Bush says Goodbye…

"I want you all to myself, you big bunny!"

Oh, you disappoint me President Bush. After all the shenanigans with starting a war, raising terror alerts, huntin’ down evil-doers dead or alive, you would think he would have one more trick up his sleeve. I truly thought that there would be some major terrorist attack before the election and President Bush would declare himself President for a “little longer.” I dreaded the election because I really thought something tragic was going to happen. Fortunately it turned out okay (so far), we just have a bit of an economic crisis. George gave up so easily, he is just coasting out of power with all the cares of a rich, retired ranch man. Why is this President unlike so many others?

Why hasn’t George Bush done what Robert Mugabe has done in Zimbabwe? Mugabe clings to power like a scared child holding on to her parent. And why hasn’t George Bush done what Vladimir Putin has done with his puppet show of a government? Putin retains his power-hold on Russia, despite having stepped down as President. Most importantly, why hasn’t George Bush done what Michael Bloomberg has done? He petitioned a council to allow him to stay governor for a third term. One of the most unpopular Presidents of all time is stepping down with relative grace. In so many other countries and even in some localities this isn’t the case.

I have always held my country’s government in the highest regard as far as its planning. There are so many checks and balances that shift power away from one body and give it to another; they compete for power. This competition acts as a check on the other’s powers. There are so many rivalries in our government that power is generally very hard to garner for any one body. That is what keeps our government flowing. George Bush doesn’t have enough support to mount such a coup d’etat. He doesn’t have the favor of people’s opinions (and they’re not afraid to express such). He doesn’t have an ally in Congress, and it seems as if even his dog is ignoring him these days. He is the most powerless guy right now because of checks and balances. It’s amazing that our country can hand over power so easily; it’s not so easy in other countries.

If the people of Zimbabwe were truly allowed to express their opinions without fear of reprisal, they would most certainly vote Robert Mugabe out of office. There has been smothering inflation, there is no work, and now there is a cholera epidemic. He has allies in his Parliament, they fear for their lives. The opposition is beat down with thug violence. This is not so in America. The President doesn’t even have the power to change laws to run for office again.

I believe the checks and balances installed hundreds of years ago when this country was born has managed to keep the flow of power moving. It is so ingrained in our society that the Constitution is sacrosanct. Politicians are rarely successful at changing it so the rules stay in place for a very long time. As I have said in past blogs, giving up power is the greatest gift you can give your country. A new path. A new direction. It is finally with appropriate aplomb that George Bush finally does something redeeming. He gives up his power and lets his country thrive.