Posted on 06/21/2007 6:45:17 PM PDT by SJackson
IN THE CURRENT by GOLDA SHIRA By . (06/15/2007) President George Bush is my hero. No, this is not another Bush joke. The truth is that I have come to see him as a man of rare integrity. What a guy!
No, I wouldn't have said those things seven years ago. I certainly wasn't keen on the mechanics of his election. And I wasn't voting for a guy who started out not too interested in international involvements, certainly not in the Middle East.
Yet he has risen to the challenges presented during his presidency with courage and enormous self-sacrifice.
So you think he's doing this for daddy? You think he's doing this for a legacy?
How could that be? Look what he is enduring-not only constantly being the butt of jokes and (friends of) Pelosi's spitting through her teeth seething contempt, but also facing a 66% disapproval rating.
Doesn't seem to me that that's trying to win a popularity contest.
Except maybe Upstairs. Where it really counts. I think the man is really trying to do the right thing. No, it's not easy for me to say. Yes, I have very dear friends who have served and are about to go back to Iraq. My heart is in my mouth not only for them and their families but also for my very own sleepless nights and the anguish I endure every day they are away.
But that is the greatness of what America is and hopefully always will be: a nation willing to make wrenching sacrifices in the name of freedom and democracy.
It isn't easy. And we like easy. While we sit in our leather easy chairs and watch the biggest and newest HD flat screen TV and relieve our boredom with the latest flavor of chips (Tuscany parmesan sea salt guacamole salsa baked) and get really irate about the ending of "The Sopranos," or really annoyed that we can't see how much blood got spilled when someone got whacked on our favorite permutation of "CSI" because some special was on. While our domestic crime statistics rise and we blithely go about our business unwilling to do much to stop that senseless bloodshed, we are nonetheless enraged that our country has the nobility to stand up for the very values upon which this country was founded.
We can pretend otherwise but we pretend at our peril.
We love our violence but we love it only if it's wrapped up in 60 minutes. We choose instead the myopic focus on Paris Hilton and Jennifer Aniston's new boyfriend.
"Don't bring me down with this war stuff, man. War is not peace, man." And it sure as heck ain't easy.
Okay, so did we go into Iraq the right way? No. Did we make grave errors in how this war has been fought? Absolutely.
But there, too, the President again is humble enough to admit that. And to change course and put in men like General David Petraeus so we will correct course and do better. And we are.
Listen to our amazingly brave soldiers who almost unanimously say they want to stay and get the job done. They know it won't be fast and they know it won't be easy. They and the President know that to leave now is inviting greater tragedy the likes of which most Americans cannot conceive.
We elect leaders to lead and Mr. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have embodied the statesmanship to be true leaders in the face of unrelenting scathing attacks. And because Mr. Blair knew he was right, he willingly sacrificed his position as prime minister rather than back down.
Hello? Is anyone awake out there? Politicians don't do that. Leaders of true stature do. Risk themselves and their reputations and their good name for all time to come in the name of what is for the greater good.
They know the real and present danger global terrorism is, and not just because they're privy to intelligence we're not. They, and any of us who have lived or spent ample time in the region, know we're dealing with a mentality and an insidious and pervasive many-headed hydra that obviously most Americans can't and don't want to understand.
Until the next 9/11 or worse, G-d forbid. (Until then, we're back to our cushy routines. And they are cushy compared to the standard of living of the average Iraqi. Or the average Israeli.)
I think it presumptuous, ignorant and arrogant of us to think otherwise. I could be wrong. No one wants another Vietnam. We Americans are a good-hearted, heroic nation.
For posterity, what will matter in the end is not how "The Sopranos" end, but how this war will end. How we, the mostly highly-educated boomers who live in the legacy of Woodstock, grow up and confront the reality for which previous generations were willing to fight. To fight for what's right, do what needs to be done, even if it's hard, especially if it's hard, in order to create peace not just in one country, one region but also to help bring it to the world.
