Moving Right Along to a Story of Political Courage

During a recent Brit Hume interview the nation got a glimpse of the man who will soon retire from the presidency.

George W. Bush in this interview exudes a sense of right and strength that US presidents do not often have the opportunity to demonstrate. Abraham Lincoln in the darkest days of the Civil War seemed to stand almost alone with the military fighting for what he saw as right. Ulysses S. Grant while president stood almost alone in his insistence that the United States would stand for justice against the terror of the Ku Klux Klan.

Bush revealed this week that many of his strongest opponents on the War in Iraq came from within his own party. They tried to exert powerful pressure on the president to "cut and run" from Iraq, fearing more for Republican defeats than the collapse of an eventually successful American policy. Bush remembered "The biggest disappointment in the political process, that's been this kind of bitterness by a few people to the point where they don't want to have a logical discussion or a civil discussion about policy," he said. "They just want to tear you down."

George W. Bush will be vindicated by history. Winning in Iraq will help to sway the future to his side, but so will the resiliency he showed in the face of "offensive" critics. We all can learn from an example of a man who made tough decisions and stuck by them. President Bush never cared for popularity, only for doing right. We may disagree with him on some issues, but as time passes, we and most Americans will grow to respect his toughness and courage in the face of critics at home and terror around the world.

When asked how well he was doing as he exits the presidency, he responded,

"I'm better than fine -- I am proud of the accomplishments of this administration," he said. "I know I gave it my all for eight years, and I did not sell my soul for the sake of popularity. And so when I get back home and look in the mirror, I will be proud of what I see."

We've Been Here Before . . .

A presidential race should be about a lot of things. It should reflect an intelligent discussion of the issues between experienced candidates. The people should take in reasonable arguments from both sides and make an informed choice. Presidential elections ought not be a beauty contest where feel good rhetoric overwhelms sensible discussion.

The Democratic contest right now reflects a struggle between those who support a candidate who has positions on real issues versus a guy campaigning on good looks and a fairly vague message of hope. Conservatives (Karl Rove included) seem to gravitate towards their old enemy Hillary Clinton and increasingly see Barrack Obama as a nightmare scenario. Republicans have actually switched parties to help Clinton win primaries.

The media says this happens because Republicans see Clinton as more vulnerable. Actually Clinton is the tougher candidate for McCain to beat because they appeal to the same moderate swing voters who likely would not go to Obama. Many Clintoncrats would tend to vote for McCain if their candidate lost. Many Republicans want Clinton to obtain the nomination because if worse comes to worst, many would rather see another President Clinton than a President Obama.

America has been here before. In 1920 the Republican Party ran Senator Warren G. Harding. His main characteristics were a congenial nature, good looks, and the vague idea that America needed to "return to normalcy." Harding had almost no real experience. Party officials supported him because they figured women would turn out in droves to support an attractive male (some did more than just vote for him.) Harding asked America to turn tail and run from the mess in Europe and disengage from the problems emerging there. We voted for the good looking guy who appealed to our emotions rather than our heads.

Harding was in over his head. He failed to prevent the Battle of Blair Mountain in which thousands of Americans fought each other on a thirty mile front over labor issues. Harding failed to even address the issues. Unlike the staunchly Republican President Grant two generations before, Harding failed to tackle the reformation of the Ku Klux Klan than terrorized blacks, Jews, and Catholics. He could not even manage his own friends as they used their position to enrich themselves at the expense of the public. Worst of all, America's disengagement from Europe set the stage for it to descend into the hell of World War II.

Obama wants to be president very badly (at least Harding had some misgivings about his lack of experience and knowledge.) This is not the right time in history for someone like this to end up in the White House. The United States faces challenges from terror groups as well as established powers such as Russia. We need to hammer out an energy policy to secure our nation and its economy. Poor decisions by large numbers of individuals have destabilized the economy. Obama wants to raise taxes considerably while pulling the US out of the Middle East so that the evil forces therein have free reign. Under such plans our economy and security suffer tremendously.

It's not time for a neophyte. It's not even time for a Clinton. It's time for McCain. Only a Republican has the principles proven over time to set it right.

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Prayers should go out to Senator Robert C. Byrd. We all hope that he makes a speedy recovery and returns to his post soon.