Editorial

It's not just "Bush Bashing"

Supporters of George W. Bush like to dismiss any criticism of their president as "Bush Bashing."

It's a way of stifling dissent -- and a way for Bush supporters to avoid facing the mounting pile of evidence that the Bush presidency is bad for America.

The problem with this is that the sharpest criticism of George W. Bush is not coming from left-wing malcontents.

It's easy enough to dismiss Michael Moore and his ilk. It's no secret that they are ideologues with left-wing agendas. I never paid any attention to Michael Moore -- didn't see "Fahrenheit 9-11," never read his books.

While I like Molly Ivins' writing and think she brings a valuable voice to the debate, her politics are well to the left of mine.

The problem for the ardent Bush supporters is not the left -- it's the center; moderate to conservative voters who feel betrayed by a reckless, arrogant presidency.

I voted for George W. Bush in November 2000. What changed? I watched the president and a cabal of neo-con imperialists mislead this country into a misguided war. And, unforgivably, they've screwed it up.

We don't have to listen to Michael Moore or Molly Ivins to know that Bush/Cheney and Co. have led America badly astray.

Listen instead to some clear-thinking, patriotic warriors.

Listen to James Webb, a decorated Marine Vietnam War veteran and former Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan:

"Bush arguably has committed the greatest strategic blunder in modern memory. To put it bluntly, he attacked the wrong target... Our military is being forced to trade away its maneuverability in the wider war against terrorism while being placed on the defensive in a single country that will never fully accept its presence.

"There is no historical precedent for taking such action when our country was not being directly threatened. The reckless course that Bush and his advisors have set will affect the economic and military energy of our nation for decades. It is only the tactical competence of our military that, to this point, has protected him from the harsh judgment that he deserves."

Listen to General Anthony Zinni, former CentCom commander, who once commanded U.S. troops in the Middle East. He was Bush's Middle East envoy -- until he disagreed with the Bush cabal:

"There has been poor strategic thinking in this (Iraq war). There has been poor operational planning and execution on the ground. And to think that we are going to 'stay the course,' the course is headed over Niagara Falls. I think it's time to change course a little bit or at least hold somebody responsible for putting you on this course. Because it's been a failure."

Listen to Richard Clarke, formerly the top terrorism advisor to both President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush:

"Frankly, I find it outrageous that the president is running for re-election on the grounds that he has done great things about terrorism. He ignored it. He ignored terrorism for months, when maybe we could have done something to stop 9-11. Maybe. We'll never know."

Webb, Zinni, Clarke -- all men who have served their country with great distinction, men who know what they are talking about. Labels like "Bush-basher" just won't stick to them.

We ignore them at our peril.