2001- 2009
My long-time friend Art Pedroza suggested that this BLOG needed a national issues writer. I have stopped coming by often because I felt it lacked a truly strong conservative voice. But this challenge intrigued me, so I bit.
An introduction.
I have never voted for George W Bush. I worked on a conservative campaign against him in the 2000 General Election. First I was National Headquarters Chief of Staff, then as Web Manager. Since then, I have had little to do with politics as a hobby or a vocation.
Introductions and political philosophy spoken, with more to come later, I come now to the main topic of this written soliloquy…
George W Bush will be seen as one of our greatest Presidents.
Of course, yes, I know. He has neither restrained spending, nor limited governments reach into our lives. “We can do the welfare state better than the Democrats” has been the Compassionate Conservative refrain, and Liberalism-lite is no more effective than full-flavored Liberalism. We can go on and on about the things gone wrong. His inability to communicate effectively is maddening in an age where people faint in the presence of an effective speaker. I can’t watch a whole Press Conference and I live for Sunday morning programs.
We have beloved Presidents who couldn’t string two sentences together effectively. Some of our most cherished public speakers were not respected in their day. Lincoln spoke with a high-pitched Kentucky accent and, due to the nature of newspaper reporting of the day, his Gettysburg Address was reported as not-well received. Sounds familiar.
Now, George W is a southern Christian, so that immediately puts him outside the loop of those who manage the national conversation. And his malapropisms have somehow made him a target for elitists. But he doesn’t do it any more than any normal person. At least he doesn’t think there are 57 states, or that he’s talking to War Dead in the audience on Memorial Day. And if he’s such a nobody, such a low rated figure, why the hyperbole about his statements before the Israeli Parliament? Who cares, right?
So while we don’t have a President who looks to take care of us like we’re his children, and we wonder why he can’t make getting up in the morning seem easier, the events with which George W Bush has concerned himself and concentrated on are issues and events which will stay with us much longer than “nucular”. Those issues ebb and flow like the tide. In a decade, no one will think what happened “back when the DOW was only 10,000” will matter to their lives.
But he’s so unpopular.
On the eve of his departure from office, Harry Truman stood below 30% in popularity polls. He started the federal move towards Civil Rights that would not take root for another 10 years. Today, he is among the top ten Presidents.
But we are hated around the world.
I don’t want America loved. It’s not our purpose to be loved. Once we seek that as our goal, we cease being a moral leader. If we’re loved fine, if we’re not, we’re doing what’s right. The problem isn’t that we don’t agree with the rest of the world. It’s that the rest of the world doesn’t agree with us.
This “dummy” recently stood before the Economic Forum and spoke to Middle East leaders:
“Taking your place as a center of progress and achievement requires investing in your people. Some analysts believe the Middle East and North Africa will need to create up to 100 million new jobs over the next 10 to 15 years just to keep up with population growth. The key to realizing this goal is an educated workforce. This starts early on, with primary schools that teach basic skills, such as reading and math, rather than indoctrinating children with ideologies of hatred.”
What an astonishingly courageous act. This act, and the efforts to bring stability to an unstable region of the world, against political enemies incapable of even saying “Islamic Terror” will one day be respected and revered.
And finally, I think political dynamics in this country have changed dramatically. The irrational hatred of the Bush Presidency has exposed the Left Wing of America for what it is, a sclerotic political vision that truly feels America deserved 9/11. It’s a political vision that truly believes that all the past attempts to produce peace and prosperity have failed and has concluded that all things wrong in the world have been caused by trying to be right. Unless they’re suffering severe cognitive dissonance, few believe Bush is doing anything other than what he thinks is right. Which is why they so vehemently disagree.
What’s irrational about the hatred of “wrong way corrigan” Bush who invaded Iraq when most of the 9/11 perpetrators came from Saudi Arabia.
Art, how did you get Stephen Cobert to guest write a column?
trippy, dude. can i have some of what your having
I thought Iraq was about WMD’s and not 9/11?
Terry,
Welcome aboard! Four comments already. Well done. And you managed to use the word “sclerotic,” which even I had to go look up.
FYI to our readers, Terry and I used to work together in the OC GOP many moons ago. He was a webmaster for the Mighty Ducks, before they started winning, and he now lives in Missouri, but has agreed to pop in here from time to time with right-leaning national commentary. Works for me! This blog is all about presenting the full spectrum of American politics. Terry will bring some much needed balance to our team.
