George W. Bush's House of Cards is Falling
Gary Norris Gray
11.14.05

Have you ever had this experience: Carefully stacking a deck of cards and a gust of wind blows on them as you sit by and helplessly watch them fall down?  

The second term of the George W. Bush  is a good example of this. His administration is slowly falling apart at its seams. The president's stubbornness, doggedness, and inflexibility has led to some of the following events (time and space will not permit us to list them all, but we offer you the following): 

First, the American economy has begun to stumble and spiral downward even after a slight upward movement in 2003-04.  Interests rates have escalated some four full points in the last two years and show no signs of declining anytime soon.  

Second, Congressional Republican leaders Tom DeLay and Bill Frist are presently being investigated. Evidence has been presented which indicates that they may soon be indicted for illegal transfer of funds for their 2004 campaigns and insider trading (the Martha Stewart crime).

Third, two months after Katrina, a category five Hurricane, and Rita, a category three Hurricane, hit the Southern Gulf region, including southeast Texas, South-Western, and Southern Mississippi that devastated region is still in tatters. For weeks a major part of the city of New Orleans was under water. Those who were unable to evacuate were literally held hostage by the floodwaters. The majority of the people that remained in the city were poor people. Most of the city's poor, indigent, and the disabled had to fend for themselves for almost a week. Then there was the delay and lack of response by the federal, state, and local governmental agencies. Their slow response was despicable and inhumane.

Forth, the resignation of  Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) chief Michael Brown soon after the Hurricane disaster. Mr. Brown did not have the skills or training to supervise FEMA workers in a major disaster. The insinuations of nepotism surfaced and had to be addressed by the Bush Administration. Sadly, Mr. Brown was more concerned about how his suit looked on television and getting a dog sitter then he was about the health and welfare of people in the city of New Orleans.

Fifth, the withdrawal of Supreme Court presidential nominee Harriet Miers caused fiery words from the Religious Right of the Republican Party, stating that GOP wanted a conservative constructionist nominee. Mrs. Miers was not a devoted right winger, nor was she a pro-choice advocate. This proved to be too much for Ms. Miers and President Bush.

Sixth, the President fanned the flames and started another firestorm by nominating conservative Federal Judge Samuel Alito, Jr.  The Republican Right Wing is pleased with the choice, but the Democratic Left Wing went into political convolutions.  The Left Wing will be asking Judge Alito many serious questions about his views on states' rights, faith base church and school initiatives, a woman’s right to choose, stem cell research, the new civil rights legislation, gun control, and his views on disabled rights. The Democrats have threatened to filibuster this nomination if they disagree with the response given by this nominee.  

Seventh, Democrats from the Senate and House requested a four-hour close door session last week. That had not happened in twenty-five years. Could this be a warning shot to the White House?  Is this going to be a long and contentious winter session?  

Eighth, it has been reported that the Iraqi War claimed its two thousandth, sixty-second American life and another estimated one hundred thousand Iraqis. This war is very unpopular with Americans and has been viewed as being similar to the Vietnam War. Furthermore,  the military support of our coalition allies is decreasing because they are slowly leaving Iraq. In the midst of all of this, President Bush’s approval rating has dropped to thirty-seven per cent.

Ninth, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was sent to Washington, DC  to investigate the allegations of the recent Central Intelligence Agency  (CIA) leaks. Mr. Fitzgerald wanted to know what really happened. Mr. Fitzgerald did not get the answers he was seeking, but he  had enough and sent an indictment to Lewis “Scooter” Libby for perjury and obstruction of justice. Libby is or was the Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.  

The public outing or exposures through newspaper articles of CIA special agent Valerie Plame, wife of outspoken writer and political activist Joseph Wilson, is inexcusable. This is a complete disgrace by the governing fathers of this nation. This action posed a security risk and safety issue for all of our special agents overseas. It may also be a direct assault on democracy and free speech.  

Mr. Wilson has been very outspoken and a prolific opponent of the Bush Administration. And he has stated many times that Iraq and Saddam Hussein most likely did not have WMDs. He questioned the State of the Union Speech in 2003 with those famous sixteen words in that speech. Nobody listened or believed him then, but America is paying attention now.  

Was the outing of his wife an act of blind revenge from the office of the Vice President of the United States? Better yet, was that action orchestrated and directed by Bush’s confidants and long time friends, Carl Rove or Lewis Libby? One would think that Carl Rove would resign if he had any connection to the leak. Or, at least, Mr. Rove should apologize to the American public for his self-centered action.  

Tenth, and lastly, Vice President Cheney has requested that the United States Senate exempt the CIA from a band on the practice torture. This is not the American way and should not be incorporated into our laws. 

It appears that this president in their second term cannot get his administration on track. Most second term administrations seem to lose focus and falter in achieving their planned goals.

Many have suggested that a one-time six-year presidential term might be enough time for one person to serve in office. This could or would be a very compatible compromise. It would also eliminate the so-called second term blues and end a president's lame duck status.

All of us should be questioning the problems raised this year in the Bush Administration. America should ask this President and his Vice President if they are serving the American people or serving themselves.  

Think about this: Should both President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney be recalled or be impeached?

THAT IS THE GRAY LINE

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