Friday, February 23, 2007
Great presidents rallied the nation, governed brilliantly and left the republic more secure than when they entered office. Dreadful presidents such as Hoover, Nixon and now Bush have divided the nation and left us worse off. Bush is one of histories rarities: He has stumbled badly in every key area and also shown a constant loyalty to crude ideology rejecting deviation from dogma as heresy preventing any rational correction for changing realities. Bush chose partisanship over leadership. Top military advisers and members of his Cabinet who uttered any reservations or criticisms of his policies were fired, smeared by the shrub’s supporters or investigated for their suspected betrayal of national security. The “Bush Doctrine” of unprovoked, preventive warfare is based on speculative threats with claims based on wishful thinking. Bush has promoted the transformation of the Repubs into what former Republican strategist Kevin Phillips calls “the first religious party in U.S. history.” Bush came to office calling himself “a uniter, not a divider” promising to soften the hostile political tone. He has chosen to act in ways that have left the country more divided. This Administration goes through scandals faster than any previous one in our history. That’s because bush owns the problems. They are problems that go to character and so to strategy. The war in Iraq is wrong, oil companies are screwing us blue, the climate is going to hell, good-paying jobs are being replaced by low-paying jobs, our national health care system is a disgrace, and the rich are getting a lot richer while the middle class gets poorer.
One bush flaw possibly important to conservatives is his lack of accountability; he blames others. It’s how they operate. Recall that he campaigned on the promise to restore “moral integrity” and “accountability” to the White House. It’s easy to show that he failed to do this. Some people are starting to wonder if we are really on the side of Good. Turning Christianity into a State religion for control of the restless poor is a bush tool. This is a new safer America now that we have secret courts, secret jails, secret surveillance and indefinite detention. Repubs are the punisher party always accusing their opponents of being soft on the latest burning issue; immigration, crime, war and whatever other item the wish to use for their revenge.
One bush flaw possibly important to conservatives is his lack of accountability; he blames others. It’s how they operate. Recall that he campaigned on the promise to restore “moral integrity” and “accountability” to the White House. It’s easy to show that he failed to do this. Some people are starting to wonder if we are really on the side of Good. Turning Christianity into a State religion for control of the restless poor is a bush tool. This is a new safer America now that we have secret courts, secret jails, secret surveillance and indefinite detention. Repubs are the punisher party always accusing their opponents of being soft on the latest burning issue; immigration, crime, war and whatever other item the wish to use for their revenge.
