[derefr]

As someone from outside the US, I had a fairly bad impression of George W. from the general media that reached us. You know what changed my mind? Listening back through the early NPR Planet Money episodes quoting Bush's reactions to, and speeches during, the 2007/08 financial crisis. Before that, all I had really heard were statements from him concerning the war in Iraq et al--but on economic issues, he seemed incredibly erudite and with a better picture of the issues than even the people working for him.

Of course, it was all an image manufactured by his staff... but so was his "character" during his speeches on other topics. I wish you all had gotten a bit more of the former.