Jan 12 2009
It’s up to us.
Now that the Bush administration is coming to a close, most of us feel we can breathe a sigh of relief that the idiocy of the past eight years is–for the most part–behind us. Having a president of apparent integrity and wisdom can give many of us the sense that we have turned the corner as far as leadership goes, even though we still have to deal with the two wars and wayward economy that GWB has left as his legacy. However, I would caution against such complacency. Even as he took office, President-elect Obama took heat from both political extremes. Arch-conservatives attacked him because he wasn’t an arch-conservative. Arch-liberals were aghast at his selection of conservative pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inaugural. Anne Coulter still lurks on the talk show circuit. Barney Frank questions tax relief for small business. Sarah Palin apparently has her eyes set on 2012 (Tina Fey can only hope!).
For too long, those of us in the middle have had to settle for whatever extreme positions the far flanks of each party present us. For too long, reasonable, admirable politicians like John McCain have had to kowtow to the base for fear of losing their support, and in the process assured their defeat by alienating perhaps the most powerful political force in the world. US! No more!
