Bush Legacy

When asked today what he wanted his legacy to be, President Bush responded with an answer akin to one of the first answers he gave that attracted attention to him. In the early run for the Republican nomination, Bush had been asked who influenced him the most. The point of the question was to prompt such answers as Plato, or Martin Luther King, Jr. Perhaps an appropriate answer would have been Honest Abe, but Bush responded Jesus Christ. He said that Jesus had turned his life around. It was not a politically correct answer to give and the man was not even the nominee for President yet, but still he gave the answer and stood by it. His aides have said since that time that they were shocked by the answer.

So, it should be no surprise that today when asked about his legacy, how did the President respond? "Well, I hope it is this: The man showed up with a set of principles, and he was unwilling to sacrifice his soul for the sake of popularity," he saidlink cnn.com. Well Mr. President, I don’t think for sometime now your soul has been at stake of being lost and as for popularity you were a two term President of the United States of America and a Governor of Texas. That sounds like a man who had the corner on popularity for a good amount of time. I imagine that history will remember the President just the way he wants to be. I further figure that in time America will come to the understanding that President Bush kept us safe for eight years. After all, other Presidents have been unpopular when they left office for doing what was right only later to be very popular (Jimmy Carter).

Changing for Cheney?

He didn’t aspire to be President, he did not have the look of a great President, he had health issues that worried the nation for eight years, and his claim to fame seemed to come at the butt end of hunting jokes, but now his popularity is on the risecnn.com. Dick Cheney’s poll numbers are on the rise. Heck, at this rate if it continues for a few more years, he could run for office again! Why the sudden change (that is a buzz word you know)? The sleepy giants are waking up.

Americans embraced Obama. He was going to bring change, the first black President, a new generation. People yelled and cheered as he said we were all going to have to pitch in and help. Then came change and the battle. Suddenly people are scrambling and completing new W-4 forms. Obama’s change even has some employers withholding almost no taxes. I know of one person that has paid 0 in Federal tax since Obama’s new packet went into effect. You know just as well as I do that someone has to pay those taxes due! And then there is the terrorist. Nobody wants them, but Obama wants to close their prison and bring them to U.S. soil. Suddenly, nobody really wants them at all and the cry is “not in my back yard.” So then comes the voice of reason and that voice is the voice of Dick Cheney. Besides, of all the current administration and the past administration, he’s the only one who has ever shot someone so why should we not listen to the man. I mean really, he’s been the butt of so many jokes for so long and now Americans are saying, “Hey, this guy is making sense.”

But Cheney is not alone in the rise of the polls. Bush’s rank has also rose six points. Americans must be realizing that these two were at the top of the pyramid for all the terrorist activity in the world. They went to bed knowing what American’s faced and they woke up hearing what American’s faced each day for eight long years. Then along comes Obama and everyone got caught up in the flare. He had a twenty-four hour TV spot, he speaks well, and he appeals to people. So here’s the kicker, do I think he should be President? Yes, absolutely. American’s have the great blessing to be able to rule by popular vote (pending your state’s electoral vote count) and in the end the theory is that the person American’s want becomes the next President. American’s wanted Obama and they got him. So, for those American’s now maybe starting to rethink your vote or lack of vote and starting to think, “well, wow, Dick Cheney sounds like a smart guy” just be thankful you live in a country where you can change your view and that the polls will sway back and forth. Oh, and during the next election, try not to get caught up in all the party promises and just take a look at what the person can and is going to really do. Who knows, with the change in polls, it may be time for a Cheney ticket.

Prissy Hickerson Considers Serving Again

A quick Google.com search will tell you a lot about Mary “Prissy” Hickerson. It will tell you that she is the former Chairperson of the Arkansas Highway Commission; it will tell you that she is a Republican; it will tell you that she has raised money, and it will tell you that she is considering a run for the Arkansas House of Representatives District 1. Anyone would argue that she has a significant amount of information floating around cyber space, not to mention the gossip in the city of Texarkana. But what the Google search will not tell you is her commitment to serve.

I recently had the privilege of watching Mrs. Hickerson talk to a group of people about the possible run for the House. She was attentive to all questions, she had intelligent answers, and she flatly stated that she is only at the “considering” stages in a run for the House. Upon closer observation though, you could see Mrs. Hickerson did something few politicians like to do; she followed up with individuals who ask questions on a one-on-one basis. After her brief talk, she sought out each person who had a concern about recent events and she simply talked with them. There were no cameras flashing, no news crews present, and no potential voters watching, but still Mrs. Hickerson took the time to talk to people and to listen. Unfortunately, today most politicians want to answer your question with a public statement such as “We’ll look into that,” or “I was unaware of that,” or “I voted for that because it is the right thing to do.” Those are all simple answers, but when you go to the person who asks the question and say, “Okay, tell me more about your question and did I answer it to your satisfaction?” Wow. You don’t see that. But guess what? You do and I did with Mrs. Hickerson.

Mrs. Hickerson was quick to say that she is a Republican and is proud of being one, but she also says she wants to serve. These are not just words as she has also served on the Texarkana Animal League, a volunteer position to help animals and as you know, dogs and cats don’t vote. Mrs. Hickerson is a kind, outstanding woman who, if she decides to run, will have my full support and assistance in any way I can because she is a person who wants to serve. I hope Mrs. Hickerson decides to go to Little Rock and make a difference again through her service.

Specter's Spectacular Jump Overboard

It’s no use trying to hide or change the fact that many people have jumped off the Republican ship over the last few years. It’s a fact and if it wasn’t then the party would have won the last major election (you know, the one for President). So, a lot of folks are jumping overboard. That’s life. I figure that once those fine new taxes start to hit people, around 2011, that a lot of those people will be yelling for a Republican life vest.

So, this Specter person made a spectacular jump from the Republican boat also. I have a problem with that. I don’t have a problem that he now wants to be Democrat, that’s fine more than half the country wants to be Democrat. I do, however, have a problem with any politician who takes party money, runs on the party lines, gets elected, and then jumps ship after he has been elected. The fact of the matter is, Specter owes the Republicans his seat and he owes them a great deal of money. Furthermore, if he is such an independent thinker and voter that he doesn’t stick to party lines, why would he want to jump off the ship at all?

Okay, get ready for this. He jumped ship to have a “spectacular” publicity stunt and draw media attention to himself. He also jumped ship because over 200,000 registered Republicans in his area changed to the Democratic party. He jumped ship to have the publicity and to ensure those 200,000 new Democrats vote for him. That’s it. It was all about survival. Specter doesn’t want to be booted out.

Now I’m sure some people are reading this saying, “but it’s his right to leave,” and I agree, if he was a private citizen. A private citizen should be able to change parties as often as he or she likes. She should be able to contribute money to the Democrats or the Republicans anytime she feels like it. That’s part of what makes American great. You can be in any party you want and it’s free! However, Specter is an elected official and as such he should remain true to his party at least until he leaves office. It doesn’t matter whether Republicans or Democrats put the person in office, that person was elected on a party ticket. I don’t feel that anyone, while holding office, should be allowed to simply switch parties. If he or she wants to switch parties, leave during the next election, and then come back and run again under the party you want to represent. When you are elected as a Democrat or Republican, you are elected with the backing of the people from that party. Turning after you have the office is as good as slapping people in the face. For crying out loud, next they’ll be giving their first interviews after being elected to office to some foreign news agency. I mean, can you imagine the audacity of that?