by John W. Lillpop
Like most multiple- term presidents, George W. Bush is suffering a
second-term slump, as it were. A major let down from the heady
days of 2001-2004, when the president pretty much got exactly
what he wanted, when he wanted.
Remember the 2002 elections? History says the party owning the
White House always loses seats in one or both chambers during
mid-term elections. Democrats seemed in a good position to get
back into the game.
But President Bush went on a campaigning rampage on behalf of his
Republican colleagues. He defied all odds by actually gaining
seats in both the House and the Senate in that crucial election.
Obviously, the American people were still reeling from 9/11,
and trusted Bush to defend We the People from Islamic
fanatics. Give him the Congress needed to win the war on
terror, he pleaded, and we did just that.
My, how things have changed. Whereas Bush was nearly invincible
in 2002, now he is mostly invisible. It used to be that RINOs were
the only ones bold enough to buck Bush.
Now W has trouble getting the White House lawn mowed without a written authorization from Laura.
Since the 2002 elections, Bush has encountered, and bungled, several major crises:
* War in Iraq;
* Loss of both houses of Congress to Democrats;
* Missing WMD and Osama bin Laden;
* Iran and North Korea nuclear programs;
* "Road Map" to Middle-East peace;
* Deterioration of relations with Russia;
* Hurricane Katrina, "Brownie," and Implosion of FEMA
* Sale of port Security to UAE;
* Harriet Miers nomination to U.S. Supreme Court
* Invasion of America by millions of illegal aliens;
* Massive federal debt;
* Inability to reform social security;
* Scandal at Walter Reed hospital;
* Conviction of "Scooter" Libby
In addition, the president has had to cope with an attempt on Dick Cheney's life and the Veep's health.
At this point, America is without executive leadership on any of the major issues facing the nation.
And the ugly truth is that Bush IS the problem. Things are unlikely to get much better until W vacates 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The big question: Can America survive two more years under the inept and incoherent administration of George W. Bush?
John Lillpop is a recovering liberal, "clean and sober" since 1992 when last he voted for a Democrat. Pray for John: He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where people like Nancy Pelosi are considered reasonable!
