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Jewish World Review Jan. 8, 2001 / 13 Teves, 5761

David Limbaugh

David Limbaugh
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Reasons for optimism


http://www.jewishworldreview.com -- SOME OF YOU CRITICS have suggested a more positive approach to the column occasionally, so I'll try to oblige. But it's only fair to warn you that my positives may be your negatives.

Here are some things to be sanguine about:

  • George W. Bush is about to become president of the United States; I won't mention that another administration is leaving, as that may be interpreted as insensitive and, therefore, negative.

  • Bush is showing no signs of intimidation, and is pressing forward with his agenda. Not only is Bush unruffled by the ceaseless mantra that he has no mandate, he is considering ways to exploit rifts within the Democratic caucus in order to garner Democratic support on key issues.

  • A recent news story reported that Bush was already backing down on his proposal for school vouchers. Happily, Bush made a point of expressly denying the report, and reaffirmed his commitment to this vital component of his education proposal.

  • Democrats have been talking down Bush's modest tax-cut plan. Congressional Republicans, similarly, have been suggesting that he implement it in incremental phases. In addition, the Federal Reserve Board reduced the short-term interest rate by half a point, providing further ammunition to the "never cut taxes" crowd, who are saying that a tax cut is no longer needed to boost the economy. Despite all this opposition, Bush is standing firm on his original plan, realizing that the current economic slowdown will require a combination of monetary and fiscal stimuli. Note also that the Fed's rate reduction vindicates Bush's assessment of the declining economy.

  • Bush convened an economic forum in Austin, Texas. Unlike Clinton's eight years ago, Bush's was essentially closed to the public. This proves that Bush was genuinely seeking the ideas of the attendees rather than putting on a dog and pony show for political purposes. The participants were largely from the private sector -- a development most comforting to capitalists everywhere.

  • Bush's cabinet is loaded with executive talent, with both public and private sector experience.

  • Lawrence Lindsey, Bush's chief economic adviser-designate, is a staunch supply-sider, dedicated to equitable and growth-oriented fiscal policy. Lindsey is the antithesis of Dick Darman, the architect of Bush the elder's decision to renege on his "no new taxes" pledge. Lindsey, by the way, when serving on the Federal Reserve Board, was the prime mover in reducing the rate by half a point the last time the Federal Reserve took such action nine years ago.

  • Bush's announced appointments of John Ashcroft, Linda Chavez and Spencer Abraham, among others, demonstrate his unapologetic conservative instinct.

  • That Ashcroft will strongly influence Bush's judicial appointments is a good omen for an era of judicial restraint.

  • Democratic Congressman James Traficant voted for Republican Dennis Hastert for Speaker of the House.

  • Hillary Clinton is New York's senator, not Missouri's.

  • Bush's selection of Donald Rumsfeld as Defense Secretary is not reason for concern because Rumsfeld served in earlier administrations, but reason for rejoicing because, once again, it proves that Bush was sincere about his campaign agenda -- in this case, SDI.

  • Bush's selection of Gale Norton as Interior Secretary and Abraham as Energy Secretary shows that he will not be held hostage by environmental radicals, and that he meant business when he promised to develop a sound energy policy.

  • As soon as President Clinton signed on to the grossly irresponsible and sovereignty-forfeiting treaty establishing an international court, Bush denounced the action and pledged to oppose it.

  • Bush is already looking into dismantling Clinton's federal land grab schemes and other usurpations of congressional authority through unilateral executive orders.

  • Despite his poor showing among African-Americans, Bush will continue to reach out to them and other minorities. There may be signs of a thawing. This week, three South Side Chicago pastors joined together in a pledge to reach out to Republicans denouncing "the monarchy and dictatorship style of the local Democratic machine" and announcing their respect for George Bush.

  • My friend, the immensely talented Jack Oliver, will be second in command at the RNC.

