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Man of the Year: George W. Bush, 2001 (Steve Forbes)
Human Events ^ | 12/15/01 | Steve Forbes

Posted on 12/15/2001 7:07:48 PM PST by Jean S

A successful leader is a person who has two primary assets. First, he knows where he is going and is going to the right place. He has a vision, a plan, and a set of fixed principles—a North Star—to get himself there. Second, he has the ability to persuade others to follow him. He recruits strong individuals, builds a powerful team, and empowers that team to achieve the vision using their unique, God-given talents and skills.

We have all witnessed George W. Bush emerge as an exceptional world leader when we needed one most. For this he deserves to be Human Events Man of the Year.

1. He unified the country. Just a year ago, America agonized through one of the most divisive elections in our history. Bush won, but narrowly. Many questioned his legitimacy. No more. His handling of the September 11 crisis has been masterful. Principled. Decisive. Tough. Empathetic. Bush quickly figured out where we needed to go, and brilliantly set about to rally the nation, and the world.

He declared America at war. No Carteresque hedging. He vowed to "smoke out" bin Laden and the "evildoers" from their caves and bring them to justice. He quickly linked terrorism with those who harbor terrorists. His performances at the National Cathedral and the joint session of Congress were inspired, as was his trip to Ground Zero to meet with New York’s finest and bravest.

2. He chose a superb Vice President. Dick Cheney was born for this moment. Three decades of experience. Cool under fire. Great on TV. No future political ambitions. But only Bush seemed to get that—instinctively—18 months ago. Thank God.

3. He chose a first-rate national security team. Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher and Sandy Berger were the keepers of the counter-productive Clinton Doctrine: Do nothing of consequence, but have lots of photo-ops. Clinton and his team had eight years to get bin Laden "dead or alive," but didn’t. They could have avenged the last World Trade Center bombing, but didn’t. They could have truly gone after the Khobar Tower killers, but didn’t. Not so with Bush and his team. The world sleeps better knowing Don Rumsfeld, Condi Rice and Colin Powell are on the job. Now they just need to let Paul Wolfowitz convince them Saddam Hussein should be next in line.

4. He made missile defense a top priority. And stuck to his guns. Bush gets this issue. He knows America is extremely vulnerable to missile attack. And he is relentless about getting it done. It helps that the Air Force tests are finally going well.

5. He is developing an historic relationship with Russia. If Bush didn’t have a sound national security vision, his early schmoozing with—and gushing about—Russian President Vladimir Putin may have been cause for concern. But Bush, impressively, has persuaded Putin to be on our side in the war on terrorism, and to keep an open mind on missile defense. He’s dispatched Commerce Secretary Don Evans to strengthen our economic ties, especially with Russia’s emerging gas and oil industries. He’s also repeatedly praised Putin’s move last year to scrap Moscow’s corruptingly complex tax code in favor of a 13% flat tax. No wonder Russia’s economy is finally beginning to grow at a healthy clip.

6. He has restored honor and dignity to the White House. The man wears a suit and tie in the Oval Office. Always. Enough said.

7. He is open about his faith. One of the truly wonderful things about Bush and his wife is their comfort-level in talking about their faith in Jesus Christ, without setting off alarm bells in people who believe differently. Clearly, faith and prayer are deeply important to this President, and with great results. They have clearly been a wellspring of strength and comfort and compassion for him during this crisis. And in turn the President has helped encourage a stunned and rattled nation to turn its eyes towards the God who loves us and can guide us through the valley of the shadow of death.

Challenge ahead: Bush has mastered the art of war. Now he must master the art of growth. He must publicly and aggressively put Tom Daschle and the Democrats on notice: Pass a bold, sweeping, pro-growth tax cut (including sharp, across-the-board, marginal tax rate cuts; accelerated expensing; and a cut in the capital gains tax rate), or be personally responsible for putting millions of Americans out of work. Expanded unemployment benefits are nice. But people need jobs, not handouts. Vaclav Havel once said: "The real test of a man is not when he plays the role that he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him." George W. Bush is passing with flying colors.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
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To: JeanS
Great post! Bush is the man!!
21 posted on 12/16/2001 12:11:39 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: JeanS
Wonderful post....and I could not agree more!!!!! Thank you GWB. You're just what America needed.
22 posted on 12/16/2001 2:50:54 AM PST by jokemoke
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Yes, bump to this great post. V's wife.
23 posted on 12/16/2001 3:05:20 AM PST by ventana
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To: JeanS
He has restored honor and dignity to the White House. The man wears a suit and tie in the Oval Office. Always. Enough said.

