Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Unintended Consequence of Attacking Bush

American Spectator
This author suggests that the vicious attacks against Bush have so diminished his authority that he is unable to rally the American people and we are losing much more wealth the longer the markets decline.
His image has been so thoroughly attenuated that he simply does not have the power to cheer America. Leaving office with 35 percent approval makes the duck more than lame, it makes him paralyzed.

Those who believe that George W. Bush has really performed that badly may feel justified in diminishing his authority through ridicule. All I will say is they had best be sure of their facts. Because if he has basically been a nice guy pursuing relatively bland policies, and most of the trouble we face cannot be laid at his door, then viciously scapegoating him until he has been stripped of the power to inspire has been more pernicious than anything he has committed or omitted.

This is one of the reasons conservative societies continue to venerate their leaders even after they mess up a time or two. The aura of the presidency has a value that accrues to all of our benefit. Diminishing the dignity of the office makes all of us poorer, in this case financially.
I think what the liberal media has done to Bush is disgraceful.  They have acted far beyond the notion of the political opposition and they have acted far beyond the bounds of news reporting.

As the article points out, I too am surprised at his (Bush's) lack of response.  I think this has contributed to the decline in support for the Republican party.  People don't understand when one doesn't fight back to protect himself.





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