Bush-bashers lose election, credibility

Photo courtesy of George W. Bush

Photo courtesy of George W. Bush

Bush-bashers lose election, credibility

Story by JOHN BRUCE
Photos by STACEY BOCK, except where noted
Since 1998, hate has been growing in the hearts of the liberal left toward one man: George W. Bush. Bush-bashing is now a hobby for some, and a mantra for alternative weekly newspapers and in any setting of the creative arts – acting, music, or fine art.

Each year, lefties find a new and better reason to hate Bush. At first, they ridiculed his intelligence. A friend of mine, who doesn't pay one lick of attention to politics, told me during the 2000 race that he was voting for Al Gore because "Bush is dumb." My friend's primary source of political knowledge was Saturday Night Live.

The "Bush is Dumb" rhetoric is now reserved for only the ignorant. In a speech last month, Al Gore called Bush brilliant. A New York Times article reported that in the only IQ-type tests Bush and Kerry took (back in their military days), Bush scored higher. Bush flew an F102 fighter jet, something too difficult to handle for most ambitious pilots. Further, Bush has not only graduated from Yale University, but has a master's degree from Harvard Business School in Business Administration. If a Democrat had this resume, he'd be considered a genius.

The next attempt at bashing Bush was fueled by "Fahrenheit 911" and other conspiracy-theory enthusiasts. Dozens of Web sites spout out ridiculous theories: Bush is in Iraq for to make his buddies rich; Bush knew of and approved the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The list goes on. At best, there is circumstantial evidence to back anything up.

Since Bush won the election on Nov. 2, Bush-bashing has given way to Democratic soul-searching. They're wondering how to make their voice heard more clearly. They must not have been as organized as Republicans, some claim. The Bush-voting public is just dumb, others argue.

Maybe conservative America is simply normal. Maybe your liberal mindset is the result of Hollywood-driven propoganda that you've absorbed for years.

But here this, Bush-bashers: you are now the minority. And while you think you are enlightened and claim that Bush-backers have blinders on, take a look in the mirror. You're the ones sucked in by Hollywood. You're following Ben Affleck, Glenn Close, Michael Moore, Green Day, R.E.M. and whatever other bandwagon hopping pop stars there are.

Now, if you think these celebrities represent America and progressive though, you're entitled to that. I'll argue that such celebrities are as far from mainstream as possible, living in their own bubble outside of moderate-to-conservative America.

Now, the sad result of mindless Bush-bashing is that nobody wants to hear it anymore. In any administration there are serious situations in which Presidents should be questioned and even criticized. But the left has cried wolf too many times.

It's time for Bush-haters to realize that our President is not stupid, he's not trying to betray our country, he's not trying to spy on you via the Patriot Act. With the wars in Iraq and the overall war on terror, your President is trying to protect freedom for all Americans and future generations.

Consider giving President Bush a clean slate of your own bias. Even if he doesn't promote your own ideals in the next four years, at least you won't be bitter. You can ditch your Bush-bashing hobby and come up with something more constructive, like Hillary Clinton-bashing.