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TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

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The apparent demise of The Tribune is a shame, and one I could blather on about for thousands of words, but I'll let others more eloquent tackle that. Instead, before heading out, I want to discuss a fact that will live beyond The Tribune, me and, most likely, even the concept of newspapers: George W. Bush is the worst U.S. president ever.

In a mere 335 days, we Americans will be able to claim to have survived the Bush administration. It hasn't been easy, and not just for liberals. Sure, every single act, gesture and breath of the man has angered anyone to the political left of Jerry Falwell's ghost, but it goes beyond that.

Fiscal conservatives are apoplectic about Bush's tax-and-spend policies leading to massive deficits. Social conservatives are unhappy the administration hasn't overturned Roe v. Wade or gotten the Bible back in public schools.

Osama is still out there somewhere, Iraq could have been a preventable quagmire, and our number of international friends has dwindled to near zero. Europe is passing us economically, and China is getting larger and larger in the rear-view mirror.

Listing the failures of Bush initiatives is long and embarrassing. Remember when Bush tackled Social Security? How about Bush-style immigration reform? This, while the president's own party has been in control of Congress most of the time.

Bush's only successes revolve around fear. Fear has been his best friend, allowing passage of pernicious legislation, such as the USA Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expansions that cripple civil liberties.

Consider what fear-based legislation did for former President John Adams' long-term reputation. His Alien and Sedition Acts are still models of what not to do in the face of fear — until President Bush came along.

Then there's the Don Knotts problem. I love the comedy of Knotts. I just never wanted him to be president.

Back in the early carefree days of the Bush administration, the president was ridiculed because he talked funny and said things like "nucular." We chalked this up to Bush allegedly being Texan and moved on. Then we found out he didn't only talk wrong but made boneheaded decisions. My favorite: the proposed Harriet Miers nomination to the Supreme Court.

One could easily imagine Knott's famous character Barney Fife goofily defending the Miers nomination for days, when it was apparent to everyone — conservative and liberal — that this was the gosh-darned stupidest idea since Plessy v. Ferguson.

Two or three years ago, considerable discussion took place about whether Bush is our worst president. Then scholarly discussion died down, a few folks got "Worst. President. Ever." bumper stickers, and we trudged on through waterboarding, signing documents and an economic stimulus package — i.e., paying for 2008 votes.

But before I, The Tribune or the Barney Fife-in-Chief head out the door, the discussion is worth having again. It's been rough, almost impossible at times, but we're going to survive the Bush administration. And, oh! the stories we can tell our children, grandchildren and presidential historians.