---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look back at past administrations…"
description: "\"If you look back at past administrations, they're probably a little bit behind where former President George W. Bush was.\" — Kristen Welker"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/kristen-welker-17746_administration_if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations_3057201.jpg"
---

#  If you look back at past administrations, they're probably…

![“If you look back at past administrations, they're probably a little bit behind where former President George W. Bush was.” quote by Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/kristen-welker-17746_administration_if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations_3057201.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/kristen-welker-17746_administration_if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations_3057201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/kristen-welker-17746_administration_if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations_3057201.jpg)

> “If you look back at past administrations, they're probably a little bit behind where former President George W. Bush was.”

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She suggests current policies lag behind those of the Bush era, implying a need for modernization.

**In simple terms:** Current policies are outdated compared to past.

Key Takeaway

Push for updated strategies.

Themes

policy history progress government

Mood

analytical critical

Type

reflective informative

When to use this quote

- legislative reform
- budget planning
- public communication

Key Concepts

public administration comparative analysis political science

Questions to Reflect On

- What specific policies need updating?
- How can we measure progress accurately?

A Different Perspective

Comparisons may oversimplify complex issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Administrations Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administrations-probably-5111837/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush/) [Former](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) [George bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-bush/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Look Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-past/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Administrations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-administrations-305130/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President george w bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-george-w-bush/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/)

## Related quotes

> [Political pundits are saying President George W. Bush has made gains in two key states: dazed and confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/political-pundits-are-saying-president-george-w-bush-has-made-gains/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [ \[President George W.\] Bush - never mind his well-crafted set speeches; listen to him as he leans on a lectern, chatting to an audience… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/president-george-w-bush-never-mind-his-well-crafted-set-speeches/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [President George W. Bush is endangering the United States and the world's safety while undermining American values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/president-george-w-bush-is-endangering-the-united-states-and-the/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [When President George W. Bush cut taxes, he cut them for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/when-president-george-w-bush-cut-taxes-he-cut-them-for-everyone/)

[Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/)

> [President George W. Bush, in his now-rare public appearances and interviews, still refuses to acknowledge he did anything to help Iran. But it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/president-george-w-bush-in-his-now-rare-public-appearances-and/)

[Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/)

> [I have a huge crush on President George W. Bush. I saw him at a recent fundraiser, and he's a babe. He's got that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/i-have-a-huge-crush-on-president-george-w-bush-i-saw-him-at-a-recent/)

[Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/)

> [I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. I've worked for the past five administrations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-m-neither-republican-nor-democrat-i-ve-worked-for-the-past-five/)

[John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/)

> [I think that President George W. Bush was ahead of most of his government, in realizing that Putin was not the person we thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/i-think-that-president-george-w-bush-was-ahead-of-most-of-his/)

[Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/)

> [Both President Obama and former President George W. Bush were interviewed on 'Face the Nation' over the weekend. President Bush said there's a 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/both-president-obama-and-former-president-george-w-bush-were/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [If a new president personalizes a rather different concept of America and a different sense of America's mission in the world than has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/if-a-new-president-personalizes-a-rather-different-concept-of-america/)

[Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/)

> [ “Specialist \[David Emanuel\] Hickman may have been the last man to die for his country in Iraq, but he will certainly not be the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-a-goodman/specialist-david-emanuel-hickman-may-have-been-the-last-man-to-die/)

[Melvin A. Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-a-goodman/)

> [The worst day of my political life was when President George W. Bush signed McCain-Feingold into law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-worst-day-of-my-political-life-was-when-president-george-w-bush/)

[Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/)

> [In his first term, President Barack Obama played a cautious manager navigating the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression and cleaning up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-o-leary/in-his-first-term-president-barack-obama-played-a-cautious-manager/)

[Kevin O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-o-leary/)

> [Neoconservative Republican President George W. Bush took office determined to aggressively export American democratic values through conflict. The Iraq war, a misdirected response to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/neoconservative-republican-president-george-w-bush-took-office/)

[Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/)

> [I intend to vote for President George W. Bush in the next election, because in my view, he is best able to wage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-intend-to-vote-for-president-george-w-bush-in-the-next-election/)

[Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/)

## More by Kristen Welker

> [But when my mother ran for City Council, that was the moment when I knew I wanted to be a political reporter. Some reporters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/but-when-my-mother-ran-for-city-council-that-was-the-moment-when-i/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [A couple of years ago, I went to dinner with a very high-profile source, and out of respect, I put my phone down for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/a-couple-of-years-ago-i-went-to-dinner-with-a-very-high-profile/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I think it's incredibly important that we think about diversity in the context of the White House press corps, because it's important that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-think-it-s-incredibly-important-that-we-think-about-diversity-in/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I feel like I've grown up, not only at NBC, but also at 'Today.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-feel-like-i-ve-grown-up-not-only-at-nbc-but-also-at-today/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [My big challenge, I will say, is contouring. God help us all with contouring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/my-big-challenge-i-will-say-is-contouring-god-help-us-all-with/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I got such a bad series of sinus infections while covering President Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, I lost my sense of smell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-got-such-a-bad-series-of-sinus-infections-while-covering-president/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I typically set at least three alarms. I have two alarms set on my iPhone, I still use a Blackberry for work, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-typically-set-at-least-three-alarms-i-have-two-alarms-set-on-my/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I am not afraid to ask for feedback on my work or appearance, and try to never take that advice personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-am-not-afraid-to-ask-for-feedback-on-my-work-or-appearance-and-try/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [You have to be essentially ready to interview the President every day that you walk in, at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/you-have-to-be-essentially-ready-to-interview-the-president-every-day/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I've recently explored the beauty of doing sit-ups on those endurance balls. It adds a whole new dimension of difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-ve-recently-explored-the-beauty-of-doing-sit-ups-on-those-endurance/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I know the words to almost every '80s song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-know-the-words-to-almost-every-80s-song/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [I was in sixth grade. I loved TV news. I acknowledge that I was also in awe of Barbara Walters interviewing Patrick Swayze and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/i-was-in-sixth-grade-i-loved-tv-news-i-acknowledge-that-i-was-also-in/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [Whether I'm traveling or not, I lay out my outfit and jewelry the night before so I don't have to think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/whether-i-m-traveling-or-not-i-lay-out-my-outfit-and-jewelry-the/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [Fashion is not my strongest suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/fashion-is-not-my-strongest-suit/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

> [You're constantly asking yourself, 'Am I doing enough? Am I living up to this moment? Am I asking the toughest questions of the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/you-re-constantly-asking-yourself-am-i-doing-enough-am-i-living-up-to/)

[Kristen Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

[Explore all 36 Kristen Welker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/)

## More Administration quotes

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/)

[Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/)

> [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/)

[David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/)

> [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/)

[Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/)

> [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/)

[Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/)

> [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/)

[Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/)

> [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/)

[Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/)

> [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/)

[Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/)

> [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/)

[Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/)

> [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/)

[Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/)

> [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/)

[Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/)

> [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

[Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you look back at past administrations, they're probably a little bit behind where former President George W. Bush was.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kristen Welker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations-they-re-probably-a-little/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Administration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations-they-re-probably-a-little/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/kristen-welker-17746_administration_if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations_3057201.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/kristen-welker-17746_administration_if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations_3057201.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/kristen-welker-17746_administration_if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations_3057201.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you look back at past administrations, they're probably a little bit behind where former President George…” — Kristen Welker",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Kristen Welker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-welker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you look back at past...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations-they-re-probably-a-little/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-welker/if-you-look-back-at-past-administrations-they-re-probably-a-little/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