  • Clinton just revoked his executive order that barred his top aides from lobbying for five years. How is this positive, you ask? Well, just think, in about two weeks, Clinton will no longer be in a position to commit such outrages.

Now tell me: Do you feel better?



JWR contributor David Limbaugh is an attorney practicing in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and a political analyst and commentator. Send your comments to him by clicking here.

Up

01/03/01: Bush's daunting challenges
12/28/00: Ashcroft: A triumph for the rule of law
12/26/00: A tinge of revenge?
12/20/00: GOP: Breaking the race barrier
12/18/00: Civility doesn't require surrender
12/13/00: Al Gore: Innocent victimizer
12/11/00: Judicial restraint and ordered liberty
12/06/00: The four years war
12/04/00: Debunking Gore myths
11/29/00: Defending the smaller principles
11/27/00: Albert O'Gore and the little people
11/22/00: Doing 'anything to win'
11/15/00: Enough is enough, Mr. Gore
11/13/00: Al Gore: Thy country or thyself?
11/08/00: Bill and Al: Your time is up
11/06/00:The impending Bush mandate
11/01/00: Can't stop thinkin' 'bout tomorrow
10/30/00: George: Give Gore the ball back
10/25/00: Mr. Gore: A few more questions
10/23/00: It's the big government, stupid
10/18/00: Gore's down, so will he panic?
10/16/00: We're fresh out of new Al Gores
10/11/00: Gore: Fuzzy math = dirty politics
10/10/00:Gore: Renaissance man or unbalanced?
10/04/00: Where have you been, Albert Jr.?
10/02/00: Clinton’s fragmented presidency
09/27/00: Liberal media doth protest too much
09/25/00: AlGore: Turning dreams into nightmares
09/20/00: Something fishy's going on
09/18/00: It's the liberalism, stupid
09/13/00: An open letter to open-minded cynics
09/11/00: The virtues of going negative
09/06/00: On a mission for marriage
09/04/00: Al Gore's 'Trivial Pursuits'
08/30/00: Lieberman and the paradox of liberal 'tolerance'
08/28/00: A campaign divided against itself
08/23/00: Al Gore's trickle-down populism
08/21/00: Prosperity without a clue
08/16/00: AlGore can run but he can't hide
08/14/00: When hate speech is OK
08/09/00: Bush: The pundits' enigma
08/07/00: GOP convention: Live or Memorex?
08/02/00: The first attack dog
07/31/00: The Cheney taint?
07/26/00: The anti-gun bogeyman
07/24/00: The raging culture war
07/19/00: Is Hillary 'Good for the Jews'?
07/17/00: How dare you, George?
07/12/00: Jacoby's raw deal
07/10/00: The perplexities of liberalism
07/05/00: Big Al and big oil
07/03/00: Partial-birth and total death
06/28/00: Some questions for you, Mr. Gore
06/26/00: Supreme Court assaults religious freedom
06/21/00: Waco: We are the jury
06/19/00: "Outrage" just doesn't quite cut it anymore!
06/14/00: Al Gore: Government's best friend
06/12/00: Say goodbye to medical privacy
06/07/00: Elian: Whose hands were tied?
06/05/00: Who, which, what is the real Al Gore?
06/01/00: Legacy-building idea for Clinton
05/30/00: Clinton: Above the law or not?
05/24/00: Not so fast, Hillary
05/22/00: Gore's risky, fear-mongering schemes
05/17/00: Can Bush risk pro-choice running mate?
05/15/00: Right to privacy, Clinton-style
05/10/00: Patrick Kennedy and his suit-happy fiddlers
05/08/00: Don't shoot Eddie Eagle
05/03/00: Congress caves to Clinton, again?
05/01/00: The resurrection of outrage
04/28/00: A picture of Bill Clinton's America
04/19/00: President Clinton: Teaching children responsibility
