Four-Step Program; How Bush can get his mojo back [pull Miers, nominate Edith Jones]

Wall Street Journal ^ | October 21, 2005 | BY DANIEL HENNINGER

[AmishDude]

The problem is, the president Henninger wants Bush to go back to being was named Reagan.

Remind me, who were Reagan's SCOTUS picks again?

[cloud8]

> George W Bush's innability adjust any position, at all, to the the #1 reason why the left has become so partisan recently. They didn't used to be this involved, this angry, and that's most attributable to his stubbornness.

Washington is built on deals and compromise that amount to so much creeping leftism. The Dems didn't get angry and partisan because they knew that eventually they'd get what they wanted. W's inflexibility may lead to his downfall, but still I admire him for it.

> Bush's legacy will be Nixonian in the pop culture.

Even President Nixon rehabilitated himself :) But that's another story.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

What crack are you smoking? They've been at his throat since Jan 2001!

Last time I checked he was campaigning nationally for President since late 1999.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

W's inflexibility may lead to his downfall, but still I admire him for it.

I appreciate it too, don't get me wrong. His father comes to mind, along with Dole, for recent Republican disappointments. Problem is, Bush's smirking arrogance in standing up to creeping leftism has emboldened our enemies. Now his downfall could very well lead to an implosion of American conservatism.

Even President Nixon rehabilitated himself

In our circles...sure. In fact I dare say most on here don't even think Watergate would have been anything if Nixon hadn't felt so much guilt and stepped down. However nationally, his name is still synonimous with bad politicians. So will it be with Bush unless he starts reaching out to his estranged conservative allies/defenders.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

On what exactly?

[LibLieSlayer]

"Bush's legacy will be Nixonian in the pop culture."

Just this part. He has done a great many things, and 9/11, winning two wars, saving the economy from klintoons depression etc, have carved his his legacy in granite. IMHO, YMMV etc.

LLS

[inquest]

I like Brown, but she is NOT my favorite for "war on terror" issues

What's her issue there? Is there any way she's ruled or any statements she's made that shows she has an improper understanding of the Constitution in this area?

[LS]

As I understand it, she is a big civil libertarian who likely would undo many of the WoT provisions if it came before her. That's her only weakness as a judge. Who knows? But would she put Jose Padilla back on the streets?

[Biblebelter]

If Miers is withdrawn, he had better choose the most conservative unconfirmable pick, because the Democrats and the Republican crossdressers like Scottish Law Specter will think if the conservatives got to strike a prospective candidate, we should to and will likely confirm the candidate on such inside the beltway idiocy. But this author is giving Bush a lot of credit to do the right thing, if Bush wants revenge on his conservative critics, he will nominate Gonzalez who would be embraced by the all the Dems but the 22 Dems who did not vote for Roberts.

[inquest]

if Bush wants revenge on his conservative critics, he will nominate Gonzalez who would be embraced by the all the Dems but the 22 Dems who did not vote for Roberts.

Yeah, if he's really hellbent on acting out in order to soothe his bruised ego, that would be the way to do it. But then, his dwindling supporters would have an even harder time claiming that his critics are the ones being childish.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Just this part. He has done a great many things, and 9/11, winning two wars, saving the economy from klintoons depression etc, have carved his his legacy in granite.

He did 9/11? How does one DO that? I mean most agree he stewarded the ship well afterwards, but unless you lived under a rock in 2003 in the caustic Iraq buildup, that is ancient history. Not to mention outside of partisan Republican circles, people won't credit him with "winning" the Iraq war, let alone acknowledge or understand that there was a recession in Clinton's last quarter that the tax cuts stopped. He is disdained outside of here. I think Nixon was a good President, except for retreating in Vietnam, but he was similar in his inability to reason or acknowledge the the casual liberal or the political involved Democrat as Dubya is, and was hated almost as much as "Bu$h" is. I'm not saying its fair, but I am saying that the only thing he had going for him was the rock solid conservatives holding firm. His choice to snub the grass roots with Miers, then put his heels in the ground with this disasterous fallout like a spoiled child is breaking up that support-without which he is quite exposed.

You tell me, the numbers for the Iraq war has been slowly dropping for months, he stood by that FEMA director too long and got burned on that, and now the medias' jihad against Rove his numbers have dropped more, the only granite a clear thinking American can see is around Bush's feet, he's just not charming enough ever get above where he's at now-but it could get worse.

[LibLieSlayer]

You know what I meant by 9/11. I did not want to go into a long diatribe. I was just answering your question as to what part of your post that I was simply disagreeing with. I did not want you to think that I was a drive-by griper.

I think President Bush has been a great leader, and whether you agree or not, History will write him well.