ROTFLMCO!!!

24 posted on 12/16/2001 3:14:05 AM PST by Caipirabob
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To: ventana
Bump!
25 posted on 12/16/2001 4:50:22 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
You were a big Forbes fan way back when weren't you CW? When I saw his concession speech, and his daughters etc., I realized what a fine family man he was. V's wife.
26 posted on 12/16/2001 5:11:47 AM PST by ventana
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To: JeanS
bump
27 posted on 12/16/2001 8:27:52 AM PST by Libertarianize the GOP
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To: habs4ever; William Wallace; Luis Gonzalez; sirgawain; Sabertooth; RedBloodedAmerican; Texaggie79...
Thank you so much flagging me to this wonderful article by Steve Forbes.

We have all witnessed George W. Bush emerge as an exceptional world leader when we needed one most.
For this he deserves to be Human Events Man of the Year.

God Bless GW Bush!!!


28 posted on 12/16/2001 1:21:42 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: ventana
Thanks ventana. He is a class act and a real good person.
29 posted on 12/16/2001 1:27:14 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Thanks for the heads-up. Great article by Steve Forbes.

Vaclav Havel once said: "The real test of a man is not when he plays the role that he wants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him." George W. Bush is passing with flying colors.

BTTT

30 posted on 12/16/2001 7:03:28 PM PST by William Wallace
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To: William Wallace
George W. Bush is passing with flying colors.

Indeed!

31 posted on 12/16/2001 7:11:56 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Thanks for the ping :)
32 posted on 12/16/2001 9:15:56 PM PST by Cool Guy
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To: Victoria Delsoul
:-)
33 posted on 12/17/2001 6:53:40 AM PST by Sir Gawain
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To: JeanS
The world sleeps better knowing Don Rumsfeld, Condi Rice and Colin Powell are on the job.

Indeed! Thank you, Lord!

Now he must master the art of growth . . .

I have no doubt that at just the right minute daschle and the rest of the demonrats will be be delivered the equivalent of a daisy cutter if they don't get back in line.

The President and the rest of the team know exactly when to drop the bomb for maximum effect. I think I hear the engines warming up.

34 posted on 12/17/2001 7:06:42 AM PST by mombonn
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To: Victoria Delsoul; CheneyChick; vikingchick; WIMom; Victoria Delsoul; susangirl; coteblanche...
Thanks for the flag, Victoria. I agree, George W. Bush is hands down, the Man of the Year. I'll bet they're apoplectic over at Time magazine trying to figure out a way to justify not giving him the title for the second year in a row.

Here's a little something to go with your fireworks...

To This Moment's Man

Here's to the President of this great battle…
Let's toast George W. Bush, this moment's man,
Upon whose back Historic weight is saddled…
So let's raise up a cup in every in hand

May vigor, health and long endurance be,
Forged strong in him, and keep him standing tall.
May courage, wisdom, and tenacity
Be his most righteous friends and heed his call.

May he be free from pointless daily bothers;
Let strife be put away where he won't hear it.
Yet, let the wisdom of the Founding Fathers
Affirm the Constitution of his spirit.

May family, home, and country shore his powers…
God bless our President, in all his hours.


35 posted on 12/17/2001 7:56:55 AM PST by Sabertooth
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To: JeanS
Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher and Sandy Berger were the keepers of the counter-productive Clinton Doctrine: Do nothing of consequence, but have lots of photo-ops.

Pithy.

36 posted on 12/17/2001 8:02:20 AM PST by dead
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To: JeanS; Sabertooth
Aw! And I was hoping that Osama bin Laden would get it, too!. . .(/sarcasm)
37 posted on 12/17/2001 8:03:40 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: Sabertooth
Thanks for the ping.
38 posted on 12/17/2001 8:06:14 AM PST by Celtjew Libertarian
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To: Sabertooth
Thanks for the ping...

WOO-HOO! We be jammin'!

Next stop: Baghdad!

Bush vs. Hussein: The Grudge Match

Coming next year on pay-per-view...

39 posted on 12/17/2001 8:12:16 AM PST by Poohbah
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To: JeanS
Jingle Bumps!
40 posted on 12/17/2001 8:21:10 AM PST by WIMom
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