Today, I'd like to grade George W. Bush on his performance in office as President of the United States, on the issues that are important to me. I don't pretend to be the authority on this, but present my opinions as one interested voter who is attempting to be honest about his feelings. I invite you to grade him also, on all or some of these issues, or on other issues that might be more important to you; and of course your opinion is just as valid as mine. When speaking of this kind of a grade, there is no such thing as the truth, but rather there is our collective wisdom.
The Initial Decision to Invade Iraq
A+
I believe that the Middle East is changed forever because of this decision, and that there is now a chance for peace in that region because of it.
Conduct of the War in Iraq
D
Actually, I'd give Mr. Bush an F except for the fact that he is finally firing generals and thinking hard about a new strategy. Maybe he'll get it right this time, and then I'll give him a higher grade.
The initial days of the war were a spectacular victory for the U.S., but we went in with too few troops to even guard the arms caches that we discovered. Hence, those looted arms are now the I.E.D.'s that kill our soldiers. We banished the soldiers of Saddam's army and they are now the insurgents. We had too few troops to hold ground we had taken. For example, in Fallujah, we'd go in, wipe out the terrorists, then they'd come back when we'd leave. This was not an effective strategy. I could go on, but I think this war was not waged intelligently.
Conduct of the War in Afghanistan
B
We did a better job in Afghanistan, but the same argument can be made about too few troops. The Taliban is making a comeback; they are using heroin to fund their ventures; and Al-Queda is salivating for the day when the U.S. leaves the area.
Immigration
F-
President Bush is single-handedly ruining our country by turning it into a Third-World nation. I want to make it clear that I am not talking about race. Race and color do not enter into my equation. I'm talking about flooding our nation with uneducated people with no skills, no allegiance to our country, no desire to learn English, and no interest in becoming American. I'm talking about increasing our underclass, prison population, gang membership, and entitlement demands.
Our country has about the dumbest immigration policy in the world. If you are English, check it out, you cannot hope to become a citizen of the United States, even if you have a Ph.d. or an M.D. If you are a gang-banging, drug-running, human-trafficking Mexican, though, we will soon be giving you amnesty. Again, I want it made clear that if you are a doctor, I want you, regardless of your race. If you are a heroin-dealer, I don't want you, regardless of your race. Why on earth do we, the United States of America, under the leadership of George Bush, give preference to the drug dealers, or even just to the underclass, over people that could elevate our nation?
click to show/hide the rest of the post
click to hide most of this post
My Overall Grade for Bush's Performance
C-
My estimation of the importance of going into Iraq is so high that my grade for Bush is lifted to a C-. I doubly admire him for doing this since most of the world is against him on this issue. The other major issue that is important to me, though, is immigration, and Bush fails miserably on it. So much so, that I teeter on the brink of giving him an overall grade of D- or even an F because of it.
The Future
I have some hope for Iraq, as Bush is finally trying to become a Lincoln, firing his generals and looking for an effective strategy. I have no hope on the immigration issue. The American people are just not paying attention to it. We will wake up one day in a bi-lingual nation with a huge underclass, much more Third-World than even now.
As far as the other issues go, that's what '08 will be about. I see no great Republican champion on the horizon. The fight for the Democratic soul looks interesting, as the Blue Dogs battle the mad dogs of the far left.
Overall, though, we must always remain hopeful. This is the obligation for citizens in a democracy.
Rock
(*Wikipedia is always my source unless indicated.)
Click here to get a button link to this blog:
Join me in the war on error, in the fight for truth, justice, and the American way! Support this site!
Subscribe to my feed
Join or Surf Rock's Political Blog Ring. Both Liberals and Conservatives are Welcome.
Technorati Tags for this post: George Bush, Iraq War, Afghanistan, immigration, taxes, the environment, Social Security Reform, health care
Regular Technorati Tags for this blog: politics, political, politically incorrect, no spin, conservative, Republican, right wing, liberal, Democrat, left wing, leftist, democracy, election, peace, war, George W. Bush, editorial, opinion, news, current affairs, media, television, television, Hollywood, books, culture, society, religion, God, fundamentalism, Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Jew, Israel, Palestine, blog, truth
Taxes
A
Finally an issue where Bush is acting like a conservative, and holding the fort against the communist left and their class warfare.
The Environment
B
I don't think Bush is ruining the environment as the left believes. I think he could be more proactive about alternative fuels, though, as this is also a security issue. I think that Kyoto is unnecessary. Still, going green is not a bad thing, so I don't mind if we move in that direction, as along as we are sane about it.
Vision for America
F
Bush is one of the worst communicators ever in office, not only because of his inability to express himself, but also because of his penchant for secrecy. He is a bit patronizing and reveals only the barest of his thinking on matters. What comes out is a repetition of themes instead of a real discussion with the American people. He pays for this with low poll numbers and a lack of support for his policies.
Social Security Reform
D
The demagogues of the left are winning on this issue because Bush has never adequately explained his position. It's amazing how over half the nation can be so ignorant on this issue, but that's what the Democrats depend on. You could invest your SS funds by throwing darts at a list of stocks and come out way ahead in any thirty-year period over what Social Security will pay you, but the demagogues on the left scream, "He's trying to take your Social Security away," and their non-thinking followers believe it. I don't know if Reagan could have sold the issue any better, but he could have at least made a clearer case for it.
Health Care
B
I give Bush credit for staving off the coming socialism that the Democrats will bring. Here, again, though, Bush has not adequately explained the conservative side of this issue. People are left feeling that government can provide every person in America with gold-standard health care, free, and that it's not doing it just because they're mean and love big business. Health care deserves a credible solution, but it will take an insightful man or woman with great communicative skills to create and legislate it.
Our Reputation in the World
A
Here I differ with most of America, and with most of the world. Oh, well. I am aware that our reputation is not good in the world at present. I don't blame Bush though. I blame the left, the Democrats, the press, and half of the American people. They are the ones who have besmirched our name. Instead of backing their president, they have sided with the idiots in Europe who condemn us for being imperialists, when in reality we are a good nation that battles evil and protects the good. Going into Afghanistan was a good and noble thing. Invading Iraq was a good and noble thing. Standing by Israel is a good and noble thing. We ought to be lauded. Instead, all of Europe and half of America bash us.