Don’t get me wrong. George W. Bush is a fine, decent man. His love and respect for our troops deserves our thanks, as does everything he’s done to keep us safe. He is a religious man who believes in the sanctity of life. For that, God will look kindly on him.
On the other hand, if we can credit him with these things (as we should) we should also credit him with those things that run against conservative doctrine, and not give him a pass by blaming it on others who reported to him. He had the final decision.
This is not to say he wasn’t misled. He was. But as president, the buck stops at his desk. It’s what the office is all about.
Then we have Amnesty. McCain, Graham and Mel Martinez were instrumental on the Republican side in crafting/supporting the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, and Bush supported the effort. We are the sum of the decisions we make, and both the bailout and Immigration Reform were bad ideas for America. I’m sorry, but with all his good and fine traits, he failed us in two key areas (not to mention the great increase in government spending over his second term).
If we’re to hold our leaders accountable, we must do so with clear vision and with willingness to hold all accountable. I voted for the man twice. Both times with joy. But in his second term, I came to realize he was not the man we needed for the crisis that was brewing. That made me sad, but I can’t let those failures pass.
My biggest fear in voting for Bush (what other choice did I have though?) was that he would wuss out and let us down just like his dad did (Read my lips = cave in to the Dems re: tax increases). I was right, as it turned out, to be afraid. His illegal immigration stance was a disaster (probably due to his Mexican family ties?) and his second term almost made it look like he had been podded (Body Snatchers). But again, what other choice did any of us have?
"If we’re to hold our leaders accountable, we must do so with clear vision and with willingness to hold all accountable. I voted for the man twice. Both times with joy. But in his second term, I came to realize he was not the man we needed for the crisis that was brewing. That made me sad, but I can’t let those failures pass."
I've said it a hundred times (by now). I'm sick and tired of having to vote for the lesser of two evils. Not since Reagan have I joyfully voted for a candidate. I'm hoping that Sarah Palin changes all that. Hope springs eternal, eh?