Second-guessing the president
By Staff
March 23, 2003
This week's columns from syndicated writers all over the country were not exactly what we had in mind. As the country went to war and American soldiers, sailors and marines put their lives on the line many columnists indulged themselves in back-seat driving.
Second-guessing.
Back-biting.
Diversity of opinion is a wonderful thing and we're all for it. The First Amendment and freedom of the press are wonderful things, and we're all for them, too, and we're all for people saying what they think in the pages of newspapers.
But, it seems this week, on balance, that there wasn't much balance. Where were the opinion writers who support the president's decision? Surely there are more of them. Or, is it true what the critics say? That the national news media have become predominantly liberal?
Here's the thing.
Columnists don't have to make the tough decisions. They don't lie awake at night wondering if they did the right thing. They don't have to live inside their own skins knowing that their decisions will probably cost U.S. military personnel their lives.
That's what presidents do.
If this week's crop of opinion is any indication, finding fault has become a reflex for many columnists. There were very few editorialists out there this week who voiced unqualified support for President Bush. Even the ones who supported him overall reserved for themselves little corners of "woulda-coulda-shoulda."
In this, they were not alone.
Lots of politicians were standing in front of microphones beating their chests as well. Or worse yet, feigning concern and shaking their heads sadly while laying on the condescension and conveniently forgetting what they said earlier in the year. Some Democrats even appear to be looking toward the next election already, and analyzing what the potential fallout for Bush could be if the war does not go well.
Although, there seems to be little chance of that if the mass surrenders of Iraqi soldiers are any measure of progress.
Whether or not you agree with President Bush's decision to bomb Baghdad and other targets in Iraq, and send in ground forces, it's done now. The time for second-guessing the president is over.
Now, it's time to pray.