04/17/00: Elian, Marx and parental rights
04/12/00: Elian, freedom deserve a hearing
04/10/00:The fraying of America
04/05/00: Noonan: End Clintonism now
04/03/00: Bush: On going for the gold
03/29/00: Phantasma-Gore-ia
03/27/00: Treaties, triggers, tobacco and tyrants
03/22/00: Media to Bush: Go left, young man
03/20/00: Stop the insanity
03/15/00: OK Al Gore: Let's go negative
03/13/00: Deifying of the center
03/08/00: The media, the establishment and the people
03/01/00: McCain's coalition-busting daggers in GOP's heart
02/28/00: Bush's silver lining in McMichigan
02/24/00: A conservative firewall, after all
02/22/00: Bush or four more of Clinton-Gore?
02/16/00: Substance trumps process
02/14/00: The campaign finance reform mirage
02/09/00: President McCain: End of the GOP as we know it?
02/07/00: From New Hampshire to South Carolina
02/02/00: SDI must fly
01/31/00: Veep gores Bradley
01/26/00: The issues gap
01/24/00: GOP: Exit, stage left
01/20/00: Nationalizing congressional elections
01/18/00: Do voters really prefer straight talk?
01/12/00: Media's McCain efforts may backfire
01/10/00: Conservative racism myth
01/05/00: Just one more year of Clintonian politics
01/03/00: McMedia?
12/27/99: Al Gore: Bullish on government
12/22/99: Bradley's full-court press
12/20/99: Bush: Rendering unto Caesar
12/15/99: Beltway media bias
12/13/99: White House ambulance chasing
12/08/99: Clinton's labor pains
12/06/99:The lust for power
12/01/99: In defense of liberty
11/29/99: Are Republicans obsolete?
11/24/99: Say you're sorry, Mr. President
11/22/99: Architects of victory
11/17/99: Trump's tax on freedom
11/15/99: GOP caves again
11/10/99: Triangulation and 'The Third Way'
11/08/99: Sticks and stones
11/03/99: Keyes vs. media lapdogs
11/01/99: Signs of the times
10/27/99: The false charge of isolationism
10/25/99: A matter of freedom
10/20/99: Clinton's mini-meltdown
10/18/99: Senate GOP shows statesmanship
10/13/99: Senate must reject nuclear treaty
10/11/99: Bush bites feeding hand
10/06/99: Jesse accidentally opens door for Pat
10/04/99: Clinton and his media enablers
09/29/99: Reagan: Big-tent conservatism
09/27/99: The Clinton/Gore taint?
09/22/99: Have gun (tragedy), will travel
09/20/99: Hillary's blunders and bloopers
09/15/99: GOP must remain conservative
09/13/99:Time for Bush to take charge, please
09/10/99: Bush's education plan: Dubya confounds again
09/07/99: Pat, savior or spoiler?
09/02/99: Character doesn't matter?
08/30/99: Should we judge?
08/25/99: Dubyah's drug question: Not a hill to die on
08/23/99: Should Dubyah start buying soap ... for all that mud?
08/16/99: 'W' stands for 'winner'
08/11/99: The truth about tax cuts
08/09/99: Hillary: Threading the needle
08/04/99: What would you do?
08/02/99: No appeasement for China
07/30/99: Hate Crimes Bill: Cynical Symbolism
07/26/99: It’s the 'moderates', stupid
07/21/99: JFK Jr. and Diana: the pain of privilege
07/19/99: Smith, Bush and the GOP
07/14/99: GOP must be a party of ideas
07/12/99: Gore's gender gap
07/08/99: Clinton’s faustian bargain: our justice
07/06/99: The key to Bush's $36 million
06/30/99: Gore: a soda in every fountain
06/28/99: 'Sacred wall' or religious barrier?
06/23/99: GOP must lead in foreign policy
06/21/99: Crumbs of compassion
06/16/99: Compassionate conservatism: face-lift or body transplant?
06/10/99: Victory in Kosovo? Now What?

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