OUT OF SKEW

Breaking Ranks

By Contributing Writer, 10-28-05

By Tracie Sullivan

Just this last week President George (Dubya) Bush received a 38 percent approval rating from the country while still enjoying 63 percent popularity in Utah. Wow! That’s a big--almost 100 percent--difference.

So what does Utah like about this president? Is it how he touts a strong belief in God and Christian principles? Is it respect for his seeming ability to stand by his convictions even in the face of mass disapproval? Or is it they are partial to his good ‘ol boy demeanor that is suggestive of many Utahns?

Maybe the polls are higher here because the President recently finished giving a speech to a large number of his Utah constituents. Perhaps it’s that Utah is overwhelmingly Republican and no matter what, most of them are not going to challenge a Republican president. It could just be a combination of the above. Whatever it is, it’s obvious Utah loves Dubya.

I can’t say I blame them. He’s a likeable guy. I even like the whole cowboy image he portrays--complete with a Texas ranch, cowboy boots and southern drawl. Unfortunately, knowing how to saddle a horse or throw a few bales of hay around does not mean he knows how to run the United States of America. Although I know many may differ with me, I don‘t think anyone watching President Bush can deny something is wrong in Washington.

Before I go any further or someone accuses me of being just another “liberal Bush basher,� you should know I am a registered Republican and a vast right-wing conservative. And until recently, I have been one of President Bush’s biggest supporters. Not anymore. Regardless of my party affiliation I can’t, in good conscience, support this man any longer.

I’m not quite sure why Utah has chosen to stand beside him either. It’s clear President Bush has no loyalty to the people who elected him the first time nor put him back in the White House the second time, including Utahns. While I’ve always respected him for his ability to stand by his convictions, this is ridiculous. There are times when standing by our convictions transforms into pure stubbornness and this is one of those times. When the majority of his own party is separating themselves from him, it’s time President Bush reevaluates.

He needs to consider his own party and how his decisions are affecting them today and in the future. We are looking at an election one year from now that if held today, the Democrats would steal. Why? Because of Bush’s blunders.

In watching President Bush the last while, I have wondered whether he is trying to sabotage his own party. If not, why has he chosen to take a backseat in Iraq, run up an $8,000,000,000,000 (those zeroes spell trillion) deficit, completely ignore what’s happening to the economy, remain silent about escalating gas prices and finally, nominate a woman to the Supreme Court who no one knows and has never been a judge (her withdrawal doesn't mitigate the ridiculousness of his choice). Oh, and never mind talking about Hurricane Katrina, everyone knows what happened there. What a mess!

As for the economy and the high price of gas. I don’t even know if he understands what’s happening, let alone how to fix it. The fact is, Americans are not better off today than they were when he took office. I hate to admit that. I don’t like Clinton and giving him any credit at all just makes me cringe. But, in this case, the truth hurts. My financial status was more secure in 1999 then it is now and the cost of living then was less than today. If someone can prove me wrong, then please feel free. But for now, my checkbook says I don’t have near as much money as I did then (and I was making less money--go figure).

The deficit is also one of my biggest concerns. As I see it going higher and higher I often think of the quote, “A government big enough to give you everything you need, is a government big enough to take everything you have.� President Bush is supposedly a conservative--well, fiscally conservative he is not. He continues to talk about bringing down the deficit, but his talk remains talk.

I could continue forever on my soapbox, going on about broken campaign promises, environmental issues, Social Security, the Patriot Act and so on. I guess the underlying issue is this: Are we better off today than we were five years ago and is this President doing anything to improve the quality of life we know and love in this country? Moreover, does he care? I don’t think he does. So my fellow Utahns, the next poll you answer, take a good hard look at this President before saying “Yes, I approve.�

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