In Meet the Fockers, Robert De Niro"s character tells Gaylord what he thinks is most important in a man"s life: his legacy. In many ways, he aptly describes the psychology of a second term president. Having reached the pinnacle of governmental authority, the focus is no longer on winning further political victory. The goal of a president"s second term is to ensure that his victories have meant something. George W. Bush is now realizing that he has done nothing to make this so.
Bush is a popular, if embattled president. Many people have found many things to like about him as a leader and a man. But without his propagandists and yes-men, without his simple rhetoric and down-home familiarity, what will the Bush presidency be remembered for in 50 years? It seems that W. is beginning to ask himself the same thing.
His father is remembered for many snafus. 'Read my lips' and vomiting on a foreign head of state come quickly to mind. But he did manage to liberate Kuwait. And though Clinton did nearly as much as possible to squander his legacy in his second term, he presided over a robust economy and is remembered for his shrewd foreign and domestic policy.
The current president has not yet secured such a legacy, and he knows it.
Having won a second term, George W. Bush is searching frantically for something to redeem his presidency in the eyes of history. The Iraq invasion, though it led to the removal of Saddam from power, is now widely recognized as more of a mistake than an accomplishment. The economy, despite what the administration has begged us to believe, has seen much better days. And his most recent election has come to symbolize the fragmentation of United States culture--not political unification during uncertain times. If President Bush wants to avoid being one of the forgotten--or worse, one of the disdained--presidents, he will have to step his game up and get on the historical scoreboard.
He seems to know this. Why else would he insist on holding elections in a country where politicians cannot even publicize their own names for fear of death by insurgency? If a vote takes place in Iraq, and is even marginally successful, Bush will be able to tout his invasion as a true liberation--rather than the quagmire it is now. 'Iraq"s first democratic election,' will sound good next to his name in books. He doesn"t mind that an election now would be absurdly premature.
Bush has also chosen this moment to highlight the so-called 'crisis' in Social Security that other analysts describe in far less fatalistic terms. Of course, there is a problem with the system that needs to be addressed. But by exaggerating the extent and severity of the problem, Bush is increasing the amount of points he can score for his legacy if he 'fixes' it. Being the president who solved such an infamous crisis could very well catapult him to the same league as Clinton and his father.
These last ditch attempts at legacy building are understandable. It looks like Bush will not be remembered as the education president, which seemed to be his focus for a while. Nor will his 'compassionate conservatism' be taken too seriously in light of Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.
Now it is time for Bush to throw a bunch of crap against the wall of history and see what sticks. To be fair, there are genuine motives behind the desire for speedy elections in Iraq, as there are behind his Social Security zealotry.
But to hold elections now would be a dangerous form of wishful thinking, and concerns about Social Security must be kept in perspective--rather than resorting to scare tactics and panic-politics.
The desire for a legacy can be a good thing. It motivates us to achieve. But Bush"s attempts to secure a place in history are forced and awkward. It is fine for him to try to be the best president and man he can be. Still, we must evaluate whether America--and Iraq--can afford his second term, 11th hour shots at greatness. And he must decide how much a legacy is worth.
David Kleban is a Trinity sophomore. His column appears every other Tuesday.
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