Bush Performance Poll in the Real World

Polls out evaluating Bush’s conduct of war on terrorism, war in Iraq, etc. Ever notice how the pollsters shape their questions to get the answers they want?

If you want to evaluate how successful Bush’s war on terrorism is, there’s a very simple set of criteria: before/after.

Before 9/11, terrorist activity against Americans and American interests both abroad and at home had escalated for years. However, American response had varied. This is an important point.

In 1904, a 64-year-old Trenton man, Ian Perdicaris, and his stepson were kidnapped from their villa in Tangiers by Sheik Raisuli, leader of a local Berber tribe in revolt against the despotic Sultan of Morocco. Democratic President Teddy Roosevelt’s response was to call out the Marines and send a fleet of seven battleships steaming for the Moroccan coast. Ahead flew a message to the Sultan: “Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead!”

A few days later, Perdicaris and his stepson were free, and Raisuli and the Sultan were on terms—without the necessity of fleet intervention. The Sultan, as many others, preferred to avoid American action. It later turned out that Perdicaris was actually no longer an American citizen, though that fact was not made known until long after the deaths of all the principals – but the principle was clear to the world: America takes care of its own. Fer sure! America spoke softly and carried a big stick – and it was clear that we would use it in defense of our citizens and our soil.

In the years before 9/11, terrorists attacked our consulates abroad, bombed commercial airplanes, attacked our barracks, downed a Blackhawk on a humanitarian mission, kidnapped Americans, bombed several important sites here on the mainland, and actually destroyed a US Naval ship of the line [the Cole], all with very little reprisal from America. President Bill Clinton declared, "If, as it now appears, this was an act of terrorism, it was a despicable and cowardly act. We will find out who was responsible and hold them accountable." The world laughed to hear us bluster. Guards on the USS Cole were not allowed to fire on the bomb boat as it approached because our rules of engagement at that time did not allow us to protect ourselves. Like simple minded fools, we continued to provide aide and support to the countries which were attacking us, probably buying the very supplies used to kill our citizens. America had become a country who talked loudly and apparently had no stick.

That gradual escalation without adequate deterrent, reprisal, non-verbal response from America was directly responsible for 9/11. In countries where the level of civilization requires that one not only show one’s stick but use it frequently, America’s propensity for civilized conversation made us a laughingstock, a butt for jokes, and a natural target. We would turn the other cheek? Very well, they said, all the better for us. Hit ‘em again.

Another factor was a group of liberal apologists who took the line that America was at fault for all the injuries done us, and loudly bewailed the wrongs that America did the world by being rich and exporting its culture, many of whom were at the same time making BIG BUCKS exporting that very culture in movies and music. They supported the victim mentality and justified the actions against innocent Americans, whose money has been going to all these countries in aid and support for generations. Of course, their actions made them popular overseas, and richer.

When President Bush stood up and said: “If you aren’t for us, you’re against us. If you are a terrorist, or a terrorist supporter, if you are a country, or a country’s ruler, or a banker, or a contributor, giving aid or support to a terrorist, we’re coming after you,” and then promptly did exactly that, and continued to do exactly that, he produced a situation of unparalleled safety in this country, for the people in this country.

The terrorists saw America’s fleet steaming toward the coast of Morocco again. They heard “Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead!” and they have seen the proof of it. In spite of everything the treasonous, traitorous power brokers could do to pull President Bush from the path of safety for this country, he has remained steadfast, and for that reason, there have been no more bombings, no more easy access, no more careless arrogance and disrespect for stupid Americans.

Is it enough? Barely. Could it be better? Yes. The Democrats who are so concerned with their power could start working for those who elected them, and stop with their death-dealing spinning. We are in a life and death struggle for survival. Power and who wins the next election is a minor point, when the issue of whether or not you can sleep peacefully in your bed without fear of fusion bombs or biowarfare is totally real and out there. Close the borders; export the illegal aliens; allow legals in to work; let the Democrats know for once and for all that we are a nation of laws equally for everybody, and that American citizens are first to be protected before non-citizens who desire to take advantage of American benefits – that would maybe keep some potential bombers/invaders out, and certainly some criminals like the cop-killers in California we’ve been reading about!

As long as President Bush’s war effort keeps them on the run over there, we’re safer here. That’s the object, and he’s accomplishing it, against heavy odds and Democratic opposition.

So how do we rate President Bush’s conduct of the war on terrorism? Primo! Outstanding. Right up there with Teddy Roosevelt. Beats everybody else.

Do we think he’s doing a great job? YES.

Do we care what the rest of the world, including terrorist supporters, think about his performance? NO.

And that’s our Bush performance poll in the Real World, my friends.