Editor:

[In response to the Sept. 26 letter, “No respect for the man,”]

In the September 2003 edition of “The New Republic” Jonathan Chait wrote: “I hate President George W.. Bush – there, I’ve said it!. I think his policies rank him among the worst presidents in U.S. History. And while I am tempted to leave it at that, the truth is I hate him for less substantive reasons too.”

Of course Mr. Chait is entitled to think anything he likes, just as I am free to voice my respect for Mr. Bush.

Unfortunately, since Mr. Chait was a serious political commentator writing in a serious political journal, he provided cover to the already growing group of Bush-haters. Also his distinguished standing in journalism gave new, perhaps more cautious critics incentive to go along comfortably with hatred; it became the fashionable thing to do (especially for those who believe Al Gore was cheater out of the presidency by Bush and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Just after 9/11, the president worked to achieve the best surveillance possible on terrorists who were out to destroy us. Those who hated him opposed these efforts – not because they were bad policies, but because they hated George Bush. This was only the beginning of the obstructions to his policies and efforts; they continued fro the next six years.

Bob Woodward for his book found a general to criticize the president’s military decisions. He was one of the generals who were mishandling the war. The president told him to his face that “we are not fighting for a tie.” He became a discarded, hence disgruntled general (think back to Lincoln asking one incompetent  Civil War general, “General I’d like to borrow your army if you are not using it.” – he was discarded).

History, a generation from now, will treat Mr. Bush with a great deal of respect (think Harry Truman).

Yes, I do respect President George W. Bush.

F. Ralph Shirak

Kennebunk