My main point is that it is the leadership of Bush and his administration that has formed the alliance. About the only place anyone would follow clinton, is into a nudie bar. And then, only if there was no cover charge.
I think Bush has done a fine job, make that an excellent job at adapting to and handling a very difficult task. I just think his job has been a lot easier to do given the scope of the WTC attack. By the same token, I think Clinton was an effective international politician and he seemed able to get enemies (N. Ireland, Middle East) to the table, though, without continuous effort the gains have withered away in the past year or so. The belated bombing campaign in Yugoslavia (sp?) got solid results in the face of political opposition at home. A bit late, perhaps, but I have to lay the blame at Europe's feet for that.
I don't think either party, or any politician, lives up to the “ideal” they project to their supporters. To be a successful politician of any stripe you have to be a politician first, which means a willingness to expediently compromise ideals and play with the truth as needed – you can’t make it all the way otherwise. Mr. Smith didn't really make it to Washington in the 1940s, and he sure the hell can't today.
If you got rid of every politician who had a BJ from an aggressive young admirer, or put his or her political interest above the common good in all but the direst of situations, Washington would become a ghost town
Hell, look at the latest economic stimulus package, a lot more "gimmee" than patriotism there by both parties, and with our budget surplus a thing of the past it’s a bit scary.
It’s like professional wrestling -- both parties need an “evil” to rally their supporters on election day. In the end, the myth is better than the reality. I believe middle class Republicans are about as well served by their party as the inner city poor are served by the Democrats -- which is not very much at all. And I trust them all about as far as I can throw them.
Charon
[ 11-16-2001: Message edited by: Charon ]