European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday november 9,1992 l commentary the stars and stripes Page 13 Bush Concession As grotesque As Campaign i had a Friend who once remarked that he took so seriously the marriage vow he disliked and even disapproved of Friendly divorces. Quot if they separate it ought to be because they simply cannot Bear each others that observation came to mind tues Day night during George Bush a congratulatory speech. He had spent the better part of three months denouncing Bill Clinton As a draft dodger As a liar As an inexperienced Yuppie and an ideological menace. Now he was congratulating him on his Victory. But he was doing really something More. When he referred to the a a majesty of democracy he seemed to be saying that democracy does the right thing. But How can doing the wrong thing be the same As doing the right thing one sighs because Bush does no to pay much attention to these distinctions. There is no question left about what democracy wanted on tuesday. One thine it wanted emphatically which was to oust Bush from the William f. Buckley White House. There were reasons for doing this extrinsic to his reign As president other reasons traceable to his reign. The pollsters seemed to agree that if unemployment had been 2 Points lower and the rate of growth in the Gross National product 2 Points higher Bush would have won. But nobody can say with authority that these two objectives might have been Bush a for the asking. Ask any roomful of economists How Bush might single hand edly have accomplished the two economic goals and glossolalia will overcome you. A recent discovery no two economists agree with each other to that extent then Bush was the victim of the business Cycle which respect eth not its victims regardless of race color Creed or sexual inclination. On the personal Point Bush did not succeed in Inspirit ing his followers let alone in increasing their number. What was his decisive mistake he said in Houston at the National convention that he was not Given to eloquence that for him eloquence consisted of action. But he did not in the Days since Houston engage in any action other than verbal action at which admittedly he is inexpert. He did not take action against genocide in Yugoslavia starvation in Somalia or the creeping Balkans nation of Russia. He did no to pronounce a realistic basis for measuring capital gains nor assert authority to exercise a line item veto. What he did do most persistently was to attack the qualifications of Clinton to be president of the United states. Now As pointed out before in this space to do this was an infinitely provocative act. By the time Bush began to postulate the disqualifications of Clinton about one half of the american voting Public had plighted its troth to Clinton. One really does no to enjoy lectures about How the lady to whom one is betrothed is a a misfit b dangerous and c a whore. Its of to say about her that the engagement should be aborted because she is not going to make a Good wife Given her interest in matters other than the welfare of the family. That much is expected. But not the kind of thing Bush said about Clinton whom he addressed As half Clown half child molester. In speaking As he did about Clinton in my judgment Bush augmented Clinton a vote. Those who had declared themselves As ardent Clinton ians reiterated their vows More fervently. Others who had been Mere spectators judged the ferocity of the attack on Clinton quite simply undeserved and their penchant for fair play aroused protective instincts. And so there he was congratulating Clinton. How do you parse such a congratulation Quot i want to congratulate or. Clinton on his extraordinary skill in disguising his Lack of patriotism his inexperience his wretched Job As governor of Arkansas and his indifference to family. Values sufficiently to seduce the majority of the american people into voting for Bush was engaging in a formality. The whole thing was sad a grotesque even. C Universal press Syndicate Quot off Yew Mai Mthr w it Mommy a pus mess Quot i r i n Many in gop weren t sorry to see Bush lose with reporters on Campaign beats covering the reception of returns in Houston and Little Rock Ark and with the new York times Washington editors up in new York putting together the election Issue a on election night the times Bureau in Washington was like a morgue. Seeking human political Contact at a historic moment i walked one Block East to watch the returns in the office of Lane Kirkland of the Al Cio. We differ on economics agree on foreign affairs but in this election we were curiously aligned Kirkland was a Democrat supporting Bill Clinton i was a Republican opposing George Bush. Labors Leader is an understanding soul. As the returns came in neither he nor his other guests gave loud hoots of happiness at the Clinton vie tory. He tolerated my Small whoop at the victories of Sens. Alfonse m. Do Amato of new York and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania As one who had known 12 Lon years in the presidential wilderness he respected the feelings of a Republican watching his Side lose a and even More troubling who had voted against his Side i imagine a great Many people on the right feel As i do not triumphant by any Means but not sorry to see the Bush people go. Twelve years is a Long time for any group to be in Power and this Bunch was beginning to turn republicanism do not buy the democratic line about years of greed and jingoism by and Large the �?T80s were years of Prosperity and global Success. But not lately. The first term with Ronald Reagan in charge found greatness in stopping inflation and yes a winning the cold but the second Reagan Bush term with its dreamy morning in America theme lost its Fervour the third term with Bush presiding lost its sense of direction. We re not Happy about the Clinton plurality though Bob Dole the new Republican top dog in Washington must be secretly delighted. Instead we have a sense that the White House had become occupied by occupants. The excuse for single term Hood is that the Economy did no to recover in time. But that a just part of it. Strategically the Bush entourage missed history a boat in the soviet Union and China was engulfed by error in the persian Gulf and not until the last minute tried to make the Case for a coherent conservative Domestic policy. Tactically in the Campaign the tardy James a. Baker Iii botched the convention by romancing the hard right. Then he blew the debate negotiations preferring to appease Ross Perot and use him As a Buffer a rather than freeze the billionaire out and Deal directly with the president s democratic challenger. That a Why some of us crossed Over and Why the Reagan democrats went Home or waltzed off to Gold plated protest. And it explains the curious Lack of a letdown in watching the president concede our letdown had come months or years before. With both the White House and Congress in the hands of the democrats what now for the ideological Quot i a 3 i t William Safire homeless conservatives have to do More than oppose grumble View with alarm and drag a foot. We will lie Down and bleed awhile. We will Retreat to the think tank mountains and oped marshes to Cook up a new old philosophy that exalts individual Freedom and National strength and Public rectitude. With the advantage of being in opposition we will build a new movement that can stick together without the glue of anti communism. If the Clinton ians Advance Prosperity at Home and human rights abroad Well learn from them if they fall out Over the spoils of office or revert to budget busting redistributive Type Well hold them accountable. But wait each new administration is entitled to a honeymoon period a a time to plan a transition appoint the new team present detailed legislation persuade the people to support their different approach. The Clinton administration deserves no less. Pause of that a it a the honeymoon is Over. The a a Victory Quot speeches by Clinton and a1 Gore were Long winded and inappropriately contentious and revealed a pair of stump Loving politicians unwilling or unable to shift from campaigning to governing. If these bozos Good irreverent figure of speech cannot get it together soon the Revivi fied right will be Back before you know it. C the new York times the opinions a Prter de in the columns end cartoon on this 090 rep. Re these of the Sthore end Ere a no Wey to a considered is representing the views of the store end stripes or the United steles govern mint
