George W. Bush: Hero.

I awoke today to the television showing pictures of Iraqis kissing photos of George W. Bush. Above my fireplace is a framed print of our leader and I wondered if I should not do the same thing as the Iraqis on the film loops. I realized that such an act would have been 27 months in arrears as my debt to him began on the day that he entered office.

It was a month ago, when I was closing on my new home, that I started to comprehend just how much this President means to me. My lawyer, for absolutely no reason, began railing against the President and calling him an ‘abject failure.´ What caused this outburst I don´t know as we were discussing water rights at the time. My reaction was to become furious which later surprised me. An argument ensued for several minutes and finally I told him that he should advertise his political views in the phonebook so clients “like me don´t get tricked into paying for your service.”

This personal experience highlights Bush´s uniqueness as politicians have rarely meant much to me on an emotional level. In 1999 George W. Bush was no exception to this rule as I knew little about him and had no reason to believe that he would be what he has now become. Perhaps my disgust with the Gore campaign and the negative media coverage of Bush began to forge a strong bond with the man or maybe it was due to the fact that I learned more and more about his qualities as time went by. I recall that during the unforeseen election crisis of 2000 I sat in bleary-eyed anticipation hoping that Bush would be declared the winner. When he was, after the Supreme Court´s ruling, I was filled with anxious optimism for the future. I have not been disappointed once in the time since.

We have reaped the dividends from a man who is strong enough to not be intimidated by having the best and the brightest as his subordinates. The media may portray Bush as being Cheney´s lackey, and although nothing could be further from the truth, it is very easy to imagine a man with Cheney´s gifts being a top flight Commander in Chief on his own. The same can be said of Donald Rumsfeld who was presented to us as an old relic from the Ford Administration but he never was in the eyes of George W. Bush who had the foresight to see him as the man of tremendous ability and skill that he is. Bush has not been threatened by the independence or brilliance of his Secretary of Defense and we have been the benefactors of such security. The same can be said of his choices of Condoleesa Rice and Colin Powell. Either of them may one day be our President but certainly Bush´s assurance with himself allowed him to hire two such competent subalterns without a fear of them upstaging him in the eyes of the public.

On the policy side, other than the steel tariffs, I cannot think of one thing that Bush has done since he was elected that I disagree with. Oh, surely, like most on the right, I wish he went farther in this direction or that but Bush has backed the best policies possible considering how evenly divided the nation is. His initial tax relief package and the one he is proposing now are a powerful attack against the leviathan of government. His brief against affirmative action may not have gone far enough in our eyes but the fact that he took a position against it at all (“at their core, the Michigan policies amount to a quota system that unfairly rewards or penalizes perspective students, based solely on their race”) is a major achievement in comparison to past Republican Presidents who “grew in office” by turning to the left. He will surely avoid the leftward tilt that weakened the administrations of his father and Richard Nixon.

In my view, Bush´s most imperative contribution has been elevating the role of “Commander in Chief” to the most significant facet of the Presidency. At one time it was evident to everyone the importance of having an ever vigilant Commander in Chief but this function was forgotten and avoided during William Jefferson Clinton´s eight year “holiday from history.” Bush´s stand-off with the Chinese in April of 2001 showcased his direct approach to dealing with nations who are not automatically our friends. One shudders at the thought of what Al “Buddhist Temple” Gore would have said or done had he been in charge of our nation.

George W. Bush has reminded us why we have this unwieldy federal government. We don´t have a government to promote the Peace Corps. We don´t have a government to provide subsidies to special interest groups. We don´t have a government to pay some states to compete more successfully against other states. The reason that we have a federal government is to protect the people of the United States of America. We could call the United Nations but they´d never answer our calls. We could call France or Germany but they´d recommend the joys of subservience as a solution. We must defend ourselves or no one else will. Our government exists to protect us both at home and abroad. It took a man of Bush´s magnitude to restore defense as the fundamental justification for the bureaucracy that we spend so much for in Washington. Defending the frontier is why Bush is in the Oval Office today.

