The Treatment of Our National Leader

From "Wall Street Journal"
By Jeffrey Shapiro

Earlier this year, 12,000 people in San Francisco signed a petition in support of a proposition on a local ballot to rename an Oceanside sewage plant after George W. Bush. The proposition is only one example of the classless disrespect many Americans have shown the president.


According to recent Gallup polls, the president's average approval rating is below 30% -- down from his 90% approval in the wake of 9/11. Mr. Bush has endured relentless attacks from the left while facing abandonment from the right.


This is the price Mr. Bush is paying for trying to work with both Democrats and Republicans. During his 2004 victory speech, the president reached out to voters who supported his opponent, John Kerry, and said, "Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust.
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Those bipartisan efforts have been met with crushing resistance from both political parties.


The president's original Supreme Court choice of Harriet Miers alarmed Republicans, while his final nomination of Samuel Alito angered Democrats. His solutions to reform the immigration system alienated traditional conservatives, while his refusal to retreat in Iraq has enraged liberals who have unrealistic expectations about the challenges we face there.


It seems that no matter what Mr. Bush does, he is blamed for everything. He remains despised by the left while continuously disappointing the right.


Yet it should seem obvious that many of our country's current problems either existed long before Mr. Bush ever came to office, or are beyond his control. Perhaps if Americans stopped being so divisive, and congressional leaders came together to work with the president on some of these problems, he would actually have had a fighting chance of solving them.


Like the president said in his 2004 victory speech, "We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America.
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In Opinion Journal Today

To be sure, Mr. Bush is not completely alone. His low approval ratings put him in the good company of former Democratic President Harry S. Truman, whose own approval rating sank to 22% shortly before he left office. Despite Mr. Truman's low numbers, a 2005 Wall Street Journal poll found that he was ranked the seventh most popular president in history.


Just as Americans have gained perspective on how challenging Truman's presidency was in the wake of World War II, our country will recognize the hardship President Bush faced these past eight years -- and how extraordinary it was that he accomplished what he did in the wake of the September 11 attacks.


The treatment President Bush has received from this country is nothing less than a disgrace. The attacks launched against him have been cruel and slanderous, proving to the world what little character and resolve we have. The president is not to blame for all these problems. He never lost faith in America or her people, and has tried his hardest to continue leading our nation during a very difficult time.


Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty -- a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.


Mr. Shapiro is an investigative reporter and lawyer who previously interned with John F. Kerry's legal team during the presidential election in 2004.


[Only admins are allowed to see this link] wsj. com/article/SB122584386627599251. html

Just to be clear, I thought this was a pertinent (that's my word of the day, apparently) article, no matter who you voted for. All presidents, past or present, current, or future face obstacles that we cannot even fathom. My hat's off to anybody who's willing to step up to that plate. I certainly wouldn't be able to do it. It seems that no matter what you do, right or wrong, you're someone's enemy. That can't be easy.
So, I give my respect to President Bush and the future President Obama.

ForensicMama,

Okay, Sweetie, I'm sorry, but seriously, President Bush is NOT a well liked man. As a Canadian, I was terrified when the US re-elected him. He started an illegal war and has made terrifying decisions that have affected the entire world. After Sept.11 the world stood shoulder to shoulder in disbelief and the outpouring of grief was beyond words. Planes flying over the United States at the time we re-routed to many places in north america, including Canada and Mexico. We all rushed to the aid of stranded passengers and crew members, set up emergency shelters, sent volunteers, our armed forces, our police crews, firefighters and the like to help. We all stood beside him while he declared war on Afghanistan, BUT did he thank us? No. Our soldiers are dying in Afghanistan, while he decides to invade Iraq based on information that was completely false. When the UN will not back you, you cannot be angered when other countries won't. He alienated France, he ticked off Canada, and basically told the world, you are either with us or against us. President Bush is a bully. A bully who decided to finish his Daddy's fight, and I for one am SO happy that he is gone. The saddest thing though, was when Hurricane Katrina hit, and it took them five days to get water to the Superdome, but they can spend 10 BILLION dollars a month in Iraq.(way to take care of your OWN citizens) People died for absolutely no reason. When news networks are dropping supplies and rescuing people off of rooftops, and FEMA is telling us that they can't get through to New Orleans, it's absolute bullcrap. Dick Cheney and Halliburton, and all of the rest of his big wig friends....that's all he ever thought about. Pad the wallet. I think it's HILARIOUS that these people want to name a sewage plant after him because I think it's completely fitting.

What's even scarier is that we have a nutjob in power who was buddy/buddy with Bush. He's a born again fundamentalist who really doesn't give a shit about how he leaves this world because he figures he's going to a better one.

I cannot wait to see how Barrack Obama changes things. Watching American politics is quite funny. You guys vote a Republican in, and we just count the days until a war/crisis is started. You vote a Democrat in and we wait for things to be fixed and smoothed over, then as soon as it's all harmonious again, you guys vote a Republican. Thank heavens for small miracles that you guys FINALLY decided to vote Democrat because I'm not sure how much more the WORLD could take. Oh and Mrs. Palin is freakin' crazy......she didn't believe that dinosaurs walked the earth, she didn't think the world was over 4000 years old, and it took less votes for her to become Govenor of Alaska than there is in my town.

When you see the celebrations that went on around the world when they heard that Mr. Obama was elected president that should give you some indication of how much Mr. Bush was NOT liked.

Bella

Just a friendly reminder for everyone to be nice. (not that there's cause, I'm just putting it out there...)

That was NICE!! Haha!

Sorry if I offended anyone, this is just MY opinion. I won't argue with anyone either.

Bella

Haha, it's okay loony, I agree with you. However, that's why I never talk politics with friends...or family, especially. lol

And I do respect everyone's opinion. We don't all have to agree.

Oh Canuckle, I love you!!

Bella

Aw...gee, thanks. *blushes*

well i dont want to intrude in on the lovey dovey talk between my bella and fly......but i will...........cause thats who i am........hee hee.............

just want to say............yayyyyyyyyy to the loony..........so in agreement with you......thats all.....................as you were

Thanks Bizzle.

Bella