Ripping his Britches?

Bush in better days -- Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

by blogSpotter
Today's blog almost writes itself. Wasn't even going to approach the topic, but it bears some attention. President Bush has been regarded by many pundits as possibly one of our worst presidents, and his poll numbers (37%) are the lowest since Harry Truman's 2nd term (He was at 28%). The problems that liberals have with Bush are well known, but what I want to focus on here are the ways in which true conservatives may also find him objectionable:

• He raised the national debt through the roof.
• He started a new entitlement program (Medicare prescription benefits).
• With Iraq, he reawakened a Wilsonian-era idea of Democratizing the rest of the world with "good, preventive" wars.
• Borrowing from Howard Fineman, Bush is a self-described "Southwestern" conservative who believes illegal immigrants should be integrated into our society.

Now, a couple of these things above cause me no problem liberal that I am. Prescription benefits are good idea and I have no problem with amnesty for Mexican immigrants who sincerely want to become a part of American culture and society. I'm shocked however by the national debt level and Wilsonian wars should have exited when Wilson himself exited the national stage.

Now we have Howard Fineman who came out with a column this week, questioning how Bush chooses his battles. By championing amnesty for immigrants, Bush is taking on the core group of conservatives that has stood by him steadfastly up to now. Mark Davis, in today's Dallas Morning News echoes the same sentiment. He says the Bush Administration is like Cybil, with multiple personality disorder. This comment is coming from one of the staunchest, diehard Bush supporters on Earth. I'm truly amazed that Mr. Davis of all people is leveling any criticism at Bush.

Far be it from me to give advice to a failing, flailing president, but a couple of old chestnuts come to mind:

• Dance with the one who brung ya -- Don't do something deliberately antagonistic or dismissive to people who carried you thus far.
• Choose your battles -- You clearly want to salvage something from your ill-fated 96 months in the White House. Choose an issue that doesn't raise the hackles of everyone around you.

Bush would probably do well to set the issue aside -- it won't go far anyway. He can remain true to his "Southwest gentleman" values while at the same time letting the issue fade. If he presses much further, he will have earned the loathing and anger of every man, woman and child in America. Just pick a reason, any reason -- your reason won't be the same as mine but we will both find the same level of disgust with W. In contrast to Bush, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were consummate politicians who new how to finesse difficult issues like immigration and play to the crowds. Both men were actors, although Clinton never did so professionally.

Bush has been a bumbler from the word "go" and has no finesse to speak of. The Bumbler in Chief would probably do best by simply lowering his profile and planning for his new library at SMU. Eisenhower was known for playing golf through much of his presidency -- here is probably be the best president for Bush to model himself after in these final days.

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