[Perlstein]

Brad's Gramma's point lets me kill two birds with one stone. First, on the title of my article: writers most often don't choose their own titles, and I'm often annoyed by the ones the Village Voice puts on my articles.

Second--and anyone who joins a discussion with me on Free Republic should take note of this because I make the point again and again and again--I am one of the many, many people on the left who had contempt for Bill Clinton (for various reasons, most different from yours).

I can take care of most of the other critiques by saying this: I have an enormous respect for religion, though I am not myself religious. It frustrates me when religion is used for an excuse for existential certainty, instead of a place for a trembling sense of our inadequacy before God, our awareness that His ways are mysterious and unkownable--using religion as an excuse to be arrogant, basically.

On the matter of the War on Terrorism--not on issues like who to hire as treasury secretary--Bush has consistently refused to admit a single mistake. If you think the course of American foreign policy in the past year has been admirable, you are entitled to that opinion. But the people who told me Bush is implacable on the subject were Republican heavies like Martin Anderson (who spent two years working with Bush prior to the election) and Lyn Nofziger.

And if you read the live thread on his press conference, you will see that the preponderance of participants found Bush's most honorable quality his refusal to admit mistakes in the war on terrorism.

And many, many on that thread chalked up that quality to his faith.

Where do I say that to pray is a crime?

[Howlin]

You have absolute contempt for George W. Bush, I know that, from the article I just read.

What really makes it so pathetic is that your have your facts ALL wrong.

You're a fraud AND a liar.

[Brad’s Gramma]

And if you read the live thread on his press conference, you will see that the preponderance of participants found Bush's most honorable quality his refusal to admit mistakes in the war on terrorism.

One last thing before I go....that's because it was a lynch mob, with their Democratic Talking Point(s). Of COURSE we were proud of him.

[VRWC_minion]

our awareness that His ways are mysterious and unkownable

You just described Gnostics not Christians. Gnosticism is was declared a heresy long ago.

[VRWC_minion]

Bush has consistently refused to admit a single mistake

But the real issue isn't admitting a mistake, which in his posistion is not only dangerous politically on the home front, it has distarous consequnces with both friends and foes.

The real issue is has he changed course when given new information. That is clear. We can see him changing course numerous times both on the macor and micro.

[Vision Thing]

It frustrates me when religion is used for an excuse for existential certainty, instead of a place for a trembling sense of our inadequacy before God...

Sounds like you are absolutely certain that no one should have any certainty.

[cyncooper]

And if you read the live thread on his press conference, you will see that the preponderance of participants found Bush's most honorable quality his refusal to admit mistakes in the war on terrorism.

Come on, Rick. You know darn well that those reporters were not out for a probing of the record. They were like the hounds of Hell baying for something to get Bush with.

Why is it so important that he stand up there like that and "admit" mistakes? He does indeed review and revise as needed, which in its way is recognizing "mistakes" and addressing them by changing tactics.

On the one hand you wish for 9/11 to have been averted thanks to some type of action taken by President Bush before that fateful day, yet you also long to see him humiliated before the world as that press conference sought to do, in order to weaken America's stance in the threats that still face us to this very day.