Friday, January 23, 2009
A Fitting Farewell
OPINION
JANUARY 21, 2009, 10:48 P.M. ET
Bush Was Right When It Mattered Most
By KARL ROVE
Its call sign has always been Air Force One. But on Tuesday, it was Special Air Mission 28000, as former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura
returned home to Texas on a plane full of family, friends, former staff and
memories of eight years in the White House.
The former president and his wife thanked each passenger, showing the thoughtfulness and grace so characteristic of this wonderful American family.
A video tribute produced warm laughter and inevitable tears. There was no bitterness, but rather a sense of gratitude -- gratitude for the opportunity to serve, for able and loyal colleagues, and above all for our country and its people.
Yet, as Mr. Bush left Washington, in a last angry frenzy his critics again distorted his
record, maligned his character and repeated untruths about his years in the Oval
Office. Nothing they wrote or said changes the essential facts.
To start with, Mr. Bush was right about Iraq. The world is safer without Saddam Hussein in power. And the former president was right to change strategy and surge more U.S. troops.
A legion of critics (including President Barack Obama) claimed it couldn't
work. They were wrong. Iraq is now on the mend, the war is on the path to
victory, al Qaeda has been dealt a humiliating defeat, and a democracy in the
heart of the Arab world is emerging. The success of Mr. Bush's surge made it
possible for President Obama to warn terrorists on Tuesday "you cannot outlast
us."
Mr. Bush was right to establish a doctrine that holds those who harbor, train and support terrorists as responsible as the terrorists themselves. He was right to take the war on terror abroad instead of waiting until dangers fully materialize here at home. He was right to strengthen the military and intelligence and to create the new tools to monitor the communications of terrorists, freeze their assets, foil their plots, and kill and capture their operators.
These tough decisions -- which became unpopular in certain quarters only when memories of 9/11 began to fade -- kept America safe for seven years and made it possible for Mr. Obama to tell the terrorists on Tuesday "we will defeat you."
Mr. Bush was right to be a unilateralist when it came to combating AIDS in Africa. While world leaders dithered, his President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief initiative brought lifesaving antiretroviral drugs to millions of Africans.
At home, Mr. Bush cut income taxes for every American who pays taxes. He also cut taxes on capital, investment and savings. The result was 52 months of growth and the strongest economy of any developed country.
Mr. Bush was right to match tax cuts with spending restraint. This is a source of dispute, especially among conservatives, but the record is there to see. Bill Clinton's last budget increased domestic nonsecurity discretionary spending by 16%. Mr. Bush cut that to 6.2% growth in his first budget, 5.5% in his second, 4.3% in his third, 2.2%
in his fourth, and then below inflation, on average, since. That isn't the sum
total of the fiscal record, of course -- but it's a key part of it.
He was right to have modernized Medicare with prescription drug benefits provided
through competition, not delivered by government. The program is costing 40%
less than projected because market forces dominate and people -- not government
-- are making the decisions.
Mr. Bush was right to pass No Child Left Behind (NCLB), requiring states to set up tough accountability systems that measure every child's progress at school. As a result, reading and math scores have risen more in the last five years since NCLB than in the prior 28 years.
He was right to stand for a culture of life. And he was right to appoint conservative judges who strictly interpret the Constitution.
Few presidents had as many challenges arise during their eight years, had as many
tough calls to make in such a partisan-charged environment, or had to act in the
face of such hostile media and elite opinion.
On board Special Air Mission 28000, I remembered the picture I carried in my pocket on my first Air Force One flight eight years ago. It was an old black-and-white snapshot with scalloped edges. It showed Lyndon Johnson in the Cabinet Room, head in hand, weeping over a Vietnam casualty report. George Christian, LBJ's press secretary, gave it to me as a reminder that the job could break anyone, no matter how big and tough.
But despite facing challenges and crises few others have, the job did not break George W. Bush. Though older and grayer, his brows more furrowed, he is the same man he was, a person of integrity who did what he believed was right. And he exits knowing he summoned all of his energy and talents to defend America and advance its ideals at home and abroad. He didn't get everything right -- no president does -- but he got the most important things right. And that is enough.
Mr. Rove is the former senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Too Cold To Hold
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
Iceland
Of course, this is actually just a day in my front garden in Texas land. But if you happen to be privileged enough to dwell in this world of ambiguous weather also, you know all too well that tomorrow will be another story...
Today: High: 32°, Low: 30°
Tomorrow: High: 56°, Low: 36°
Wednesday: High: 62°, Low: 39°
Thursday: High: 67°, Low: 45°
Friday: High: 73°, Low: 42°
Ahhhh...home sweet home.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Back to School
Already? Usually I would be thrilled to get my house back into some sort of working order and enjoy a little peace and quiet, but for one reason or another, I haven't had enough, and shhhh, don't tell, but I'm really going to miss my crew! Maybe I need to schedule a facial so I can remind myself of all the time I am going to have to relax. Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Happy almost Monday!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Done
...with all of the post-holiday shopping. Yes, I did get some outstanding deals, and it was fun while it lasted, but because I have frequented some particular stores for so many days in a row, I am now being mistaken for an employee by other shoppers, but, I'm not bothered by the assumption at all. I've actually embraced it by showing customers the item they are looking for and making further suggestions.
Clearly, I need help, but as a general rule, I don't like to ask much of my family and friends. At this point however, I will make an exception. If at any time you hear of me talking about, planning, or driving in the vicinity of any mall, please, for the sake of my family, INTERVENE!
Thank you.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Twilight Inspired
So, if you have a girl in your life between the ages of 12 and 92, the chance of you knowing a character or two from, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer is pretty good.
If not, you should take the time to read the book or see the movie, at least. I'll admit, I was a sceptic at first. I've just never really been that into gore. I was happily mistaken though, because on the contrary to what I thought the book was about, the author has managed to capture nearly every teenage girls heart (and in some cases, their mom's) by selling the story of a compassionate family of vampires. How 'bout that?
And now I'm sure you are wondering what any of this has to do with the little critter running up my four year old's arms...
Meet Bella. Our little teenage gerbil. She also has a sister, Rosalie, who is still a bit camera shy, but she plans to make her debut soon.
Anna got the siblings late last fall, after reading a couple of books in the Twilight series, hence their names. And little bro, Ryan, begs daily to hold and play with them. And, I have to admit, he is a natural with all little creatures because he has a lot of practice with a cat, a dog, 2 gerbils and a fish named, Gilbert (we had another fish named, John McCain, but found him belly up the morning after the election, literally.) R.I.P.
But alive and well, our little nocturnal, red eyed, incisor dominated friend does have an uncanny vampire resemblance, don't you think? :) I love inspirations. Especially the vegetarian kind.
Nice job, Ms. Meyer.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy New Year from Lil' Texas!
Aren't those some teeth? He's smiling at ya! Now that's not something you see everyday is it?
We met this nice cowboy and his horse, Lil' Texas, today when we visited the Stockyards for the afternoon cattle drive. I'm embarrassed to say this might have been the first drive I've been to in my life... and I am a native Texan. So we decided that there's nothing like bringing in the New Year Longhorn style!
Oh, we also ran into this
May you be blessed in the New Year with heath, peace and prosperity wherever you go, and may you never forget your chaps.
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