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United States News Title: George W. Bush–Forever My President President George W. Bush has come out of his long post-presidential silence this week to promote his memoirs. His book Decision Points has him granting interviews all over the place. I have made no secret how I feel about him. I love the man. I would go through a brick wall for him if he asked. I am one of the true believers. When other conservatives wavered and turned on him, I never did. After the worst terrorist attack on American soil since 1941, he responded to Islamofascism in a way that should have been the approach in the 1970s. His critics savaged him, but then again they hated him for existing and breathing. They never accepted the results of the 2000 election, when his opponent failed to steal the presidency. So as I have said before and will keep saying, I dont care if I am the last man standing next to him. He is right, and his critics are wrong. Yet while I have these warm feelings toward the man, I am troubled with myself. I realize that one of the most admirable qualities he possesses is something that escapes me now, and maybe forever. He is gracious. I dont know how he does it. Maybe his Christianity teaches him to turn the other cheek, and he does. I think about this because I met his press secretary Dana Perino a couple of years ago. I asked her one question. Ms Perino, I feel like we are in a boxing match but only one side is throwing punches. When is President Bush going to start hitting back? His critics are not fit to lick his boots, yet when they attack him he doesnt counterpunch. When will he give the left the verbal beating they deserve? When will he hit back? Ms. Perino gave me the answer I did not want to hear. He was never going to hit back. In fact, his staff was ordered not to hit back. He was going to be gracious to the end. This week he has been given tons of opportunities to bash his successor. After all, his successor spends every waking minute complaining about what he inherited. So if 44 spends more time attacking 43 than governing, would 43 finally take 44 to the woodshed? Not for one second. Being elected President does not make one Presidential. George W. Bush is the epitome of class, grace, and dignity, something his critics will never learn. Sadly enough, I am a supporter, and I may never learn it either. This is a failure on my part. When a left-wing columniost wrote a column attacking me, I wrote a rebuttal calling him a lying liberal scumbag. My three books, while funny and entertaining, have a certain amount of vengeance in them. I go after people who have hurt me with a ferocity they did not expect. I have successfully ripped them to shreds, and occasionally made them cry. I dont know how President Bush can take such unwarranted abuse without exploding on the worst of his abusers. (He did once get caught saying negative things about a Jayson Blair Tiems reporter, but he thought the microphone was off. So in that case he was not saying something bad, but merely thinking it. That is light years better than how most of us behave. Also, on that issue, he was right. The guy was one.) I know his way is right and mine is wrong because he is at peace. I, while a happy guy, am in a constant state of war. I would not know tranquility if I tripped over it. I remember working for a firm where my boss ordered his staff to be gracious with our business enemies. He knew they had bad intentions, but he would not sink to their level. Like President Bush, he knew that smiling at his enemies made them even crazier. He would be cordial on the telephone, all the while knowing how vicious they were. I took a different approach. I explained to them using various bad words what I thought until their ears bled. Then I savaged them in person and in print. I even ona couple of occasions let them know that if they brought children into the world, that those kids would know how awful their parents were. On Yom Kippur, I have enough misdeeds to keep my Synagogue in business on atonement day. I admire President Bush and my old boss because they have the discipline I lack. I am disciplined in some ways, but not when dealing with people I consider bad. I hope to one day meet President Bush. I just want to shake his hand and thank him. I believe his deeds were honorable and his heart is noble. I still wish he would hit back. I know he wont. I wish I would not hit back so ruthlessly. I know I will. George W. Bush will be gracious to the end. It is who he is. He will forever be my President. Yet long after the last tax is cut and the last terrorist is killed, I will remember and admire his character the most. If I could be half the man he has become, I will have achieved a level of decency that will allow my quiet moments looking in the mirror to be much easier. I know I am too hard on people. Even two years after he has walked away, I am still learning from him. Thank you President Bush. I salute you sir, and respect your civility, even if I am unable to emulate it. His critics will never let up. They will never let go. They will hate him forever. He will not hit back. That is why I will, for as long as it takes. He spent years saving me from harm due to potential bombs. The very least I can do is reciprocate when the verbal bombs come at him. God bless you President Bush. I will never understand your graciousness, but I honor and respect your decision to be this way.
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#2. To: no gnu taxes (#0)
I love the man. I would go through a brick wall for him if he asked. I am one of the true believers. I'm going to vomit.
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