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Second Chance

Imagine what the country would be experiencing had the election gone to Vice President Gore. We would not have been subjected to the tyranny of the Ashcroft hearings for Attorney General, western states might be looking down the long barrel of a permanent order to supply energy to California at below market rates, and Louie Freeh might have remained mute in his support to reopen the Chinagate scandals.

Plans for developing domestic sources of energy and a national missile defense would have slid to the back burner at best. The tenacious assault on the Second Amendment and the rights of free people to defend themselves would have continued unabated, and the insidious nanny state would have continued to usurp God given rights.

It is doubtful an Al Gore presidency would have entertained between 150 and 160 members of congress, much less his most vocal critics. It is unlikely the nation’s defenses would be receiving a careful inspection, or that anyone would have asked for a detailed review in light of eight long years of neglect. The problems in China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya or Russia would have remained swept under the rug and away from any spotlight.

Grudgingly, the democrats are being dragged to the tax-cutting table and it might just be that 1.6 trillion dollars is too small a figure. Social Security—the third rail of American politics—might actually receive the reform necessary to keep it viable into the new century. Interestingly, the Democratic leadership is uncertain as whether or not they should attack President Bush’s faith based initiative for the delivery of social services.

The affable new President invited Senator Edward Kennedy along to his education initiatives, and then to a private screening of Thirteen Days at the White House. Call it the charm offensive, call it treating your enemies better than your friends, call it whatever you want, George W. Bush has change the tenor and tone inside the Beltway. Perhaps, the politics of personal destruction are over.

During the Reagan years, there were those who said, “Let Reagan be Reagan.” The sense was that Reagan was buried behind his advisors and the need to stay on message. However, Ronald Reagan was the most effective when he spoke of his great love the country and his abiding faith in the American people. Reagan was not interested in who got the credit as long as the right things got done.

It appears we may be seeing the same phenomena. President George W. Bush has now assumed the bully pulpit of American politics and he is no longer burdened by campaigns, Florida recounts, transition woes and a grand standing former President. George W. Bush does not seem concerned about which way the wind is blowing, rather he has set out on a journey to right the wrongs of the last eight years and move forward.

Presidential history is a peculiar thing, and when the country has had great need, great men have stepped forward: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. These men are giants on the historical stage, and perhaps, we have just elected another one.

I did not watch either of the Clinton inaugurations—it was just too painful. The legacy of the last eight years includes Waco, Korsovo, Somalia, the stained blue dress, the largest tax increase in American history, the looting of Air Force One, countless scandals, and a dubious pardon list for the likes of Mel Reynolds and Marc Rich.

I do not believe we know the full extent of the damage done these last eight years, but we have been given a second chance. Any free people who would elect Bill Clinton twice and Al Gore almost once is undeserving of grace or forgiveness. In the glow of a new administration, all things seem possible. It is a time of hope and a time of admonition. We dare not squander this opportunity to heal our land. It is unclear how many more chances we will get.

Douglas De Bono / DouglasDeBono.Com Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota E-Mail readermail@DouglasDeBono.Com