Shiny new presidential shrine

Last week the George W. Bush Presidential Center (it's more than just a library!) opened in Dallas. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports on some students who visited it.

"'This is a glorious day to open this wonderful building,' said Mark Langdale, president of the George W. Bush Foundation."

Apparently Mr. Bush himself was present, and one of the students commented, "He seemed like a normal person." Good point. Why exactly does he deserve a $250 million shrine?

We're usually told that these presidential centers are privately funded, but that's not quite true. Gene Healy of the Cato Institute notes that the management of the facilities is taxpayer funded.

It would be nice if those students had each been given a copy of Healy's article. It might have given them a little perspective on the whole thing.