Our
View: Bad times for Bush and crew
The mighty elephant has fallen, drowning in the depths of its own peanut power.
That is to say, the Republican Party national presence has seen better days.
Whatever glow radiated after the Republican presidential and congressional wins
has been overcome by a dark shadow, a gloom that could prove to be devastating
for many political careers.
Bush was once confident after winning a second presidency. He claimed to hold
a mandate as the newly re-elected chosen leader for the American people. He boasted
political capital to power his movement for change. How things have changed since
then.
Bush is like the boy who plays in the snow and thinks because he has tightly
packed his snowman, the sun will not melt it. It has been said a rising tide
lifts all boats, and we would like to add, so too will the sun melt all snow.
Essentially, Bush’s political capital has thawed like Frosty in a Las Vegas
summer. Bush has nothing left. He bet his shirt and lost, drained the ATM and
maxed out his credit cards.
Consider all the bad hands Bush has been dealt lately. Hurricane Katrina ravaged
parts of the Southeast. His appointed Federal Emergency Management Agency head,
Michael Brown, quit prematurely.
The public continues to question Iraq as the
death toll slowly rises. Privatization of Social Security proved to be a lost
cause. His appointment to the Supreme Court, John Roberts, while approved, was
chastised by Democrats more than a supermodel in a fraternity house.
Add another GOP strikeout to the board with the turmoil surrounding House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay. All of that ought to be enough to shatter any ego.
Maybe it has. Bush took responsibility for the apparent lack of leadership for
Katrina. Knowing Bush with his reluctance to receive blame in the past and unwavering
loyalty to even those around him who fail miserably, this is a step in the right
direction.
Stubbornness and a desire never to quit can be good things. That is how people
like Richard “I have never been a quitter” Nixon come to power and
achieve measures of success.
But stubbornness can be as much an evil as it is a blessing. Bush’s situation
and resolute personality are reminiscent of Nixon in that both showed obstinacy
during their own difficult situations.
Why Bush stands behind figures many love to despise (Vice President Dick Cheney
and DeLay, to name a few) is a mystery. Perhaps it is his one-track-minded, undying
allegiance even in the face of adversity. That is not always a bad thing, but
it sure is not helping Bush at the moment.
For a re-elected second-term president, his approval ratings are horrible — one
of the worst in history. Bush may not be at fault for everything, however; maybe
it is just that too many are ignorant to all the facts and all the sides of the
whole enchilada.
But this ignorance does not dismiss the other reality that American citizens
right now are tired and discontent with their leadership. The Republican majority,
lead by its Republican president, as a collective whole is failing the people.
Meanwhile, the Democrats basically attack any GOP propositions no matter what
they are while failing to muster up any clear-cut alternatives. Case in point:
John Kerry’s presidential campaign and the corresponding “anyone-but-Bush” ticket.
Times are tough and the road ahead is bumpy but America is resilient and strong.
Even with the Texan at the helm of the American steamboat, there are enough competent
deckhands everywhere else to make sure we continue in the right direction.
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