Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Bush's awkward goodbye
By Chuck Lippstreu
Daily Nebraskan (U. Nebraska)
01/29/2008

(U-WIRE) LINCOLN, Neb. — Everyone could see the raincloud over George W. Bush's head during last night's State of the Union address.

Sure, he went through every bit of pomp and circumstance that these things demand. He put on a suit, walked to the "rostrum" (his word, not mine) and defended his legacy as best as a man in his unenviable situation could.

We even saw some of the fire that rocketed him to victory in election after unlikely election over the years. Bush managed to maintain his trademark "my way or the highway" style, for example, in threatening veto after veto should the Democratic Congress not cut earmark spending.

He made some strong policy-specific demands to lower taxes. He touted the recent bipartisan decision to hand out free money, and he managed to take a cute little shot at Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whom he roundly despises.

But frequent references to, and defenses of, his past policy made most of the speech feel like an awkward cross between heartfelt farewell and "Hey, I tried, don't blame me," apology.

Bush defended the No Child Left Behind Act, one of the most controversial and utopian pieces of legislation ever concocted, as a major reform for which he should be remembered.

He lamented the fact that his fantastically conservative nominees to the judiciary are being "unfairly" stalled in Congress. But he focused just as much on his legacy, emphasizing that he has always "submitted judicial nominees who will rule by the letter of the law."

The president invoked 9/11 not so much as a call to action, as in past years; he spoke of the war on terror in a more philosophical tone, seemingly as a reminder to America that he has had a lasting impact on terrorism. He wants everyone to remember, on Inauguration Day in 2009, that we're actively "spreading the hope of freedom" as a legacy of George W. Bush.

The president wants to be remembered for all of these things and more. This is not historically unprecedented for an American president, nor is it unusual to human nature.

But everyone knew Monday that Bush's time in the spotlight has passed. As he wrapped up his address with a call to the "confidence in freedom's power and trust in the people" - a summary statement of the neoliberal policy that has shaped his administration - it was impossible not to think of the people who have already wrested American politics from this president's arms with a year left in his tenure.

Sen. Teddy Kennedy and Rep. Patrick Kennedy made more political waves at American University on Monday morning than Bush could have done with a three-day State of the Union speech.

Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, whose ongoing feud has spelled an incredible and dramatic rift in the Democratic Party, will likely take back every headline from the president by Wednesday morning.

Perhaps most telling of all, Sen. John McCain skipped Bush's final State of the Union address to campaign as a front-runner in Florida for a nomination that should have been McCain's eight years ago.

George W. Bush had one of the most riveting presidencies the world has seen, for better or for worse, but his time in has come to an end.

His political capital is squandered. His approval rating continues to hover just above 30 percent. He faces a hostile Congress for the last few months he'll enjoy in office.

The 2008 State of the Union address was a heartfelt goodbye from one of the most polarizing individuals America will ever see.

The next episode in history begins one week from today.

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