Attack on Bush was inappropriate
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
Jerome C. Burchard
Published: July 21, 2008
How truly sad and ironic that in the the days surrounding celebration and commemoration of the principles and ideals on which our nation was founded, we are assailed by a rude partisan critique and
politicization of the presence of our president at the naturalization ceremony at Monticello. The purpose of the event, supposedly, is to publicly recognize the significance and honor of the naturalization
procedure and of a representative group of individuals who have declared their belief and commitment to the aforementioned principles and ideals.
That should have been the story.
Instead, our assailant sought the views and opinion of those who regard the participation of this president as a vain and personal exploitation of Monticello and an affront to the academic and Democratic
political communities of Charlottesville.
What is this Center for Politics at the University? Is it simply a peculiarly-named political science department or is it another contemporary university hotbed of political dissent and unrest? What is its
purpose? Is it publicly funded?
When this guy Sabato is quoted as having said, “Bush is so unpopular in so many places these days that it’s tough for him to find anywhere outside military academies, military installations or religious
schools where he can appear happily,” how are we to read this other than as a gratuitous and elitist slur on the military academies, the military in general and religious schools?
And he is further quoted as saying, “In this area, he is probably 80 percent unpopular.” It this an objective assessment or is it giddy gloating?
Is this abnormal distribution of opinion something the academic community is proud of and more evidence of the liberal political warp that typifies our institutions of “higher learning” these days?
The legacy of President Bush will be determined in the greater context of history and not by the sniping and carping of his present-day detractors and definitely not by the audacity of his appearance at a
naturalization ceremony at Monticello.
One thing is for certain and that is that he has cast a long shadow, which means that the reality of the situation is that his successor is the one whose legacy is most at risk.
JEROME C. BURCHARD
Gainesville
Post a Comment
The commenting period has ended or commenting has been deactivated for this article.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
Reader Reactions
Posted by ( jVA ) on July 23, 2008 at 2:05 pm
“most democrats still have the bumper sticker Kerry-Edwards and are still in shock because Bush won twice.“
I don’t have the bumper sticker anymore, but I will admit that I am still in shock Bush won in 2004.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( Godsaveus ) on July 23, 2008 at 1:41 pm
ray , I guess you are the exception , most democrats still have the bumper sticker Kerry-Edwards and are still in shock because Bush won twice. Good for you.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( jVA ) on July 23, 2008 at 12:34 pm
“Your candidate, as experienced as he is, has had less than 150 days TOTAL on the Senate Floor since being elected…“
Yeah I know political experience is such a big issue to you guys. Clearly George W. Bush had an incredible amount of experience and personal success to allow him to beat McCain and earn your party’s nomination back in 2000.
I don’t vote for the guy who has been a politician the longest. I vote for the smartest person with the best ideas. Democrats win that contest every time.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on July 23, 2008 at 12:21 pm
MikeG, now the sad part is that if Obama defeats McCain, how does that reflect on the candidate selected by the Republican Party?
If Obama is a pitiful as you outline, winning should surely be child’s play for any multi-term senator. I changed trains when Mark Warner chose not to run and now I’ll ride the Obama train until the tracks run out. But, Mark Warner in 2012 !
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on July 23, 2008 at 12:12 pm
And ye my reputation as a bleeding heart liberal! As a token of good will, I won’t mention Mr. Bush has spent more time on vacation that any other president in history. They say the president is in touch 24/7 therefore never really on vacation - so I might propose that same process applies for Barack.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( MikeG ) on July 23, 2008 at 11:35 am
“The very fact thatwe’re here offering opinions is that we care about our community. Andthanks for the compliment, I do appreciate it.“
Ahmen, Ray, but don’t let anyone know we had this meeting of the minds. It might destroy my reputation as a curmudgeonly old conservative.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( MikeG ) on July 23, 2008 at 11:31 am
Ray, while you and your cohorts have determined your candidate and are committed to hanging with him, at least until after November 5th, the fact that he may not have much chance to be elected as the leader of the greatest nation on earth won’t have a blinkin’ thing to do with how hard you work, or propogandize, or wish it to happen. Do you realize, besides all the Obama faults and foibles that have been identified (gee, just like EVERY politician on either side of the fence! Thank you modern media!) so far, that your candidate, as experienced as he is, has had less than 150 days TOTAL on the Senate Floor since being elected? That’s just wonderful, you know? We are on the verge of possibly electing to the most powerful position in the free world a gentleman who barely has enough time in the Senate to allow him to find the bathrooms, much less gain enough experience to actually fill the position of Chief Executive. To be honest, the prospect of electing a JUNIOR Senator, and one who has had no real exposure to the types of issues that will confront him daily, scares the bejeezus out of me. He’s a feel good, photogenic, glib and smooth speaker who knows how to excite a crowd, often only because he seems to have pretty good self control under pressure (I’ll give him that). But it’s one thing to stand in front of an audience of adoring fans, or on a stage with Hillary, and quite another to face down rogues, despots and dictators.
So good luck with that.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( raywilliams ) on July 22, 2008 at 5:45 pm
MikeG, I will say this: I fully support the American political system - yes, with all its faults. I do not support George W. Bush, do not like the man as I believe he is rich-boy arrogant and a compulsive liar. But, he has been elected president twice (oh I hear the groans) by our system and I don’t whine about that. I WILL work to make sure we have change this election, but if John McCain is elected, I will respect that while making sure my voice continues to be heard.
Our political process is not perfect, but it is about the best around - proof here that we are able to have this debate, say ugly things about the other guy without (much) fear of someone knocking on our door at midnight.
If John McSame wins in November, it simply means Democrats and liberal independents did not do enough to support Obama. Not shame on Republicans, but shame on us if we allow that to happen.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( jVA ) on July 22, 2008 at 2:00 pm
“noboby knew he was so bad at that time,but he lead the worst foreing policy we ever had. “
Really? I was seven or eight years old at the time and was aware that Jimmy Carter wasn’t an especially successful President.
Funny that all of these adults can’t recognize or admit that George W. Bush has been a complete disaster.
Report Inappropriate Comment
Posted by ( MikeG ) on July 22, 2008 at 10:35 am
Williams, I wonder, when the vote is in and your brand of liberal claptrap has been rejected yet again, what will you say then? That Democrats just can’t get a fair shake? Clinton has no respectable legacy, to begin with. His failure to act when he should have brought about 9-11; that’s his legacy.
Report Inappropriate Comment