The days that followed the evil assaults of September 11th may well have been his finest moment. Bush seemed to know instinctually what had to be done and, unlike Clinton or Gore, it was not to sulk around the United Nations and have lunch and photo ops with Kofi Anon.

Bush has followed a precise trajectory since that dark day in September and America and the world has been the better for it. He could see what many pundits and tertiary politicians did not about the assault on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. He knew that America had a right and duty to react with force. His choice was legally and morally legitimate. The Public Interest recently documented this [Spring 2003, p.91]

By all the accepted standards of international law, and under the terms of the United Nations Charter, the attacks of September 11 were acts of war. The United States, as a sovereign state, had a fundamental right to defend itself.

As always, Bush ignored the whimpering of the chattering classes and moved swiftly to eliminate the viability of the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Thanks to George W. Bush our enemies now know that simmering, smoky, third world graves await those who viciously murder Americans. Hopefully, Saddam Hussein has just found this out for himself. What more can we ask from a leader other than to act decisively and with wise forethought? Not much I´d argue. George W. Bush has exceeded all possible expectations aside from those he may have had for himself.

The fanatical hatred of Mr. Bush by the leftist media and Hollywood has only endeared him to me more. They foolishly berate him for not being an intellectual but it would be impossible for any man who did not parrot leftist mumbo jumbo to be considered worthy by the press. A person´s disagreement with government intervention in the economy or the influence of the despicable welfare state is taken as de facto evidence of brain dysfunction by the media. I can definitively state, as some one who has administered over 700 intelligence tests, that George W. Bush is absolutely at or above the Superior range of functioning. Obviously his skills and abilities lie in the top quartile of our population by any one´s estimation. His achievements, Yale undergrad and a Harvard MBA are dismissed as being due to his “connections” but Al Gore, “the genius”, had just as good of connections and achieved no where near the same results as Bush academically.

Ultimately, the arguments about intelligence and just how intellectual a President should be are specious. Intelligence certainly is important to leadership but so is character, decisiveness, and emotional stability. Richard Nixon´s personality problems plagued and ultimately ended his Presidency regardless of the shimmer of his intellect. Jimmy Carter´s intellectual gifts did not in any way mitigate his indecisiveness as a leader and his profound pessimism regarding the future of our American enterprise. Bush also manifests the qualities of “emotional intelligence” that Goleman argued are integral to success in life than the more traditional form of general ability that we think of when we describe a person´s cognitive potential.

My title includes the word “hero.” What does it take to be a hero? Isn´t leading your people and restoring their security and greatness essential to any such definition of a leader of men? His enemies spitefully call him a ‘cowboy´ but there is one representation of a cowboy from western genre that does accurately depict the figure of the 43rd President. It's Clint Eastwood´s portrayal of the preacher in the film Pale Rider where an underestimated man comes along to a small mining community and saves nearly all from disintegration and death.

Bush has done the same for all of us. He has had made us wave the flag and proudly say the pledge again which alone contributes volumes to our renewed viability as a national entity and is not compatible with national disintegration.

We´ve seen how little the world cares about us, yet the story that has not been covered is just how much George W. Bush cares about the rest of the world. How many would be in near-slavery today were it not for him? He has freed the Afghans and the Iraqis from unspeakable horrors. As one Iraqi said after we liberated his town “My life begins today.”

Mr. Bush, if you should ever read this, I say to you sincerely that my own confidence for the future of our nation began on January 20, 2001 which was the day you were inaugurated President of the United States of America. I, like historians will be a hundred years from now, am forever grateful to you.

To comment on this article or express your opinion directly to the author, you are invited to e-mail Bernard at bchapafl@hotmail.com .

This "youthfully exuberant" FReeper here is *just* old enough to remember the tail end of "American Malaise", and definitely old enough to remember what Reagan did to bring confidence back to the American people.