Golda Shira is a multi award winning journalist (Columbia University Press Association, numerous Rockower awards) who has been part of the White House Press Corps for the past ten years and has covered the Middle East for the last three decades.
What a wonderful post. I will copy this for my email list when I get over being mad at Bush myself.
Interesting, I don't think Reagan would have been much different than GWB on immigration.
The WOT, Reagan recognized evil, and he dealt with it. Islamists are fortunate Reagan isn't in the White House today.
Question is, are you like a few of the posters here who are just trying to get their own little illegal legal?
I’m not using Ronald Reagan for any benchmark,you are.I was never the Kool Aid drinker about Reagan that other conservatives are because I didn’t think Reagan was the Mt. Rushmore that some conservatives make him out to be.He helped get the US back in a positive direction after a pitiful Carter Admin. but situations like the slaughter of Marines in Lebanon and the Amnesty Program of illegals were bad policies in my mind. As for Bloomberg,He’s another Nader,a curiousity, albeit with a ton of money,but a curiousity none the less !!!
Let’s follow the theme of the article here. George W Bush is, in fact, doing what is right in regards to immigration. The fact is that 12 million people are not going “home.” Their home is here in the America. We are not going to become monsters and throw them out. What we are trying to negotiate for is the terms of their life in America, as we go forward. Also, we are not going to stop the status quo of illegality until our Congress can deal with a problem which has gone on for far too long. If you are in favor of letting the problem get worse, then just kill the damn bill and let things continue as they are. George Bush is leading and he trying to do what is right for America.
I admit that like everyone else (or most everyone else) President Bush torques me off on a lot of issues: blind acceptance of illegal immigration; out of control spending; and belief in large government ... But he didn't deceive anyone regarding his stance on these issues when in ran back in 2000 (which is why I voted for Pitchfork Pat back in the 2000 primaries). He is what he is -- a big government, open borders, President...
But be that as it may, he is a good man.
When 9/11 happened he didn't make fierce sounding speeches, and wag his finger at the cameras with empty promises. He set out to do something. His mission overthrew the Taliban in Afghanistan. He may have tried to reach a 'bridge too far' with his nation-building enterprise in Iraq, but I can't dispute the nobility of his intentions. Trying to build a democracy in the heart of the Middle East (next to Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iran) would create a beacon of light in a land of darkness... Some of us would've opted for the 'turn the place into glass' door, but I can't slam the President for his intentions.
Likewise his consistent positioning on Embryonic Stem Cell funding. He's pilloried, but he does what he thinks is the morally correct thing to do. It is better to serve the LORD than man -- even if you do end up with a 20% popularity rate...
So I absolutely disagree with the President on his illegal immigrant amnesty program - but I know he's doing it because he thinks its the right thing to do (as opposed to the country club republicans who want cheap labor, and the democrats that want to speed up our slide into socialism).
It is embarrassing to see how totally unwrapped some people are becoming.
You said nothing as if it was supposed to mean something. A response in attempt to cover a weak position with intimidation.
Let’s see here, as a rightwing bigot and a participant in the “destruction” of politicians that don’t do their jobs, I think I can speak with some authority on this matter. Yes, I am one of those losers who still believe that the President and the Congress work for the people. I know that is a little hokey by most standards today.
To say that these politicians are destroyed is a little melodramatic. I see it as an employer whose employee has failed to do the job that he/she was hired to do.
Now, as far as Bush being a hero, I believe he was blessed to have been given the opportunity to be President. He was given two opportunities to serve this country. Perhaps history can ultimately decide as to whether or not he kept his Country’s best interests in mind with his decisions.
Paid White House posters? Where? Where?
If anybody, I deserve to be pay for trying to defend him.
What Bush stole from me has left me very hurt. I believed in him, I would have rather be talking about Monica instead of terror in America. We sent our young men to fight two wars over there so they wouldn’t be over here. The first tier Republicans and this president sold them a bill of goods. They knew the back door was open and they ensured that it would stay open by placing border patrols in prison to intimidate anyone else, don’t shoot, don’t protect.