Nixon was a fine President, (I worked locally on his committee, and voted for him twice), and he accomplished much during his tenure. I wish he had unleashed the dogs of hell on ole ho-cheepoo, but the country would have revolted. I was in there screaming for him to kick some NVA arse, but by then the handwriting was on the wall. What a pity.

He should have given up his friends that put him in the position that cost him his office. He should have told the truth, and the dims today would be far less of an opponent than they are.

I do not take Miers as an affront, and I assure you that President Bush did not set out to intentionally screw his base in his pick. Do I think she is the most qualified? Under my personal ideology, no. Do I think she will be confirmed? I don't know. I will try to form an opinion as to her merit after I hear her own words... you know... without the media filter. I just think that we owe his pick a listen. If she fails to impress, there is no way she will be confirmed. Bush knows this is the case. I also think he will, if forced to choose another nominee, choose someone that will please his base. Not knowing Miers, but knowing him by his actions our President, I do not think that he would ever appoint someone that would not have Conservative interests at heart. If she is not adequate to pass muster, I will not hold it against the President. If she is approved, I will await her actions on the bench. Either way, I am comfortable with how the Framers have set this up.

I think Iraq was a great achievement, and will reshape the world in ways dims can't even fathom. I do not need anyone trying to tell me IRAQ is not a success today. Even libs are having to begrudgingly admit this.

Bush may be universally hated in your neck of the woods, but here in Mississippi we still love the President. We saw him up-close and personal recently during his trips here. I have stood eye to eye with this man, and I trust him to do what he thinks is best for America... not just now... but every time. He is not perfect. He may have misstepped with Miers. He is quite charming. He did not set out to divide this party, or to offend many in his base.


We really should not be dividing our forces. I understand how some view things differently than I do, and I can easily see how someone could feel betrayed. I think that the President is tormented that his pick had the result it has had to date.

The FEMA director is a bogus argument. While Brown has the personality of 80 grit wet-sand, Katrina's (and let me remind you that I am personally involved with living through this nightmare storm's destruction) recovery efforts here in Mississippi have been stellar. They have made mistakes, but they have performed miracles also.

There is a big difference between Florida and FEMA, Mississippi and FEMA, and Louisiana and FEMA. I think Mississippi and Florida show how a State and Local governance can prepare, and be ready to accept and help direct FEMA to where and what needs to be done.

Replacing Brown was a good idea, as he did make the mistake of not personally pounding the desk of Chertoff, to force him to put pressure on the President to put MORE pressure on Blanco to actually do something... other than cry on camera.

Fitzgerald will clear this Administration, and I believe he will give us some surprises that will have dims and media quaking.

All Presidents (among those that served two terms) suffer low numbers at some point in their second term. Pre 9/11 President Bush was at 43% approval according to zogsauce, and at 53% disapproval. Take that with Ras's 42%/54% number, and account for the margin of error in each, they are statistically the same poll numbers as today's. I am confident that he will again raise those numbers to a comfortable level. He may see them dip a bit more, but he is already at what appears to be his bottom numbers. This info comes from Carl Rasmussen, Charles Krauthammer, and Fox News.

I know we are battling the left (and each other), but we will unite after this. I have been around politics long enough to know that things will work out, and those unhappy now will be appeased.

I hope that you take this as a friendly conversation, and not as some counter-attack. I do not want to fight with fellow Conservatives any longer. I just want to fight liberals.

LLS

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Well I agree with most of what you said, save a couple parts.

We saw him up-close and personal recently during his trips here. I have stood eye to eye with this man, and I trust him to do what he thinks is best for America... not just now... but every time.

Here is where we part company. I simply know no human can be trusted that much, it is fundamental to my belief in smaller government. If Ronald Reagan were still President and he tried to get his recordless personal lawyer confirmed to the Supreme Court after what he did with a couple of his stealth picks, let alone Bush 41, I would not be convinced. Considering I do not hold W in the same class as Reagan, along with Bush campaigning and being elected on this very important issue; TRUST being used as the number one qualification makes me very suspicious.

He may have misstepped with Miers. He is quite charming. He did not set out to divide this party, or to offend many in his base.

I can honestly say I don't think the man is charming. Perhaps on a one on one level, but you have to admit he struggles mightily in press conferences as well as speeches and interviews...and I bloody agree and understand conservative policies already! He's repititous, his cadence is slow, his speeches are simplistic to the point of boring.

While I agree he didn't set out to divide this party, divide it he did. What he has done wrong is not reach out after the negative reaction. He's handled it like all other controversies, ignored it, gave specious defenses, and demonized the critics as sexists or elities. Its bad politics and unless he checks his ego and reaches out to his base, they're gonna disengage.

I don't see him doing anything but stubbornly ramming ahead, and therefore I think his best days are behind him.

[LibLieSlayer]

Thanks for sharing your thought processes. Have faith. I know that it is hard, but one day in the near future you will have positive reasons to once again be confident in our direction.

LLS