Frankly, employing two people of color does not make a party of equals.
Of course, it doesn't. But the notion, as alleged by Al Sharpton, that these are "tokens" is racist and absurd. It is interesting to watch Bush work so masterfully. Instead of giving lip service by showing up at the racist NAACP meeting, instead, he does the right thing and seeks out absolute excellence for his cabinet -- which happens to include more highly placed African Americans than any in history. It's great watching a true leader work.
If it were, more of the people would vote for it.......plain and simple.
Masterful? A true leader? Who are we talking about? Mr. Bush has a certain measure of popularity given 9/11 and his even handling of that crisis, and because of his good guy nature. While there is nothing masterful about that, there is a certain element of leadership he has projected that has been enhanced by the patriotic fervor gripping this country since 9/11. As consequence, he's lucked out nicely and Americans have given him the benefit of the doubt.
However, lets look beyond his fraternal like popularity and look at the reality of Mr. Bush's first two years in office:
1. We are in a Vietnam like war with a definite beginning but seemingly without an ending. To date, few of the objectives of that war have been accomplished.
2. The economy is floundering and there is now renewed talk of a double dip recession. There is little this administration has done to counter this threat.
3. America's economic clout is in jeopardy....thanks to a lack of corporate integrity and mismanagement. Bush's administration is late to the game and only now is beginning to realize the negative implications of this mess.
And many perceive that Bush and his cronies may well be part of the problem.
4. The American dollar is in free fall partly due to the flight of foreign capital because of number three. Again the Bush administration has been remarkably silent when it comes to this issue.
5. America's foreign policy appears to be in some sort of checkmate. Our oldest allies with the exception of Britain appear to be confused by Bush's rhetoric, and his administration after almost two years has failed to get the Israelis and Palestinians to the peace table.
6. After years of trying to reduce military spending, Bush is now pushing to resume increasing defense spending, particularly on such pie in the sky systems like star wars. Coincidently, we as a nation have become much more militaristic and talk of ignoring the sovereign rights of other nations without concern or reservation.
7. Due to numbers 1 and 6, the country has begun to run budget deficits once again, the full implications of which we have yet to realize. If we continue, the Feds will have to raise interest rates and could well nip in the bud the current weak economic recovery. There is nothing that is being said by the current administration to indicate they are aware of the problem and are looking at remedies.
I could go on but what's the point......there is nothing masterful about the above. Granted some of this stuff was inherited but Bush has been in power long enough that that can no longer use that as an excuse.......nor can this administration continue to cover their oversights and misfirings with the war in Afghanistan. Its not selling anymore.....at least not to the people who think and that's why Bush's popularity is making a slow but steady decline. Americans will buy into your game only for so long and then they will call the game. And if you were not so clouded and biased in your thinking, you would see the reality of what is happening and be concerned like the rest of us. |
