End of an Error

In less than ten days, we will have a new President. Weird, eh? The 111th Congress (which is overwhelmingly Democratic) is still incomplete, with senators missing from Illinois and Missouri.

Following the closet elections in the history of this nation, precedent has it that the country goes through a polarization period and then will re-unite. Can we afford to divide? Absolutely not. This country does a fantastic job of repeating its mistakes, so lets not this time. Remember when Saving accounts used to had 3, 4, 5% interest? Remember when homes consistently appreciated in value? Where was the unity?

These United States of America, as they are so called, is still experiencing a chasm. The people of ill thoughts and unwavering determination leave no room for improvement. They are on the left and the right. They are in school and at home. And this--this is fear?

The Panic of 2007, as it will be called from here on out, induced fear. In times of fear and great crisis will emerge leaders who dictate and stand firm in order to shine as heroes. They are no more of a virus than the flu; they are no less an infection than tuberculosis. They run from challenge, or rather stomp on it. These people, our countrymen, pose a threat to our very way of life. Yet they give us a reason to fight.

It is for these reasons that President Bush is in fact better than many of the members of the 108th, 109th, 110th, and (maybe, time will tell,) the 111th Congresses of the United States. Yes, better. Because President Bush wavered. He differentiated. Did he do things wrong, from my perspective, yes. And he was hardly a man of the people in his second term. This administration, however, listened. Less than it should have, indeed. Take Vice President Cheney, one of the worst Vice Presidents since John C. Calhoun, a secessionist and a nullificationist. He is a war criminal and may never be brought to trial.

But their time is up. Their damage is done. And there will be days, months, and years, debating the legacy of the Forty-Third President and the Forty Sixth Vice President of these United States. But did they ever preside over the United States of America. I hardly think so. They presided over the United States Of Fear, the United States of Oil, the United States of War (which dissolved quicker than it formed), and the United States of Crisis.

It was only in times of trial that we were able to trick ourselves into being one nation instead of a cluster of towns, counties, and states. That was our doing, not the Presidents.

And I'd like to make one thing clear. George Walker Bush is still my President. He always has been. I accepted that. He is still my President. The only solace is that he won't always be.

His errors, blunders, and screw-ups, in all their scrutinized glory, will be forgotten down the road. Many say he may become a hero should Iraq become a thriving democracy in two decades. Others believe he will go down as one of the worst presidents in history, along with James Buchanan, W.G. Harding, and Herbert Hoover.

I'M WILLING TO MAKE THIS BET WITH ANYONE:

Ask any adult in a grocery store or pizza place who those presidents were, during what time period, and what was so horrible about them, and you'll get a big fat UHHH. I'll start the wager at 100 dollars.

G.W. Bush will live in recent memory, but he will fade. His place in history is written in sand.