I May Regret Saying This

So after the dust has settled from the November election, I've had time to reflect on things.

I have a sense of relief in regards to the Presidential election. Don't get me wrong, I voted for the other guy, and think he would do a better job - but a sense of relief all the same. "Why is that?", I wondered. I think it's because I no longer have to be a proxy punching bag for my guy in the White House.

George W. Bush, I believe, is this generation's Harry Truman. Reviled on his way out of office, and looked back on history with a grudging nod of respect. 40 years from now (y'all can harass me in 40 years if I'm wrong on this), I predict history will look on George Bush and note a number of shortcomings - but will generally look upon him favorably...all things considered.

They'll see that he did what he thought was right, not politically expedient. This can be both admirable and frightening. Admirable in that we want a leader who leads, and doesn't stick his/her finger in the air. We all know the mobs are fickle at best, dangerous at worst. We want someone who will stick to his guns.

However, Dwight Eisenhower (a man I hold in high esteem) once said that "governments had to be concerned with public opinion and, as much as possible, must never be thought to be wrong in vital decisions." Like him or not, President Bush didn't pander. He seemed to have a refreshing disregard for the public opinion. Refreshing, of course, if you agreed with what he was doing. He infuriated many because, I think, people either disagreed where he was going, or perhaps were inclined to support him, but didn't because he didn't appear to care if the public was on board with him - he was going to do what he thought was right, whether or not the people were with him.

So, he rebuilt Iraq at the cost of American lives and treasure. The trauma that has come out of that exercise is reflected in his low approval ratings. The same low approval ratings Truman had when he (and his party) were tossed out by the American people after he rebuilt Europe via the Marshall Plan.

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One other source of comfort. When you're in the minority (said one Congressman after his party lost the majority on The Hill), "we give them the gavels, they give us the grenades." When you're in charge, you have to be responsible. When you're in the minority, you can lob grenades and kibitz.

I think I'll hold onto my grenades for now. President-Elect Obama is a pragmatist, I believe (see www.dickmorris.com/blog/2008/12/05/obama-tries-the-parliamentary-system/#more-506). A lefty, to be sure, but a pragmatist. Which means whatever scary left proposals he may have, he'll have to trim them back a bit to get the "blue dogs" in the House to go along with it. If he doesn't, then I'll throw the grenades.

Religion & Education

So there I was, driving into work this morning. Waiting at a light behind an SUV with surfboards strapped to the top (picture me jealous), I read the bumper sticker affixed to the window: "Religion is a crutch for those who cannot think for themselves."

No longer jealous of this driver, I thought: "If that's correct, then education must be a crutch for those who cannot think for themselves."

(note the correct usage of the "if/then" structure)