Andrew Sullivan -- Distorting History

In attempt to lionize both Presidents Bush, Andrew Sullivan writes "43 inherited a seriously delinquent anti-terrorism policy, in which his predecessor's feckless national security apparatus had left the United States vulnerable to the worst slaughter of American citizens in history. W didn't do enough immediately to rectify this, but he has performed superbly since on the matter." Actually, Bush did exactly nothing to improve our anti-terrorism apparatus prior to September 11. Indeed, as we all now know, Ashcroft actually de-emphasized anti-terrorism efforts in the Justice Department. Sully shouldn't pretend that Bush came in to office committed to anti-terrorism efforts. Congratulating him on his efforts after September 11 is fine, if you think he's done a good job, but it's simply wrong to paint Bush as a seer who saw farther than his contemporaries.