Polls, Politics and Real Leadership
29 September 2006There are many and varied people who disagree with George Bush’s approach to national security and the war with Islamic fascism. Some of those disagreements are serious and principled. But the DNC’s strategy in the mid-term election is not.
Whatever you think of Bush’s management of the war, no one honestly argues that he throws his finger in the wind to see what is popular. For good or for ill, Bush leads from principle. You may disagree with his principles but you cannot honestly argue that his positions are unprincipled.
The Democrats, on the other hand, think that polls are the way to lead. Or at least they think that polls show the way to electoral success. Today’s Opinion Journal quotes from a memo sent to Democrats:
A memo sent out to Democrats last week by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, a strategy group led by former Clinton pollster Stan Greenberg, discusses Mr. Bush’s “failure in Iraq, which energized Democrats and dispirited Republicans.” It urges Democrats: “On Iraq, stress Bush/GOP ‘mismanagement’ and need for a ‘new direction.’ “
The article goes on to say:
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner says it has polled each element of this strategy, and that the poll numbers suggest public support for these Democratic positions. A poll-certified national-security strategy just might work with the out-of-sorts 2006 electorate. But there was a reason for 2002 and 2004. Those Democrats who did get elected channeled their energies into denouncing the Bush anti terror programs and backing the Lamont Insurrection. So there’s a problem with the current hand-the-war-to-us strategy: Their hearts and minds really aren’t in it. They don’t want the war.
Precisely!
The Democrats don’t believe in the war. Indeed, if Move On.org is any indicator, the Democrats don’t believe in national security at all. One could be excused for thinking they don’t even believe in the founding principles of this country. Yet all we hear from Democrats across the land is that they are better suited to prosecute the war and to defend this country!
The last thing this or any country needs is leadership by poll. Bill Clinton was infamous for polling every decision before he made it. That is not leadership. There is a reason we have a republic rather than a democracy. We entrust our leaders with the authority to make important decisions unhindered by the whims of public opinion. It doesn’t always work that way, but that is the idea. When leaders only make decisions based on polls they aren’t leading and we may as well have a direct democracy.
As the recent NIE demonstrates, the American public doesn’t have, indeed can never have, the information necessary to make decisions regarding war and terrorism. While the Democrats never tire or demagoguing the NIE, that is, we don’t know its contents and we shouldn’t. And without such information how can we possibly make rational decisions about what is the right course? We cannot and neither can Congressional Democrats. But then, rational decisions aren’t what they’re after. Winning in November is paramount, above all else.
To be sure, Republicans also holding winning in November to be paramount. But as I’ve said many times before, they are not nearly so prone to mangle to truth to achieve their goals. Certainly there are exceptions but they remain exceptions. Democrats, on the other hand, poll every course they might take to see which will bring them the most popularity. Which ever course wins is their choice. No thought is given to where the poll winner is actually good for this country, good for the war, good for our troops. The only consideration is whether is helps achieve victory.
That is not leadership and it isn’t what America needs. We need leaders and right now, Bush has demonstrated a proven ability to lead.
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Tags: Elections, Ethics, George Bush, Islamofacism, Leadership, Liberals, Middle East, Politicians, Politics, WarRelated Posts
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