Swiss Cancel Bush Appearance

When Bush finished his term as one of the most unpopular presidents of all time, some Republicans said he would be treated more favorably by history. Of course it wasn't historians who said that (they still rate him very low among past presidents), and the two years since his presidency hasn't seemed to blunt his unpopularity.

Take for instance his scheduled appearance in Switzerland to speak before a group called United Israel Appeal. The speech was scheduled for February 12th, but it has now been cancelled. It has been cancelled because substantial demonstrations against his appearance were being scheduled (with everyone encouraged to bring a shoe to throw at him).

Several groups were also planning to try and bring charges against him for approving the use of torture in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is doubtful that the charges would have been accepted by the Swiss government, even though torture is against international law and the Geneva Conventions (and Bush has admitted ordering the torture of prisoners).

But whether it was the possibility of charges (unlikely) or the large number of planned demonstrators (more likely), it is obvious that there are still a lot of negative feelings toward Bush -- both in the United States and in Europe.

It looks like its going to be a very long time before the Bush legacy can be rehabilitated, if it can be at all. I doubt that anyone alive today will live to see it.