Posted on 05/05/2003 5:53:19 PM PDT by fightinJAG
Defining George W. Bush
By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 5/4/2003
Standing next to British prime minister Tony Blair at a public appearance in Belfast last month, President Bush should have been a vision of serenity. The war in Iraq was going superbly; just 19 days had passed, and already coalition troops were inside Baghdad, on the verge of giving him his second military victory as president. The hunt was on for chemical weapons, the original argument for going to war. And Bush, with his best ally by his side, was crossing new frontiers as a world leader, committing to talks on peace in Northern Ireland and the Middle East.
But Bush showed little sign of inner contentment. As reporters challenged him about plans for postwar Iraq, he grew impatient, even indignant. His legs shifting behind the lectern, he gestured menacingly as if to choke an enemy, demonstrating the grip Saddam Hussein once had on Iraq. When an American correspondent asked him to clarify what role he envisioned for the United Nations in rebuilding the country – the question on everyone's mind that day – Bush sounded incredulous.
"We have said all along there needs to be a role for the United Nations," Bush said, clearly irritated. "We will keep repeating it. And evidently there's some skepticism here in Europe about whether or not I mean what I say. Saddam Hussein clearly knows I mean what I say."
Seconds later, Bush abruptly cut off questioning, a privilege usually assumed by the summit host.
Such combativeness from Bush has become increasingly routine, especially in dealing with reporters or anyone else who dares challenge his authority. Indeed, for a president who is closely stage-managed and prides himself on discipline, George W. Bush has let his temper flare publicly an unusual number of times. He has glared at the cameras, threatened his adversaries, even joked about running a dictatorship. The outbursts, although occasional, have fed the cowboy caricature that sums up why a large number of people around the world are so furious with his administration and, by extension, the United States.
Yet Bush's ire is more than an interesting impulse. It reflects a driving force behind his presidency. Bush detests being challenged, whether by reporters or political leaders. He is unyielding in his convictions, to the exclusion of all else. He is principled. But he is also stubborn, a trait that has become a guiding force of his governing style, a management tool, and perhaps even a new chapter in American history.
In a certain sense, it is this bold rigidity that best explains his first two years in office, which have seen an amazing string of triumphs few could have predicted when he won the election. From the $1.3 trillion tax cut to the midterm elections to the war in Iraq, Bush has repeatedly pushed all his chips into the middle of the poker table and dared his opponents to challenge him. And repeatedly, he has won.
Ask his critics to explain how Bush operates, and the phrase they come up with most often is "my way or the highway," bullyish words it is possible to imagine Bush using himself. White House advisers delicately call it leadership, but there is a proud feeling in the corridors of the West Wing that Bush has accomplished more of his agenda with his swagger and determination than Bill Clinton ever did by being nice.
Vice President Dick Cheney elaborated on it at length earlier this year, saying in an NBC television interview that "the notion that the president is a cowboy – I don't know, is a Westerner – I think that's not necessarily a bad idea. I think the fact of the matter is he cuts to the chase. He is very direct, and I find that very refreshing.
"Oftentimes," Cheney continued, "you can get so tangled up in the nuance and the fine points of diplomacy of dealing with these kind of issues, engage in a large debate. But the people who make things happen, the leaders who set the world, if you will, on a new course, deal effectively with these kinds of threats that we've never been faced with before, will be somebody exactly like President Bush. I think he's exactly what the circumstances require."
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Absolutely the funniest line I've read all day. The fellow who stole FBI files on his opponents was "nice?" The fellow who framed, humiliated, and unjustly imprisoned offending Travel Office personnel because his wife "needed the slots" for political followers was "nice?" Let's be honest here - Clinton and his administration were the nastiest, dirtiest, lowest group of goosesteppers and power-mongers to disgrace the White House since Nixon's boys were run out of town on a rail.
If this reporter displayed this attitude during a press conference it isn't much of a wonder why Bush is "impatient" with him.
Yep, LEADERSHIP. The author forgot to mention BUSH'S incredible patience. If I were in the job I'm sure I would have "choked" a few DEMONCRATS by now!
The mark of all great men....
Here is what this "reporter" believes defines Bush: " ...impatient, even indignant ... gestured menacingly .. clearly irritated. ... Bush abruptly cut off ... Such combativeness ... a president who is closely stage-managed ... Bush has let his temper flare publicly ... glared at the cameras, threatened his adversaries, even joked about running a dictatorship. ... fed the cowboy caricature that sums up why a large number of people around the world are so furious with his administration .... ... Bush's ire ... Bush detests being challenged ... unyielding in his convictions, ... he is also stubborn, ... this bold rigidity ... the phrase they come up with most often is "my way or the highway," bullyish words it is possible to imagine Bush using himself. White House advisers delicately call it leadership"
AMAZING!!! A constellation of negative stereotypes!!
Bush has accomplished more of his agenda with his swagger and determination than Bill Clinton ever did by being nice.
LIke MOST Freepers - I MISSED THAT DAY WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS ACTUALLY NICE. I MUST HAVE HAVE HAD A COLD AN STAYED IN BED!
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