American Republic Online

It isn’t even noon yet, but I’ve already had my fill today of leftists preaching to me that Obama is our President-elect and I need to galvanize behind him instead of complaining. While I respect the idea of supporting our next President, I have to wonder where that attitude has been for the past eight years. The same liberals chastising me for expressing what I feel is justifiable discontent less than 12 hours after my candidate lost are the same ones who have spent the better part of the last decade blaming our current President for everything from the housing crisis to rain on a summer day. Now that their “Messiah” is set to assume the Oval Office, it is suddenly time for all Americans, regardless of political leanings, to coalesce behind their leader? I’m not buying into the hypocrisy.

The 2008 Presidential candidates (including McCain, but especially Obama) also owe Bush an apology. Far too much time was spent dragging the man’s name through the mud in an effort to appeal to the public’s disenchantment and garner votes. Bush has made plenty of mistakes as President, but he has also done a lot of good for which he has gone largely uncredited. He has kept us safe since 9/11 and rid the world of a lot of terrorist threats. While spending has often been reckless under his administration, we were actually headed the right direction with our budget deficit until Democrats took over Congress two years ago. I don’t agree with every decision Bush has made, but I certainly don’t agree with the idea of blaming him for every perceived injustice and imperfection in this country.

Unlike Obama, I’ve never heard Bush whine, complain, or try to silence anyone who has had something negative to say about him. Despite his flaws, he is a class guy who understands that fierce criticism comes with the job.

In the words of Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy, “That’s all I’ve got to say; makes me wanna puke.”