Posted on 01/31/2005 6:53:13 PM PST by doug from upland
Historians are inevitably going to compare the presidencies of George W. Bush and William Jefferson Blythe Clinton.
They do have a few things in common. Each won two terms, each was involved in a military campaign, each was married and had a family, each was a consummate politician, and each was loved by his fans and loathed by his political enemies.
Perhaps they have a few similarities, but it is the differences that are most important. One is a man who respects the office. The other is a man who defiled the office.
President Bush is a man with vision and purpose. He does not put up his finger in the wind and make a decision because it will be popular and enhance his political power. To say Clinton was disingenuous, cunning, and Machiavellian is to understate his attributes. There have never been politicians like Bill and his wife.
Yesterday's historic election in Iraq, an election that would have never happened if the other side were in charge, is a part of a legacy being carved out by President Bush that may well have historians calling him one of the greatest presidents.
We all saw the pictures. The fingers were either blue or purple, depending on the clarity of the photos and your own interpretation. Those who voted didn't get an I VOTED sticker as we do when we vote. No, they were branded for all to see with some ink that would stay there for awhile and prevent them from voting multiple times. The Iraqis have paid attention to what the DemocRATS did in Washington, Wisconsin, and probably all of the other states. There would be no cheating in this election.
That stained finger also had another consequence. It made all who voted subject to being beheaded by the bad guys. In this part of the world, the bad guys are serious about voter suppression. Unlike here, it is real and it is deadly.
As we celebrate the historic day let us remember the stark contrast of two presidencies. One will have the legacy of a stained finger that represents the greatest gift that can be given to the oppressed Iraqi people -- their freedom.
The other stain was on a blue dress. It represents a failed eight years. Anyone good CEO and any number of Democrats or Republicans could have presided over the economy in the 1990s. It just so happens that a man without character or conscience, a man who is truly a sociopath, was at the helm during an economic expansion. Terrorism grew around the world while he spent his time thinking about satisfying his sexual needs, intimidating witnesses, commiting perjury, suborning perjury, and trying to deny a lowly state employee her day in court.
President Bush is changing the world for the better. Freedom will not be stopped because man yearns to live free. Bill Clinton just watched it go by while he spent his time taking down his pants in Oval Office.
Let us continue to pray for the safety of those brave warriors who are in danger and for the souls of those whose lives were cut short because they were brave enough to want to make a difference in the world. You can know for certain that, when this president sheds tears for those we have lost and for the families left behind, those tears are not for a photo-op. They are real.
The legacy of the stained finger or the legacy of the stained dress. Which man do you admire?
The Blue Finger also means that everyone "knew their brother" -- it may have guarded against attack because of the brotherhood effect.
Almighty God,
we commend to your gracious care and keeping
all the men and women of our armed services at home and abroad.
Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace;
strengthen them in their trials and temptations;
give them courage to face the perils which beset them;
and grant them a sense of your abiding presence
wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
"The other stain was on a blue dress. It represents a failed eight years. Any one good CEO and any number of Democrats or Republicans could have presided over the economy in the 1990s. It just so happens that a man without character or conscience, a man who is truly a sociopath, was at the helm during an economic expansion. Terrorism grew around the world while he spent his time thinking about satisfying his sexual needs, intimidating witnesses, commiting perjury, suborning perjury, and trying to deny a lowly state employee her day in court."
Excellent observations, Doug. Your essay deserves media attention.
Good point. I didn't think about that.
Thanks, BL.
Seriously think about it. Iraq just had a free and fair election! And that has just started a set of domino effects that will reverberate in the region for some time.
Again, Bush just pulled off a hat-trick!
AMEN!
Duh. I read it twice and missed it. Not - Any one good CEO. Doug, wake up -- remove the "one."
Excellent writing..I'd pay to take a full page ad out in the NY Times and present it to the public ..
His political genius does not come from being cunning and calculating. He just believes he is doing the right thing. You don't have to worry about the consequences when you do the right thing.
Thanks, Doug. Great one, as usual.
Very nice succinct piece!
But it goes deeper than that.
Remember the photos of Clinton and his flunkies sitting in the oval (oral) office, feet up on the furniture, in jeans, smoking cigars, having a good old time.
Contrast that with the image of George Bush (or Ronald Reagan) only entering the oval office in suit and tie, ready to do the country's business.
Bush (and Reagan) realize the importance of the office of the leader of the world. They do not take that lightly, and they certainly don't play "hide the cigar" in our house!
Clinton, and all that his administration represented, was the worst trash that America has ever elevated to a leader!
>> I'd pay to take a full page ad out in the NY Times and present it to the public .. <<
I'd pitch in.
Thanks, DFU. No wonder Hugh Hewitt mentions you his radio show on occasion.
How about looking at the message members are presenting instead of holding grammar lessons? If all of us pointed out all the typos and grammar errors found here, the site would crash.
lol
you had me there, for a minute.
Is it me, or does it feel like Clinton was President like 20 or 30 years ago? I say that, because the guy is so utterly irrelevant.
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