This shift in public perception can be attributed to several reasons. Firstly, people are realizing what it is like to have a President who really scares them and who sometimes has a tenuous grasp of reality. One significant factor is that liberals who once hated Bush are now seeing him in a good light in comparison to Trump, who is seen as evil.

Another reason is that Bush is living a much calmer life, has been out of the public eye for a while, and has taken up painting—becoming a pretty good painter in the process. Recently, he has been promoting a new book of paintings about American soldiers, which both makes him seem more relatable and suggests that he feels bad for the mistakes he made. This is likely to be the case, as he acknowledges his share of responsibility despite the influence of advisors like Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney.

Additionally, as time and distance have blurred Americans' memories of the damage George W. Bush caused, he appears more avuncular compared to the present President, Donald Trump. This has led to a change in public perception, making Bush look less villainous.

Lastly, it's important to note that people have also realized that Bush was not evil or anything of the sort. The catastrophic blunders he made with regard to Iraq and elsewhere were largely due to the influence of those who surrounded him, and he shares responsibility but does not have bad intentions.

Three Key Reasons for Change in Perception

1. Rendered Harmless: George W. Bush has been out of the public eye for some time, which has rendered him politically and emotionally harmless. This has allowed people to view him more objectively, and his past actions have become less fresh in the minds of the public.

2. By Comparison to the Present President: Donald Trump's presidency has brought a level of intensity and conflict that is starkly different from that of George W. Bush. The public likely views Bush as a more stable and comparatively benign figure, especially in comparison to Trump's often tumultuous and controversial policies and rhetoric.

3. Intrinsic Forgiveness: Human nature is inherently forgiving, and with the passage of time, the intensity of negative emotions people had towards George W. Bush has softened. This intrinsic tendency to forgive and move on has played a role in the shift in public perception.

In conclusion, the shift in public perception regarding George W. Bush can be explained by a combination of factors including changing memories, political context, and the human tendency to forgive and move on. As the years have gone by, the image of George W. Bush has certainly evolved, reducing the stark hatred he once commanded.