Posted on 01/07/2005 2:47:29 PM PST by swilhelm73
Now that President Bush has twice gotten himself to the White House, the question is whether he wants to try for Mount Rushmore. One of the luxuries of a second term is an opportunity to think about the long run, not simply for one's own "legacy," but for the future of the nation as a whole.
Even during his first term, George W. Bush's long-run strategic view, exemplified by the war on terrorism, contrasted sharply with former President Bill Clinton's preoccupation with short-run political tactics, though this contrast seemed to be little noticed in most of the media.
What are the biggest long-run problems? The biggest is of course national survival in an age when international terrorist networks and rogue nations developing nuclear weapons raise possibilities too chilling to contemplate.
If the time ever comes when this president, or any future president, has to hesitate in the face of a mortal threat looming on the horizon, because of fear of the word "unilateral" and the howling of critics at home or abroad, this great nation is lost.
President John F. Kennedy said it all long ago: "We dare not tempt them with weakness."
Already we have had Osama bin Laden warning us that we had better vote his way or face massive retaliation. When Spain caved in to terrorism and changed governments in response to terrorist violence, it opened a new and deadly chapter in international politics.
Domestically, our biggest long-run challenge will be to rescue the voting public's right to govern themselves from activist judges who not only invalidate policies they don't like but even dictate new policies to elected officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
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