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October 12, 2005
Our Fidgeting Fearless Leader
Strong leadership was perhaps the most important quality in securing President George W. Bush's re-election to a second term. Agree or disagree, love him or hate him, you knew where he stood. Particularly during wartime, it was this steadfastness that made many Americans who were less than thrilled with his leadership, reluctant to make a change.
Oh, how much things have changed. Not even a year after receiving a "mandate" for his second term, President Bush, beset by an ongoing, worsening situation in Iraq, rising gas prices, a bungled response to Hurricane Katrina, and numerous administration scandals, appears a shell of his once swaggering political self.
In today's Washington Post, Dana Milbank describes a president hiding from the press, totally uncomfortable in his own skin, and completely off his political game.
Perhaps he misses his Svengali, Karl Rove, who is mired in serious legal trouble of his own. Maybe he's feeling uncertain about his right wing base, normally so loyal, but now miffed about the Harriet Miers nomination. Or maybe he's just tired -- tired of waiting for the economy to pick up, or for Iraq to get better, or for children to better in school.
Here stands the president, down in the dumps, at the mercy of events. So much for strong leadership.
Posted by houtopia at October 12, 2005 02:39 PM