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George W. Bush has spent most of his post-presidency years deliberately away from the daily churn of American politics. Unlike many former presidents, he has avoided cable news panels, partisan sparring, and social-media skirmishes. When he does speak, it is usually about civic responsibility, democratic norms, or national unity rather than specific legislation. That is what made his recent remarks stand out—not because they were fiery or confrontational, but because of how pointed and structural they were.
Speaking with the perspective of a former president who governed through crises, Bush warned that Washington is drifting into a dangerous habit: governing by deadline rather than by design. In his view, Congress has become increasingly comfortable pushing massive, complex bills through at the eleventh hour, often under the pressure of looming shutdowns, expiring authorizations, or manufactured political standoffs. The result, he cautioned, is not efficiency but fragility.
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