Bush Refuses Lame Duck Moniker

I know President Bush has done some great things for America during his presidential tenure. I am certain history is going to be a lot nicer to him than the present is being. We have seen President Bush capitulate on a number of things important to republicans, even while acting courageously (in the political sense) on things like Judicial appointments, Bolton appointment, and the war on terror.

I never thought President Bush would capitulate to his 2000 election rival.

President Bush is poised to change course and announce as early as this week that he wants Congress to pass a bill to combat global warming, and will lay out principles for what that should include.

I understand the reasoning which dictates passage of some sort of Global Warming legislationto stave off more stringent legislation after the elections. Democrats are likely to strengthen their control in both houses this cycle and the resultant muddle on all of the controversial topics is going to be fierce.  However, I don’t believe the ploy will work. The fierce debate which is going to take place to define the contents of such legislation puts the White House in a bad situation. For the first time, President Bush is going to recognize the need for some sort of initiative and then have his staff and supporters in congress work to limit the scope and impact of the initiative. It is oxymoronic. You cannot play into the global warming game by sticking your toe into the water.

It is one thing to propose legislation to strengthen the clean air act or one of the myriad existing environmental initiaitives. But what the White House just did is lend credence to the wild global warming is doom hand-wringing party engaged in by the left.

President Bush seems to be working hard to enhance the potential of having a positive legacy. He is working hard to not be seen as a lame duck president. Usually, this means working hard for the policies of your own party - not pandering to the drivel of the leftist nutters.