I am also working on setting up a correspondent in Sacramento…
“I don’t want America loved. It’s not our purpose to be loved. Once we seek that as our goal, we cease being a moral leader. If we’re loved fine, if we’re not, we’re doing what’s right. The problem isn’t that we don’t agree with the rest of the world. It’s that the rest of the world doesn’t agree with us.”
Congratulations! You summarized, in 60 brief words, everything that is wrong with current American foreign policy.
Art,
Good work. It doesn’t matter whether I agree with him or not. At least as a GOP he can write without putting me to sleep unlike a couple who shall remain nameless.
*sigh* I used that word a while back here. I called Rohrabacher a “sclerotic Bush-enabler.” It’s funny, when you do look up that word it generally just tells you the medical condition. But you do see it used here and there with the meaning of “hardened in mind, or in heart, or in habit.” I’m sure Terry’s a swell fellow, but aren’t we like 5 Republicans now, a lapsed Republican, a wavering Democrat, and me?
Vern,
A lapsed Republican? I’ll have you know that the OC GOP has me on top of their “enemies” list. But so does the DPOC. Which means I must be doing my job well…
Now let’s see, Thomas and Larry are Republicans, so are the Winships but they are backing Obama. Sarah is a Democrat. Not sure how wavering she is. I have a feeling she will be staying in your party. Although many well known Dems are none too happy with the DPOC right now.
We lost a few bloggers in our transition. Luis Rodriguez is an independent but he has his hands full working two jobs. Tish is a Democrat, but she is also very busy, with a new job and many volunteer activities.
I guess we do need some more Democratic writers. I put out a call for new bloggers recently and perhaps I need to do so again. If you have any ideas Vern please let me know.
As for my friend in Sacramento, he is a moderate Reep. He will fit right in with the rest of us.
I thank you Vern for representing the left so well here at the Orange Juice. I hope we can find a few more like-minded individuals…
Vern,
It seems to me that despite whatever we call ourselves here for the most part we appear to be centrists willing to cross over and agree with the “other” side if the point is well taken. I’ve agreed with you more than once and I’m a Reaganite. I’m also old enough to remember Ike and what a poor public speaker he was. I dunno if Terry is correct about Bush. I liked his daddy a whole lot better. But at least Terry, like you, can string a sentence together without too many metaphors and get to the point. Nice part about this blog now; you don’t have to read every article all the way through if it is long winded.
Keep writing Vern. I’ll read ya…
Thanks for the kind words, Anony, I’m just pouting here. It will take me FOREVER to respond to all the things I think are crazy in this essay.. and I had other plans!
Is Terry the guy you’re calling your “moderate Reep friend in Sacramento” or is that someone else waiting in the wings? (If so I hope it’s “Schwarzenegger Centrist Republican”, at least he’s funny and irreverent.) This essay is certainly not moderate by any stretch.
Vern,
I’m not Art. I think you combined 2 comments. I don’t have any Sacramento friends although Sheila Kuhl (sic?) intrigues me from Dobie Gillis TV days. I can imagine what you have to say about Terry’s post. Looking forward to reading it. May not agree but what the hell. I didn’t agree with everything he wrote either.
I called it a month back. The age of the Bush apologist has begun. 🙂 Otherwise, welcome to the family Terry!
SMS
Yeah anony, my second paragraph was addressed to Art. Hey I know Senator Kuehl. I’ve met her several times, I’m OC director for Healthcare For All California which has been dedicated to passing her single-payer bill SB 840. Kuehl is cool.
Vern,
Terry is my friend in Kansas City. My friend in Sactown is a moderate Reep. Terry is a lot of things, but moderate ain’t one of them!
Vern,
I figured there was a mishap in speed typing. I also knew I didn’t spell Sheila Kuehl’s name right but then again no one spells my real name right either. Next time time you see her tell her an old GOP is a fan. That should make her day..or not.
Oh, and as to the question of my party affiliation, I’m a centrist Democrat, but still a Democrat nonetheless. I was considering signing up DTS as a publicity stunt, but I think there may be a place for me to change the party from within after all.
My motto? People over politics.
SMS
Webmaster for the Mighty Ducks? I am to be influenced by such a resume? Going to have think about that one. Normally, I go for a cheerleader type
The writer of this essay doesn’t care if America is loved. Fine…but hell, we’re not even ADMIRED anymore. Don’t you get that?
I know that as long as there is a Republican in the White House, you’ll believe America can do no wrong, but your tune will change once there is a Democrat in Oval Office. Then you’ll hardly be able to contain the rhetoric about all the things we do wrong.
