Why Obama Is Like Bush

Barack Obama is often compared to FDR or Ronald Reagan. But what about the last guy? Obama has taken office in the midst of a crisis and has lofty approval ratings—much like the 80% Bush had after 9/11. And both have taken a fairly similar political approach to their respective tests, writes Jackson Diehl of the Washington Post.

Bush gets lambasted for not asking a willing nation to sacrifice, for pushing through a partisan agenda, and for starting the Iraq war. But Obama vows that 98% of the public won't see a tax hike—that’s hardly asking for sacrifice. Just as Bush blasted Patriot Act opponents for not wanting to stop al-Qaeda, Obama says stimulus opponents “believe that we should do nothing.” And Obama’s looming health initiative could be just as expensive and divisive as the Iraq war. (More Barack Obama stories.)