When the criticism starts to come from some of the more articulate right-leaning folks on this forum, its apparent this "controversial" topic has lost much of its steam.

Political discussions of any kind can tend to get ugly.  I will occasionally give my input, but I stay out of this topic most of the time.

Attacking Bush has become too easy after a dismal 8-year track record, to paraphrase PJ O'Rourke, it's like hunting cattle with a high velocity rifle.

Even though I have participated in lists on Bush in the past, I am tiring of it, and I am sure his fan base is tiring of it too. Most of the rhetoric is very reactionary and overly simplistic.

Anyone who hates him does so based on prejudices or lack of sufficient information to judge his performance as President. It's easy to criticize him from this side of the fence, but who really believes has all the information the President has in order to assess his job? The results speak for themselves: America is safer because of his policies, the war on Iraq is blamed on him negatively mainly due to a consistent and continuous negative media campaign, the economy is stronger than ever, and his concern for the less fortunate is evident through his tax policies and incentives for the poor. The world hates us because we stand for who and what we are, and I see this as a plus.

I'll give him a three...certainly many people hate him, but he still has his supporters. I certainly don't hate him, however much I disagree with some of his policies.

I don't think this is THE most hated topic on RIA. As others have said, I think old George may still have his fan base - though you don't have to be completely awake to see it's very obviously shrinking by the day. Probably not a real problem for him at this point since he no longer has to think about votes. And speaking of votes, I sincerely doubt that this is something he would have experienced as much of had the opposing party been able to round up anything other than a group of cross-eyed rodeo clowns. Maybe now is a good time to re-evaluate and ask the burning question, "What have we learned in these last two elections boys and girls?" Possibly that, overall, politicians have more ego than brain power. Not exactly earth shattering. More like something that has been well documented since the first simple minded caveman beat on his chest, stood on a rock and attempted to put himself in charge of his little corner of the world. And he succeeded only because the smart guys were too busy coming up with useful things like art, uses for fire and the invention of the wheel.

Yes this is a hated topic because on this site because its beating a dead horse. We get it... liberals hate him, some moderate conservatives are finally starting to see the light, and gun totin hicks that don't know any better love him. I don't like him either but I also don't like most of the senate, and congress as well regardless of political party. Quite frankly I would love to see a complete government overhaul and replaced with common sense Centrist politicians and out with the bed wetting liberals and right wing nut jobs.

Yeah, there is a lot to hate about George Bush. For one thing, he led his own (and my own) country into a war in Iraq for no reason whatsoever. Bush will be remembered as a warmongerer, my friends, make no mistake. This is speaking from a neutral point of view. The man himself is more misguided than truly evil.

Its tiring to write about the follies of Bush. So much has been debated.we who see him for the true villain he is will never change. Those who see him for what he pretends to be are to dumb to see the truth, they will also never change. Hell be talked about for generations because of the severe damage hes causing today.

Again, see my comments on Michael Jackson.

The question is, do liberals absolutely hate George W. Bush more than conservatives absolutely hate Hillary R. Clinton? Being a supporter of Bush's, I don't understand the hatred directed at him, different (in my eyes) from that directed at Hill. For myself, I don't hate Hillary, though there are those who do. But I don't see Dubya as anywhere near as far right as I see Hillary as far left. I'm not sure anyone can rationally explain their hatred anyway.

George W. Bush is as hated as the paycheck you get at the end of a long, hard weekend! No matter what type of spin you put on him, you'll realize that Bush did what he had to do in order to protect this country.

I think there are many Bush admirers on RIA, so, if I understand the way the stars are supposed to be applied in this category, I would say he is only controversial for a few of us. Beyond that, only our dislike of his policies is controversial. Anytime I state an opinion critical of his policies I immediately get 1 or 2 unhelpfuls, followed predictably, in about a week, by 5 or 6 more. I generally try to support my opinions with reasoned argument, but there is always about the same number of people who think I'm unhelpful. I get a chuckle out of it. Heck, I'll bet someone rates this post unhelpful! Go ahead...you know you want to.

I hate this topic because it becomes an emotional barrage of comments. Anti-Bushers give some actual criticisms and Pro-Bushers call them Anti-American. One of the real nasty subjects on this website. It isn't even interesting because of its predictability.

I don't hate George W. Bush, but I hate his policies. I'm amazed by what he's done to our country in in the last 3 years. I don't think he's evil;I think he's misguided. I sense he sincerely believes that what he's doing is best for the country. God help us all.

Genuinely controversial here, so he gets five stars. Some love him, some hate him, and a very few have a view somewhere in between (I think he is far from the worst president we have EVER had, but in general I despise his policies--and for the record I do NOT hate him--I think it is a good idea not to throw that word around loosely, since hate is a pretty big thing and rather corrosive to your well-being).