Comment E-mail Print

It is understandable that conservatives would automatically avoid any action that might seem comparable to that of the left. Therefore, given that the liberal political/media cabal has been so unilaterally contemptuous of the Bush administration, those on the right must be extremely judicious in their own evaluation of this President.

To be sure, President Bush has done a few things right during his two terms. Despite the caterwauling of the left regarding the fabricated "abuses" of hard-bitten terrorists at Guantanamo, phony hysterics over "spying" on American citizens, and the concocted "quagmire" in Iraq, America's prosecution of the terror war has been phenomenally successful.

The most profound evidence to prove this point is the indifference and apathy with which most Americans now regard the terrorist threat. It is a luxury they can only afford in the aftermath of a victorious campaign against the Islamic fanatics who staged the massive attacks against America on September 11, 2001, with plans for many more to follow.

Another Bush success that will likely endure for many years is his nomination of Justices Roberts and Alito on the Supreme Court. They were bold choices who ultimately overcame the liberal games on Capitol Hill by virtue of their steadfast and well-articulated devotion to constitutional principle. And as such, these newest members of the nation's highest court hold the potential to realign the court with its original purpose, which was to uphold the principles of the nation's founding.

Nevertheless, the overall effect of eight years of the Bush White House is that the Republican Party is in shambles. Conservatism has been so seriously undermined that it risks being permanently relegated to the fringe of political discourse (at least among the ruling class). Any intellectually honest analysis of the current situation requires a majority of the blame to be laid at the feet of George W. Bush. To shun this painful truth, whether in deference to the President or for fear of being grouped among the liberal Democrats, is to fail to address the problems that have devastated the GOP, and thus ensure that the situation is not corrected.

From the moment George Bush coined his vapid "compassionate conservatism" rhetoric during the 2000 campaign, principled conservatives knew they were in trouble. Bush was in essence saying that real conservatism was inherently insufficient to sustain a worthwhile society. Hence, a sprinkling of liberalism would be needed to soften it into a form that would be less harsh to America's "victim class."

Nothing could have been more ill advised and counter productive, either as a campaign strategy (Al Gore did garner a majority of the popular vote) or as a governing philosophy. And ever since George Bush's ascension to the nation's highest office, America has been subjected to one ill-conceived effort after another intended to institute this flawed ideology. The results have been disastrous. And it may be a very long time, if ever, before the damage can be reversed.

>> Continued -- Page 1 2 3