3-Week Report Card

It's been so long since I wrote a political post, I decided it's time to re-enter the fray. I still can't believe W. got re-elected, and I've been stewing in self pity ever since. My wounds being sufficiently healed, I feel a need to vent a little.

It's been three weeks since the inauguration (only 205 weeks to go!), and it seems like a good time to issue a report card. I'll do my best to grade fairly despite the fact that I'm a yellow-bellied bleeding heart gay peace-loving liberal who's all for the destruction of the institution of marriage and a complete breakdown in the traditional values that made this country great (tongue planted firmly in cheek):

Foreign Affairs - Iraq: "B"
I have to give him credit. The big vote came off pretty well (or at least it seems to be perceived as having gone swimmingly), although the insurgency seems to be as strong as ever and it's no more clear today than it was months ago how we are ever going to extricate ourselves from the mess we're in there. But all the pictures of purple-fingered Iraqi's have to add up to at least a short-term political win for the President.

Foreign Affairs - General:  "C"
All the talk in the State of the Union speech about restoring freedom and liberty to the oppressed around the world sounded good to a few people, I'm sure. But it was so completely unrealistic and far-reaching that it could be viewed as laughable or even dangerous.

If he puts his money where his mouth is and leads a global effort to liberate the truly oppressed people and victims of genocide in Central Africa, the world will be a better place and I'll be the first to give him an "A." If, instead, he continues to alienate even our closest allies, we're in a heap of trouble and he'll fail miserably.

In an effort to be fair, I'll give him a "C" for now and wait to see which way the wind will blow.

Foreign Affairs - Axis of Evil: "F"
I'm sorry, but I can't give the guy a passing grade for dealing with the scariest threat the world faces - a nuclear-armed Iran and North Korea - when the Iranians are sabre rattling and the North Koreans are all but launching missiles. I don't care how "charming" Condi has been in her debut tour of Europe. All the tough talk about these two countries, without a unified global voice backing it up, makes for a very dangerous situation. I hope Condi and Karl and Rummy are all as smart as their supporters claim they are. Otherwise, God help us all as this nuclear threat continues to develop.

Economics: "F"
Current budget deficit: $427 billion
2005 estimated deficit in proposed budget: $390 billion
Additional cost of Iraq war not included in budget: $80 billion
10-year cost of Medicare reform passed last year: $720 billion
Transition costs for Social Security reform: $2 trillion +

As someone on the news said last night, and Democrats harped on in the election, massive tax cuts at a time of war with record budget deficits and expensive new social programs like the Medicare prescription plan add up to fiscal insanity.

With all this economic news in only the third week of the new term, it's scary to think what the state of our economy will be four years from now.

Domestic Policies: "C"
This grade will surely drop as Bush makes new court appointments and continues to support things like gay marriage ban amendments, but I'm trying to be fair. So far, the campaign for Social Security reform is all we have to judge him on (this term), and that doesn't bode well for the prospects of a higher grade. Trying to sell Social Security reform using the same "the sky is falling" scare tactics that got us into a war we can't get out of pretty much shows that nothing much has really changed.

Overall Grade: D
There ya go. Pretty good when you think about it. A "D" from a yellow-bellied bleeding heart gay peace-loving liberal who's all for the destruction of the institution of marriage and a complete breakdown in the traditional values that made this country great.

Comments

[Horton]

On "Domestic Affairs," I believe a lower grade is in order due to the less-than-stellar second term Cabinet appointments of Margaret Spelling to Education, Alberto Gonzales to Justice, and Samuel Bodman to Energy. Plus, the bungled nomination of Bernard Kerik to Homeland Security.