And you're right, it's gushing. So somebody gushed a little. I'm sure would could come up with much more abject, blind idol-worshipping if we took a second to look at how Clinton is perceived at "that other site". ;-)

Talk about idol worship! What was left of liberal conscience disappeared when they closed ranks behind Clinton and revealed their real agenda: Absolute, total, complete lust for power at ANY cost. Now THAT...is something Stalin would have understood. ;-)

Bush II is more of what we think Reagan was.... than I think Reagan really was.

Bush accomplishments to date are truely amazing compared to Reagan, and I think history will show that this presidency was truely remarkable and changed the course of this nation, and the world.

He's done more in the past 2 years than most presidents ever do. I look forward to 4 more years after 2004 - those should prove domestically amazing. The course we are embarking on is going to be felt for 20+ years after Bush II.

It's amazing what one can do following simple principles.

I agree with Forbes, but he just looks too much like a sock puppet on methamphetamines with a child-molester smirk for me to vote for him. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy on issues, I'm just saying: Visceral reaction = bad, for me.

Mostly I just wanted to point out that, uh oh, you've gone and done it, you said...

GRAVITAS

...which is a word that was so overused while describing Cheney during the campaign (talking points memos, of course) that I wince every time I see it. Let's call it like it is: His *clout*. His political capital. His power! Which, despite what Mr. Pravda would like us to believe, is certainly not absolute.

"...definitely old enough to remember what Reagan did to bring confidence back to the American people."

That's about when yers truly started givin' a hoot about electoral politics, too...and my perception of Reagan's greatness has only grown over the intervening years. Bush has had a good run so far and I'm confident that his next 5.5+ years will be productive as well...but it's up to US to hold his feet to the fire on domestic issues so he won't make the same mistake as his daddy (i.e. trusting the DemonRATS to keep their word)!!

American Conservativism is inherently compassionate, imho, and THE LESS Federal Leviathan interference in our daily lives, THE BETTER!!

FReegards...MUD

I NEVER said my faith in America wasn't rattled by Clinton, but I realized that the Sheeple were gittin' lied to and most would come around once they realized the TRUTH!!

You're right, I should be more honest...I was beginning to wonder if the American people really were just willing to be hoodwinked as long as stocks kept going up. But only here and there, in dark moments, late at night, in bed, when I couldn't sleep. :p Eventually the American people always come around. We are a self-correcting society. Sorta like George Will said about having "liberal" thoughts, same with me about doubting America...do I doubt America? Do I have liberal thoughts? Sometimes, but then I lie down for a little bit and they go away. ;-)

"I was beginning to wonder if the American people really were just willing to be hoodwinked as long as stocks kept going up."

The A.N.S.W.E.R. fer all-too-many folks was a resounding "YES!!"

"We are a self-correcting society."

Excellent point, and only applicable to FReeMarket-protectin' democracies throughout history.

"...do I doubt America? Do I have liberal thoughts? Sometimes, but then I lie down for a little bit and they go away."

EWWWWW...GROSS!! You have Lib'ral thoughts...yecchhh!!

LOL...MUD

"I have moved along to agnostic -- and by that I mean I do believe in a God, of some sort, but one so far beyond my comprehension that I have no clue what He/It/They are going about and doing."

Faith and UltimateTruth can sometimes appear to be at odds; however, imho, the actual Search for UltimateTruth--be it about religion/EssenceOfBeing/afterlife, etc.--is the best way to come to know God in whichever form you recognize Him. That's why I KNOW these RadicalIslamists are so far off the beaten track when it comes to understanding God's true purpose...they ASS-u-me some human has transcribed the Truth--the whole Truth and nuthin' but the Truth--in the Koran (Quran) and everything I believe as a Christian--or that FBD believes as a Jew--is WRONG!! I do not know enuff 'bout the Quran to say whether what it says is Truth or not, but I do KNOW that a righteous Almighty would not approve of their killing of Innocents in the name of Allah!!