He is not an honest man like I believed. Anyone who claims he is part of the religious right just haven’t opened their eyes.
I feel like I was once married to a great man, only to find out he hid so many things from me. I honored him, I defended him, and I am numb to the feelings I now have. Divorce is hateful and I have now divorced the dream. It didn’t exist, it’s over and all that has been hidden is coming to light.
And are we to reread all of your posts before we judge you by your words?
There are many, many posters that come and go, who can keep anyone straight as to their support or non-support. We read and post and react to it.
Just not possible to know all the political standings of every poster - even if we do recognize the name.
That is the most down right sicking post I have ever read.
I think that President Bush and President Reagan both recognized the evil that lurked on our country. I just can't understand President Bush's policy on immigration....it makes no freaking sense to me!
There are many who considered Kerry traitorous for aiding the enemy in time of war. I find the well organized Mexican Invasion of the USA to be much more serious and dangerous to our Nation. Just because the President is responding to the interests of his financial backers, is no excuse to sell the interests of the Americans and reward those invading the USA.
That is the most down right sicking post I have ever read.
Actually it’s more pitiful then sick !!!
Judicial Watch Releases New FBI Documents: Osama bin Laden May Have Chartered Saudi Flight Out of U.S. after 9/11
Read the rest at
http://judicialwatch.org/6322.shtml
What is hidden in the dark will be brought to light. I am just numb.
“How do you think President Regan would have handled the immigration issue?”
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Um, we don’t have to guess what Reagan would have done; we KNOW what he did do . . . In 1986, he ENTHUSIASTICALLY campaigned for and signed an authentic AMNESTY BILL! . . . AGAIN, I deal in facts and the facts indicate that on every issue/measure Bush is more conservative than Reagan.
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REALITY CHECK:
Per Gallup, President Reagan experienced sub-par job approval ratings (30s/40s) for much of his presidency.
In fact, by 1987, 60% of Republicans/conservatives indicated that they DEFINITELY wanted a new direction and, even if it were possible, would NOT vote for President Reagan again!
By 1993, 61% of Americans considered Reagan’s economic policies a FAILURE (Gallup)!
Yet at his funeral, President Reagan was lauded by Republicans and Democrats alike and is now considered one of the greatest presidents of all time! . . . I predict the same result for President George W Bush!
For more insight (and several REALITY CHECKS), please read the following editorial from COMMENTARY magazine:
IS CONSERVATISM FINISHED?
By Wilfred M. McClay
“. . . We also forget that the Reagan administration itself, far from being happily unified, was driven by internal battles between “pragmatists” and “ideologues,” conflicts that prefigured many of the policy battles of the present. And we forget that, outside the administration, REAGAN GOT PLENTY OF GRIEF FROM HIS OWN RIGHT AS WELL.”
You can read all about this ‘grief’ at
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/cm/main/viewArticle.aip?id=10812&page=all
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Breaking a few eggs to make an omelet with salsa on top and busting up countries to make a New World Order void of individual nations and individual sovereignty...
FR full of NWO/CFR who have no love at all for this country, are chomping at the bit for the NWO Tower of Babel.
Don’t look for any mourning or tears for the US from them. They only have eyes for their NWO.
George Bush is a great leader—he’ll get the Iraq thing solved eventually. Leave Immigration for another separate post.
I’m beginning to. We have to let the rage settle down and rational minds take over.
We have to look at it from the prospective of the doable, the result on lives and families and the timing and working with a do-nothing congress.
It seems to come down to does he do whatever he can or does he do nothing. He has a democrat majority and not much time to fool around.
It is a pity that the bill got to be 600+ pages loaded with bad ideas and pork - but, gee, those are the senators we elected to write laws - not Bush’s fault.
So, he either caves or he gets what he can and hopes it will be adjusted either in the conferences or with later congresses adding amendments.
You don’t get brand new cadillacs from low-rent, no money down used car salesmen.
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