While President Bush's overall approval numbers remain high, as a conservative I still feel deeply unsettled about this President. Speech after speech is delivered with consistent crowd-pleasing lines about the Terror War. Yet laying ones finger on the substantiation of the basis of the publics’ approval is hard to do.
Beside the war Presidency is it the tax cutter that the American people approve of? Well, outside the $300 or $600 “refund” check American’s received there has really been little to show for tax relief. After surrendering on the tax cuts for the fiscal stimulus package for America’s recession dogged economy, further tax relief does not appear to be a priority.
My household paid enough in Federal withholding Tax to fund the salary of one college graduate, or better yet a decent wage to one unemployed Technology worker. The more things supposedly change, the more they really stay the same.
Beside the war Presidency is it the protector of national borders and security that Americans approve of? The President created the Office of Homeland Security, but is unable to get any meaningful benefit from it…outside of a colorful terror warning system.
Critics point out the lack of authority that the Homeland Czar holds. So, much as President Carter did in creating a new Cabinet level Department of Energy, it seems likely government will grow again. A Department of Homeland Security seems to be in the cards.
Perhaps also a Department of Migratory Workers should be created. President Vicente Fox of Mexico could be the first foreign head of state to hold a Cabinet level job in this administration. Maybe this will start a trend?
President Fox is working as hard as any current Cabinet Secretary, giving interviews, urging the President on to action, and gaining what Tom Ridge and Homeland Security has been unable to garner from this President – strong arming. On the issue of Amnesty for Secretary Fox’s illegal migrant workers, the President actually strong-armed congress to a one vote victory in the House to grant illegal Amnesty.
Speaking of strong-arm tactics, beside the war Presidency is it the provider of energy independence that the American people approve of? Not likely since there has been no change in energy policy as witness the embarrassing meeting of the last weekend between the President and Saudi Prince Abdullah.
While the Saudi’s feel compelled to employ an American PR firm to improve their image in this country, only the President seemed to be buying their PR line. The Saudi’s dropping hints of the oil weapon like breadcrumbs leading to the failure of the President's energy policy. The President refused to fight for even a hint of U.S. independence by going public with ANWR as a centerpiece of his energy strategy.
This Presidential split personality is hailed by some of the conservative persuasion as a brilliant turn of the “Third Way” strategy back on the Democrats and Liberalism. Yet to an increasing number of conservatives there appears to be not 10 knots worth of difference in the speed by which the Ship of State approaches the shoals.
Much as the character Dr. Jekyll, in Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, began to seek and readily become the dark side’s Mr. Hyde, this President is courting trouble.
American national interests extend beyond Afghanistan, Iraq, bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein. And as bin Laden may be permanently out of the picture, this President needs to see the bigger picture of the course steered by the Ship of State. America’s borders are as porous as ever. American jobs are traveling overseas and cheap labor floods into the country. Liberalism protects this nations deadly enemies and leaves our peaceful citizens’ liberties open to abuses. Education crumbles, energy dependence widens, and Islamic militants hire PR firms.
And as President Bush urges full-speed ahead and heads out to glad hand with passengers in their deckchairs, Mr. Hyde is in the wheelhouse.
Glenn R. Jackson is Chairman of the American Reformation Project, former State Chairman for Buchanan Reform and former state Chairman of the Georgia Freedom Party. Glenn also served on the Executive Committee of the Reform Party USA. Glenn holds an MA in Philosophy from Georgia State University in Atlanta.
© Glenn R. Jackson