Friday, November 8, 2002
Bush passes up a chance to gloat
Nov. 8, 2002 Orange County Register Editorial
The most striking thing about President Bush's press conference yesterday was his insistence, in response to several questions, that the candidates who won elections on Tuesday did so because they were good people who worked hard and earned the trust of the people, not because the president of the United States hopped into their state for a few hours and lent them his coattails.
Whether this came from the heart or was a tactical maneuver, it is a welcome perspective. There's a strong tendency in our country, reinforced by most of the media and innumerable courtiers, to view the presidency in monarchical or even godlike terms. This Imperial Presidency is at odds with our constitutional tradition, which sees the president as responsible for executing laws passed by Congress, which is responsible to the people, the only source of legitimate power. Whatever his reasons for this modesty regarding the surprising election results Tuesday, Mr. Bush's reminder that the president is not all-powerful is refreshing.
It would be even more welcome if Mr. Bush's personal modesty were accompanied by a concomitant modesty about the ability or mission of the United States to right every wrong and counter every evil in the world at large. This doesn't seem to be in the cards.
Mr. Bush's outward modesty may be a reflection of renewed self-confidence in the wake of Republican success. We hope he uses his new power to limit government and extend freedom. It will be interesting to see what his priorities, as revealed by his actions, are in this new era.
Me? I'm guessing it came more from the heart.
