I think this Congress will go down in history as one of the most ineffective, most divisive, most incompetent legislative bodies in this nation’s history. When all is said and done, I think future generations are going to curse the names Pelosi, Reid, Durban, Biden, et al.

Matt Helm on May 1, 2007 at 2:48 PM

Gonzales is an incompetent–most conservatives would agree to that. In many ways, the President puts me in mind of Napoleon III–who often gets a far worse rap than he deserves. To be honest, I don’t think GWB will rank in the top or even second tier presidents. He’s made some poor choices for positions such as Gonzales–however, he’s also made some good choices such as Alito and Roberts. He also seems to have a tendency to rely on poor advice at the most inopportune times. He’s also not very good at utilizing the bully pulpit–which has hurt him tremendously. I think this comes from his time as Governor of Texas where he did govern as a conciliator. His problem is that he wants everyone to like him–even his political enemies.

His positives are that he can be a most personable and approachable figure–this is a trait that, along with the bully pulpit, he should have used more frequently. He also is a very pragmatic individual and a man of deep convictions. He has the right idea in that Islamic extremism is the critical threat to our civilization in the 21st century–global warming is a chimera. However, he just cannot seem to communicate the seriousness of this threat to the people as a whole. He’s most definitely a man of courage–any man who’s flown F-102’s has my respect for that fact alone. The F-102 was an incredibly dangerous plane to fly–they didn’t call it the ‘widowmaker’ for nothing.

To be honest, do I agree with every decision he’s made regarding the war? No. But we are at war–and we have to win it. As Tip O’Neill once said regarding the invasion of Grenada when asked by a reporter whether Congress had any questions he told the reporter that yes, Congress did have questions, but they would wait. That the country was at war right now and that we all had a duty to rally around the President. But then Tip O’Neill, even though I might have disagreed with his politics, was, at heart, a man of honor and integrity and came from a generation and school of thought which firmly believed that politics was not personal and that politics ended at the water’s edge.

Matt Helm on May 1, 2007 at 3:07 PM

You need to read up on the Radical Republicans and Reconstruction.

I do know about the Radical Republicans and Reconstruction–I’m a historian by trade. And yes, I firmly believe that future generations will see this Congress as more incompetent and dangerous than that one. And that’s saying something…

Matt Helm on May 1, 2007 at 3:09 PM

We’re against unnecessary government action, first of all. Second, Congress has no bearing to fire “Gonzo”, he works for the President. So, it’s a waste of hard earned American tax dollars.

The most dangerous thing about this Congress is its blatant efforts to usurp power traditionally held by the Executive. Murtha has threatened impeachment should the President carry out his lawful right to veto legislation; Pelosi et al have carried out foreign policy initiatives without the consent of the Executive; Congress is attempting to usurp the President’s role as commander in chief through the most recent legislation; and, while I have no love for Gonzales, it is intruding into traditional executive territory as regards the hiring and firing of US Attorneys. What else lies on the horizon?

Matt Helm on May 1, 2007 at 4:01 PM