Posted by
Voice Guy on Saturday, December 27, 2008 12:00:00 AM
Well, it’s been nearly a month since my last post. I want to disabuse the notion that I haven’t posted because of post-election depression or anything like that. Rather, with the advent of the Christmas holiday, and a new line of work I simply wasn’t able to find the time to blog regularly. But let’s embrace the fact that I have now shown up to the party, rather than focus on the fact that I came perhaps a little bit late.
There’s been a lot going on, but most of that will materialize and coalesce on January 25th, 2009. So I want to focus on what we are leaving behind in the wake of all of this change and hope. That is Bush’ legacy. I have no doubt that many of you will have read blogs and articles rambling on about the Iraq War, the financial crisis, 911 and the war on terror, as well as the expanding nature of the executive branch of government. Many of these writings will try to postulate whether history will look favorably on our 43rd president, but rather than follow their lead, I would like to comment on this fascination and preoccupation with legacy and legacy shopping.
I don’t think that President Bush is really concerned with legacy shopping. If his past behavior is any guide to his future or current behavior I feel that we can be fairly certain that he doesn’t care whether or not he has high favorability ratings, now or in the future. He has always seemed much more concerned with doing what he thought was best and most appropriate for our nation. He took, I believe, the job of the Presidency very seriously. And why not, he saw his father in the Whitehouse for many years not only as President, but Vice President as well. I think he understood the incredible weight of the office and its import.
So I think that thinking or talking too much about legacy is the Media’s purview. It is nearly impossible to predict how future generations will view the actions of today’s movers and shakers. We cannot hope to have the impartiality or perspective needed to judge them. It is far too vain and self aggrandizing to talk about legacy. Essentially, it is guessing how someone will be famous, rather than assessing how appropriate or needful someone’s actions have been. I say we all leave legacy shopping to the media, and instead applaud our President for a job well done and if not always completed successfully, attempted with absolute commitment.
Until next time….
Go Broncos! Beat the Chargers!