#19 thanks for the clarification, I was afraid that what you said at #6 was in agreement with this guy. I can see I read you to quickly, but then I think we were all in shock.
SMS #13, apart from the fact that you love to say you predicted things, this is no era of the “Bush apologist.” There were thousands of essays like this back from 2000 to 2005 or so. THAT was the era of the Bush apologist. Right now most Republicans and Conservatives are distancing themselves as much as they can from the W failures. At least you can say about Terry is, he’s .. . well, different.
Do you all remember that South Park episode from around 1999 where they discover a missing hiker who has been frozen, in suspended animation . . . SINCE 1997! And when he revives the world is so changed and unrecognizable to him that he freaks out, but scientists eventually find a solution for him and send him to Des Moines Iowa, where they are always 2 or 3 years behind.
I’m not sure exactly how to deal with this artifact which has washed onto our California shores, apparently at Art’s behest. I feel like the apes at the beginning of Space Oddysey, or, better, the Zulu native protagonist of “The Gods Must Be Crazy” when the Coke bottle falls from the sky. It is that incomprehensible and gratuitous. Will this fellow be writing again, Art, and how often? And will he be responding to comments, or just dropping the occasional Coke bottle and flying off?
Vern –
Yeah, OK, point for you. Bonus point for the South Park reference. That episode is funny as hell!
SMS
Vern,
Terry loves to mix it up. He either has been too busy or doesn’t realize that his story has so many comments. I just left him a phone message regarding the number of comments his post has elicited.
I don’t know how he is going to top this one…
Still, Art… there’s got to be a better measure of the quality of a post than the number of OUTRAGED and PERPLEXED comments it provokes. Isn’t there?
Art, Vern, et al…
I am here.
Actually, the first time I wrote a glorious response to comments here I didnt realize I had to input my email address and the whole thing was lost.
So here is a quick sub rosa.
Liberalism is not granted the benefit of good intentions by me.
I can count on less than two hands the number of “things” I have found in my lifetime that a government or collective can do better than the individual, and two of them are the military and the Hubble telescope.
I will embark on a quasi-adventure, dropping coke bottles where I see fit. I will use Popper to attack post-Marxist notions and Rand to accentuate the radical individualism in the American psyche. Culture has nothing to do with success, my ass.
If the answer is “we all have to join or it won’t work” then that is the very definition of failure.
Mr. Crowley,
To say that you have tunnel vision would be the understatement of the century.
Curiously, it’s the very same tunnel vision that’s gotten us into the current economic slump, eroded our standing in the world, and left us LESS secure than we’ve ever been. A new direction truly can’t come soon enough.
Terry –
I don’t agree with a word you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it. Besides, you have a very sharp, crisp writing style. Again, welcome to the Juice.
SMS
“So while we don’t have a President who looks to take care of us like we’re his children” …
That is because we are the parentified children of this ethically and intellectually deprived administration. In the dysfunction that has enveloped our American family, we have had to rise above an utterly inept leader who has done but one good thing in my opinion. Thank God for George Bush — for his astounding ineptitude, insincerity and paucity of character — he has truly galvanized and appalled Americans into recognizing the import of the vote they cast.
Terry, with due respect (and, as an avid hockey fan, all due respect for your stint with the Stanley-Cup-winning-Mighty-Ducks!), the only thing I can say is heartfelt congratulations to you for not having to admit you ever voted for George W.
Passed on without comment:
…During a videoconference with his national security team and generals, General Sanchez writes, Bush launched into what he described as a “confused” pep talk:
“Kick ass!” he quotes the president as saying. “If somebody tries to stop the march to democracy, we will seek them out and kill them! We must be tougher than hell! This Vietnam stuff, this is not even close. It is a mind-set. We can’t send that message. It’s an excuse to prepare us for withdrawal.”
“There is a series of moments and this is one of them. Our will is being tested, but we are resolute. We have a better way. Stay strong! Stay the course! Kill them! Be confident! Prevail! We are going to wipe them out! We are not blinking!”
A White House spokesman had no comment.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/01/AR2008060101961_2.html?nav=rss_print/asection
Amen.
OK, gotcha .. I guess.
Here is your Republican Party, ladies and gentlemen. Terry’s party. This is one of those times of re-alignment in US History. If you like what you hear here, stay in the GOP. If not, you may either want to look elsewhere, or take on the hard job of changing your party from within as men like Ron St. John are attempting, before it joins the Federalists and Whigs. (Not to mention the “Know-Nothings,” “Muggwumps,” “Anti-Masons” and “Loco-Focos!”