My Top 10 Dubya Disappointments
By Richard Davis (10/07/05)
I’m one of the many non-neo cons who have given George Bush both their votes and the benefit of a lot of doubts. He’s used the votes to win elections, but he hasn’t done much to dispel the doubts. Now as he tries to atone for Katrina, and as a Republican Congress goes missing in action, what should have been the best of times for conservatives has evolved into a prolonged interval of liberal appeasement. What happened?
There’s two explanations, one bad, one worse. The most reassuring for conservatives is the one most upsetting to Republicans: Bush is simply a mediocre leader and a so-so conservative.
I think that’s pretty indisputable at this point, but if I’m wrong and Bush is a good leader and a stalwart conservative then the second explanation is true: Liberalism has triumphed, and it no longer matters whom we elect to office. The results are the same. Having control of the presidency and both houses produces little more than political spoils.
And a lot of disappointments. Here’s my top 10.
1) Supreme Court. First came ‘Who?’ then came ‘What the?’ Next came bewilderment. Democrats can nominate their liberal judges to the bench without apology. Conservatives must sneak theirs on with a wink and a prayer. Someone tell the White House who’s been winning elections recently.
2) Katrina. Inexcusable. Yes, the mayor and governor deserve the lion’s share of blame, but that’s like blaming children for not being adults. Bush should have recognized the leadership vacuum and stepped in immediately with aid and security. The delay caused unnecessary suffering, deaths and the plundering of a city -- along with all the emotional and psychological devastation that followed. A natural disaster became a platform for race hustlers, media hacks and Democratic opportunists. Then as the levees closed the coffers opened.
3) Conservaliberalism. For what does it profit a conservative to gain the whole government and lose his soul? Not much, from what I can see. The Bush presidency has exposed a weakness in the American conservative movement: It has no agenda. When it gets one, I’m pretty sure it won’t include bigger federal government and massive new spending. That’s not being compassionate to conservatives.
4) Iraq. I’m still on-board with this mission, though it certainly is going to become the historical model on how not conduct a mission like this, from the agonizing year-long prelude to war -- Bush’s single greatest talent may be in creating opportunities for his opponents, the latest being anti-war loon Cindy Sheehan -- to the continuing post-invasion blundering. Iraq isn’t Vietnam, but some days it feels like it.
5) Political Correctness. Bush is the first full-fledged PC president, and that’s no badge of honor. As Theodore Dalrymple recently put it, “political correctness is communist propaganda writ small,” a tool of late-stage liberalism to create a “society of emasculated liars.” The disgusting Muslim pandering, the Grutter betrayal, the ridiculous non-profiling fanaticism, the blaming of New Orleans’ problems on whites -- and the list could go on. The choice isn’t between being politically correct or being politically incorrect, as Bushies seem to think. It’s between succumbing to leftist PC or not.
6) Advisors. Let’s all get down, face Mecca and pray like braying Imans that not a single one of Bush’s advisors stays in government after he leaves office. What idiots. Where to even begin? Take that August-long vacation at the ranch. Brilliant. Now he can take off the next three years. Probably just as well. We’re running out of money.
7) Bill Clinton. Another coup of Bush’s idiot neo-savants. The plan: Single-handedly rehabilitate this internationally disgraced Democrat. Then get him back in front of the microphones before the next election and he’ll be so grateful that … hey, wait a minute. Why’s he saying all those horrible things about us? What do you mean he has a wife?
8) Foreign Aid. Here’s the foreign aid policy: Act responsibly until somebody calls you cheap and then just throw money at them. And here’s a little foreign aid reality: Anybody know where those tsunami billions went? Neither do the victims. And Africa? Some geezer rockers hold a concert and suddenly we’re billions more in debt, all destined for the rathole. And why not send gobs to those terror-loving Palestinians? Somebody has to fund the celebrations they’ll be holding after the next terrorist attack on America.
9) Energy. Nobody seems to be too upset about $3 gas, least of all Bush, but then Nobody isn’t in a voting booth right now either. And grandma’s yet to freeze in her New England home because she can’t afford heating oil. How about a little relief here? We need some indication the government’s thinking about our energy future. Can somebody at least provide a believable explanation as to why we’re paying four times more for gas than when Bush took office? And don’t say China. Hello?
10) Social Security. A Katrined Bush is now apparently backing off social security reform. Just as well. Bungle this one, and the Party’s over for good. Make a better case, get everyone on board, or get your hands off my retirement.
11) Immigration/Borders. I know I said 10 reasons, and I’m keeping my word. This one is imaginary. There is no such thing as border security and immigration control. Ask anyone in the White House.
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