I can't totally agree with the way some things are handled, but the differences have two causes. One source of difference with the president is that we are different people and no two people will agree on anything. The more frustrating source of difference is that the president must respond to the fact that too many people would rather put up with a loss of civil rights and civil liberties here in America than to take the strong action needed to defeat our enemies completely and thoroughly. Our nation can't win if too many of us are ambivalent about winning, and the president can't force people to have a will to win. The way some people act, I often think that they have no will to live in addition to having no will to win. I would like to see more stern articles taking Americans to task for a willingness to accept loss of freedom in exchange for the illusion of security and for half-baked notions of diversity and "fairness." Those articles would be justified. A hatchet job on Dr. Rice is not justified.
In any case, I can't think of anyone else whom I'd rather have in important positions of leadership in this country. I like the team that President Bush has assembled.
Bill
Our nation can't win if too many of us are ambivalent about winning, and the president can't force people to have a will to win.
I just had to repeat that. It can't be said too often and I often wonder if we are so "instant gratificationized" that it will take another 9/11 style attack to get people to wake up. Even then I fear that more blame will be directed towards the leaders in our own country, than at the goals and aspirations of our enemies.
There needs to be real investment by the adults in this country in trying to explain just what our enemies want. Unfortunately, the people talking about it are often labeled as needlessly alarmist.
Sometimes, I wonder if this is what Noah felt like. ; )