FReegards...MUD

Mud, my freind, I admire your PMA, (positive mental attitude) and I also share in your belief in the "Concept" of America, but, is that the reality of modern America when considering how we have been Balkanized with multiculterism. Where we print voting ballots in a multitude of languages, where each ethnic group retains their old ways & their flags, where we elect, and ,God forgive us, we re-elect a man like clinton and vote his lowlife wife into the Senate, where the children are being "taught" nonsense and hatred for their own country?

Recent events have shown that The Eagle still has claws, but, domestically, has he been de-clawed? Just asking.

FReegards

We are a remnant of old America as is every man and woman who believes in the Constitution and a value system and fair play.

You will find a good job, just keep the faith.

I'm a firm believer that when one door closes, another door will open up for those who have the faith in their selves.

Thank you very much for the (too) kind words. I'm plugging away; s'not that bad, don't worry, just no real security in the jobs I have, is the main problem (contract suddenly ends and I'm scrambling to find another to get rent in on time).

Lots of other people in my boat, lots of other people working hard and keeping the faith, as well, I can't speak highly enough of them -- the youngerish fallouts from the dotcom implosion, that is. I also don't hear them blaming anybody -- just ourselves, for allowing ourselves to become too caught up in the hype when we knew a bubble was about to burst. And while my liberal friends may vote differently, this is at least the way they also act, and they also have great faith in America, even if their politics are horribly misinformed. That being said, I perceive an enormous amount of optimism, and a significant enough shift in the "hearts and minds" of the liberals I associate with (mind you, these are not the knee-jerkers, some knee-jerkers might even call them conservative, but they are most definitely liberal -- they pay attention to Ralph Nader, for instance :p) to hope...hope...that not only will America continue to prosper and grow strong, but that we have finally achieved the resolve to *decisively* deal with the forces of tyranny, chaos, anarchy, and Evil that hold back civilized people from civilization across the globe.

I hold out great hope that my "generation", to sort of loosely group the twenty-somethings together, are very different than their parents...and in my deepest, most furtive dreams, I hold out hope that this generation -- the first to reject the excesses of the '60s en masse, despite the useful idiots the press focuses on -- may be witness to and pivotal in possibly securing a true...oh god, I hate saying the phrase, but here goes...New World Order. Annuit Ceptis. Maybe I won't live to see it, but the optimist in me occasionally indulges in thoughts of a Pax Americana, now that the Slumbering Giant is wide awake (and being poked further awake by the America-haters).

Like James Woods said, I like to consider myself less a conservative, and more, simply, "Not stupid". ;-)

"Recent events have shown that The Eagle still has claws, but, domestically, has he been de-clawed?"

Heck NO!! We've gotta lotta work ahead of US in that regard...$2 Trillion Annual Federal budgets are absolutely unsupportable, imho...screw inflation-adjusted increases, I say we start setting our Federal spending goals in RealDollar terms...the States can Localities and Families and Individuals will do a better job solving problems than a bunch of inside-the-beltway DeeCee eggheads could ever hope to!!

We both agree on the Journey America must undertake...I just think we're a bit further along the path than you, imho.

FReegards...MUD

I have great faith in your age group with those who are conservative.

I feel that your group will be the new bedrock of conservatism.

Our group has to lead the fight to beat the left wing congress and rinos to get the dividend tax removed and other punitive taxes removed. As the economic system weeds out the World.coms, Lorals, AOLTW and other rat controlled phoney baloney companies, the good companies with the proper tax incentives will create a great basis/matrix for some great basic economic expansion.

My wife and I have sold some significant shares in bond funds to purchase the S&P 500 index, mid cap index and small cap index funds in our 401ks and iras. We are not by ourselves. This will help to create funding for the good businesses in America. If the tax on dividends is repealed or partially repealed, we put even more money into these indexes. Many of our young relatives have made massive moves to these indexes in recent weeks.

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