BUSH’S REMAINING YEARS
By Isaiah Z. Sterrett (11/04/05)
IF GEORGE W. BUSH completely lost control of the presidency after being reelected in one of the nastiest campaigns in American history, this was the week he got back on track. It’s been a long time coming.
Katrina brought Bush far more trouble than he deserved, though the so-labeled Brownie mess was completely of Bush’s making; there is no excuse for cronyism at FEMA, and Bush was wrong to make light of its importance. That was his first mistake.
His second mistake was the LBJ-style primetime speech he gave from the Gulf Coast in which he proposed massive federal spending, coupled with massive federal spending, accompanied by, appropriately, massive federal spending. The speech and all its promises fell completely flat. Liberals didn’t blink an eye, and conservatives would rather not think about billions of dollars flowing into a local government as manifestly corrupt and short-sided as that of New Orleans. It was a complete waste of the president’s time and the country’s time.
Just as Katrina, and later Rita, were easing away from the White House’s spotlight, Hurricane Harriet blew in, severing the Republican Party from sea to shining sea. Miers’ withdrawal is positive for the judiciary and thus the country—and, incidentally, for Bush, as well. Judge Samuel Alito is exactly what I was looking for when I wrote that I wanted a Supreme Court “oozing with brilliance.”
Alito will be confirmed, as well he should be. Though it’s difficult to imagine anyone performing better before the Senate than John Roberts did, Alito may give the new Chief Justice a run for his money. The same Democrats will raise the same objections to Alito as they did to Roberts, but all will be well in the end. At long last, Justice O’Connor will be able to step down—for real, this time—and our new High Court will be complete. Justice Kennedy will occupy the sole swing seat, while Justices Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito will be the judicially—though not necessarily political—conservatives. This will leave the left-leaning part of the Court to Stevens, likely to retire after this term, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Souter.
As upsetting as the Miers fiasco was for Bush and the country, it has illustrated crucial lessons for each party involved. Bush has learned that cronyism is unacceptable when it comes to the Supreme Court, and that conservatives aren’t kidding when we say we want an extremely qualified, practiced Justice. The United States has learned—once again—that we take this democracy business quite seriously. The judiciary, coequal to the Congress and Executive, is never forgotten. Harriet Miers likely knows this best of all.
At this point, Bush is left with approximately three years in the White House. The War on Terror and Social Security remain the most important national issues. Further, as abovementioned, it is quite possible that Justice John Paul Stevens, at over 80-years-old, is currently serving his final term. Some (braver and more knowledgeable than I) have also speculated that Ginsburg may leave the Court before the end of the Bush term. This leaves a great deal on the president’s plate.
On the war, Bush must, to use one of his favorite clichés, stay the course. Democrats’ desperate attempt to steal the legitimacy of our Iraq efforts should be ignored unless and until they come up with something beyond Joe Wilson’s irrelevant ramblings about African yellowcake. Harry Reid’s juvenile use of Rule 21 to throw a temper tantrum serves as testament to Democrats’ inability to lead a party, but has nothing to do with the war’s success. The passage of an Iraqi constitution is arguably of greater significance than a two-hour shut-down of the U.S. Senate.
Secondly, Bush must come back to Social Security. He took a break from the fight—perhaps out of frustration—but he should return to it. Social Security reform with personal investment accounts is politically viable and completely legitimate. It will pass, however, only if Bush is relentless in the struggle.
Finally, we arrive, once again, to the Supreme Court, which will likely change again next summer. In plotting his course on this subject, Bush should remember Harriet Miers. The right, though happy with Alito, will not rubber-stamp anyone without proper qualifications. Janice Rogers Brown, Michael Luttig, and Priscilla Owen remain possibilities.
© Copyright 2005 by Isaiah Z. Sterrett
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