Honoring Former Republican Presidents

I began the celebration of Presidents’ Day with a satire on the War on Christmas, with a few shots at George Bush’s expense. One thing we must remember with our criticism of George Bush is that these are not purely partisan disputes. Bush’s disregard for the Constitution, and his undermining of our national security with his foreign policy blunders, are problems which transcend political parties

It would be a simple matter on a Democratic blog to argue that previous Democratic Presidents have been preferable. It is more meaningful in showing how George W. Bush has disgraced the office by comparing him to previous Republicans. Of course if we go too far back in time, to Presidents such as Abraham Lincoln or Theodore Roosevelt, we are faced with the problem than such men would definitely not be Republicans today.

There are lessons to learn from more recent Republican Presidents. At his father's funeral, Ron Reagan, Jr. pointed out the difference between Ronald Reagan and George Bush when he said, "Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man. But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians, wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage.” George W. Bush' s own father, while generally a mediocre President, had warnings about regime change in Iraq which should have been considered.

Although never elected President, former GOP candidate Barry Goldwater is also worth comparing to current Republicans. Goldwater had no love for the religious right, and even called himself a liberal in his latter years in protest over the direction the Republican Party was taking. Goldwater was also instrumental in getting Richard Nixon to step down. There are finally some Republicans speaking out against Bush's violations of the Constitution, and hopefully we will find a modern Barry Goldwater to fulfill this role.

Of recent Republicans, perhaps the most pertinent message for today came from Dwight David Eisenhower:

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.