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March 20, 2006
The Price Of Denial
The George W. Bush White House has been remarkable for its ability to stick to its political guns, no matter the circumstances. The adages "never admit you're wrong" and "if you just say it enough times it becomes true" have been touchstones for team Bush, and have been employed to great political effect, including election to a second term.
Remember President Bush's whole basic rationale for his reelection: love him or hate him, agree or disagree, you know where he stands because he is a decisive leader. This rationale was particularly effective in comparison to his opponent Senator Kerry (and Al Gore in the first go-round), who seemed to become an entirely different candidate and person about every two weeks.
Despite vanquishing his political opponents in battle after battle, inconvenient -- potentially devastating -- facts have always seemed to be lurking, like some Damoclean sword threatening this political gambler George W. Bush and his prospects to win the overall war, otherwise known as trying to govern America today. And yet he's kept rolling the dice, despite numerous warnings from friend and foe alike. Well, every gambler's luck must run out some time, and 2006 is coming up one big political snake eyes for the White House so far.
For one thing, major foreign policy chickens are coming home to roost. The war in Iraq has entered its fourth year with little end in sight. As casualties and costs mount and the country teeters on the brink of civil war, too many Americans are no longer buying the administration's sunny story line from Baghdad. A potentially dangerous situation with Iran looms, and America's standing in the world is at an all-time low.
At home budget deficits mount, health care and energy costs skyrocket -- dulling any widespread feeling of economic recovery, and a series of botched crises and just plain bad luck episodes have contributed to the general public's uneasiness about the country's future and declining confidence in the folks in charge (all Republicans these days.)
In short, times have changed (big time, to echo Vice President Cheney), but the Bush White House has not adapted. From Katrina to Terri Schiavo to the Dubai ports issue, the administration has shown a very dangerous political tin ear, and they are beginning to pay the price.
Dismal polling numbers, grumbling from the normally reliable political base and a GOP Congress running for cover as the fall midterm election approaches, signal real trouble for team Bush and the ominous quacking sound of a premature lame duck. January 2009 is long time away.
Posted by houtopia at March 20, 2006 10:21 PM