Basheva
11-05-2004, 11:04 AM
Chapter Two by Charles Krauthammer
Many popular political leaders hoard their political capital. For lame duck leaders, that is a sign of vanity. It is the mark of greatness to be willing to spend your remaining political capital on something important rather than good press. Harry Truman left office scorned and unloved. History has been very kind to him. He spent all of his political capital, his account so depleted by Korea that he did not have enough to run for re-election in 1952.
* * Reagan and Clinton, on the other hand, left office popular, which to me is a great failing. They retired rich in political capital. What a waste.
* * Bush will not waste his. As he said explicitly in his Thursday news conference, ``I earned capital on the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.''
Click Here for the Rest of the Editorial (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/charleskrauthammer/)
Another bravo for Mr. Krauthammer.
Many popular political leaders hoard their political capital. For lame duck leaders, that is a sign of vanity. It is the mark of greatness to be willing to spend your remaining political capital on something important rather than good press. Harry Truman left office scorned and unloved. History has been very kind to him. He spent all of his political capital, his account so depleted by Korea that he did not have enough to run for re-election in 1952.
* * Reagan and Clinton, on the other hand, left office popular, which to me is a great failing. They retired rich in political capital. What a waste.
* * Bush will not waste his. As he said explicitly in his Thursday news conference, ``I earned capital on the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.''
Click Here for the Rest of the Editorial (http://www.townhall.com/columnists/charleskrauthammer/)
Another bravo for Mr. Krauthammer.