A cherished, revered wartime president was once crippled by an approval rating of 23 percent, an astounding disapproval rating as high as 67 percent and corruption throughout his administration. Viewed as an unintelligible, folksy man incapable of fitting into the shoes of his overly intelligent, charismatic predecessor, the president who had seen the country through some of its most dramatic and turbulent times was then cast aside as a campaign tool for the opposing party. Not only were these problems dogging the commander-in-chief, sloppy handling of an unpopular war and issues with his top generals added remarkable frustration to the administration.

George W. Bush is not the greatest president in U.S. history. However, many of the difficulties that he shares with the-buck-stops-here Harry Truman make me pause and wonder if we aren’t too harsh on poor George. Truman, now revered by many historians as a presidential great, faced the lowest approval rating on record for a sitting president in January 1952’s Gallup poll. The low numbers came with frustration during the Korean War conflict and the firing of legendary Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Republicans successfully used corruption that had seeped into Truman’s cabinet as a campaign gimmick in the 1952 election, which likely pushed Truman to retire.

Surely were Harry living, he would have some advice for “W” on how to effectively end his remaining year in office. Bush faces high negatives for corruption regarding I. “Scooter” Libby, blatant wars on individual liberties, sloppy hurricane cleanups and an impatient America during an unpopular war. Further, the Iraq war was rooted in promises of weapons of mass destruction – certainly the administration learned a valuable lesson about the unwise practice of putting all of your eggs into a single, anthrax-ridden basket. Yet, were it not for Iraq, would much of that matter?

While his term began with an indication that his presidency would be rather lackluster – see Bush vs. Gore, the inherited recession and “we want to go to Mars” stump speeches – his overall handling of 9/11 and the subsequent “Operation Enduring Freedom” seemed highly appropriate and responsible, as is evident by the 94 percent approval ratings that ensued. I recall some shockingly austere and presidential, while surely scripted, moments during this time from a president whose persona leaves much to be desired. Certainly the post-9/11 moments beat those that now serve as a commodity cherished by David Letterman and a preface to “Will it Float?”

Actions speak louder than words, however. While I could harp on the overworked, obvious point that “we haven’t been attacked since 9/11,” I feel that a more valid note includes the busted terror cells in and outside of the U.S. The recently foiled plans to attack Americans in Germany certainly serve as highlights to the improvements made in our anti-terrorism defenses.

Economically, Bush’s term has provided one of the most prosperous periods in recent American history. The markets have enjoyed vast expansions and we’ve created 8.2 million new jobs since August 2003. Since last August our economy has grown at a rate superior to that of any advanced industrial nation and at rates nearly as fast as any in the last 20 years. Additionally the economy has experienced six years of uninterrupted growth.

Though these are just modest examples of the achievements that the United States has experienced during the Bush years, they serve as reminders that, indeed, the sky is not falling. Not all is lost for this presidency, though admittedly the administration has taken its fair share of heat for its policies. All of that aside, Bush isn’t likely to leave the kitchen just yet.