Happy New Year

It’s been a very strange year. George Bush entered his second term completely full of himself. He told the country the way it was going to be; he had plenty of political capital and he intended to spend it. Social security was going to be reformed – and I mean reformed – and anyone who didn’t like it could lump it. Democracy was going to be delivered to the people of Iraq and that success would be a model for the broader Middle East. The cat was on top of his game, and the Republicans were in charge from now till as far as you could see out on the flat West Texas prairie.

Well the year didn’t turn out as scripted. The president’s efforts to turn Social Security into a defined contribution program fell like a cow flap on that same flat land. The AARP which had been playing footsie with Bush turned on him like a scorned woman. The elderly were skittish and even the young put up `no sale’ signs. When the reaction at every road show stop was that of a herd of deer in the headlights, it became clear that the effort was going nowhere. What’s really sad is that Bush was actually in a position to strengthen the defined benefit program, but he wouldn’t hear of that.

The president got caught by Mother Nature. While the professionals were well aware of the damage potential of a major hurricane on the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, politicians had successfully put off doing what was really needed to protect the lower Mississippi for generations, Bush was the guy stuck without a seat when the music stopped. But he compounded his problems by stocking top FEMA posts with Republican `must hire’ cronies. And his personal performance and statements like, “You’re doing a heck of job,” added to his woes.

But it always gets back to his real problem. George Bush can shift and slide. He can allude to a Congressional Resolution. He can talk about other countries thinking the same thing. He can point fingers at the U.N. He can run, but he can’t hide. Iraq is his war, his and his alone. It is the responsibility that cannot be palmed off on anyone. Iraq is George Bush’s personal tar baby.

But I’ve said all that I could possibly say about it. People near and dear to me say I’m obsessed with it and that history will decide if Bush is a visionary or a failed president. My vote is that he is a totally failed utopian who bet his presidency on a long term favorable outcome in Iraq, and it is only a matter of time before the croupier hauls in the chips. But time alone will tell.

I’m going to resolve to write about this calamity as seldom as possible in 2006. There can be no doubt among my readers about my opinion. Most days I’m angry and want vindication, and I feel guilt over that. Today, I’m stepping back and hoping with all my heart that I’m wrong.

In any event, I resolve to wake up tomorrow looking for a happy and prosperous New Year for all of us, and I hope that George Bush is able to extricate our troops quickly, that Iraq’s government holds, and that our investment of blood and treasure was not in vain.

Blog on!

Wild Bill