For and Against the President

Required reading for conservatives are the editorials today and yesterday from the Wall Street Journal concerning George W. Bush. (Both seem to be online.)

Joseph Bottum asserts that no branch of conservatism has done well under Bush, be they fiscal-, social-, or neo. The federal government is still bloated with unrestrained spending, the social issues that so animate fundamentalists inevitable devolve into shouting, and the project of spreading liberty has stalled (and discredited) with the War in Iraq. Aside from tax cuts and a couple of decent SOTU appointments, Bush's tenure has been right ideology, but complete incompetence when it comes to git-her-done politics.

Michael Novak counters this argument by claiming that the standard here is ridiculous. He asserts that it's still possible for Iraq to turn the corner, but it doesn't help when the (bent liberal) media has the narrative pre-written in favor of failure. And he (somewhat curiously, but not incorrectly, in my opinion) claims this years State of the Union was a really impressive example of politics in action.

But read these editorials for yourself - I'm paraphrasing, and both offer strenuous detail.

For my money I am more persuaded by the 'incompetence' analysis, unfortunately - and I'm quite tired of hearing how it's the media's fault that Bush appears to never gain political traction. Certainly CNN, for example, slants the news - I don't dispute this. But it's still the president's obligation to persuade, reassure and even go against (at times) the voting public, in an ongoing basis, on the issues that matter, especially in a time of war. An administration has to get things done and communicate constantly and convincingly with the public about why they were necessary for the betterment of the Republic - in spite of barriers that may exist because of an intransigent media. That's what leaders are obligated to do on behalf of the citizenry

In 2008 we stand a good chance of electing a president who is the antidote to this frustrating political cement-headedness. Most of the contenders in the GOP field are trying to forge a channel of communication that seems honest, and the focus is on competence - Giuliani's tenure as mayor, Romney's stint at the helm of Taxachusetts. Even one Democrat (Obama) comprehends quite clearly what the public is longing for in a new alternative - though his actual politics, as previously noted, are a cipher, and he will enjoy a doting, enraptured media coverage. The good news is the next presidency will be defined in opposition to the shortcomings of Bush - let's just hope that smaller, sensible government, strength in foreign affairs and genuine respect for individual liberty are still the prevailing ideas at the heart of the new administration.