He was never the candidate I supported, or the president I would have chosen; I think he’s gotten a raw deal and that he’ll be treated much better by history than he was by the media, but there are many legitimate criticisms that will remain. Some of those are policy disagreements, matters of liberals and conservatives having different ideas, but many of them aren’t, especially as regards his management style and personnel judgment.Nevertheless, I thank George W. Bush for his eight years of service as our president, just as I thank Barack Obama for now taking up that heavy burden—and just as I will thank him when the time comes for him to lay it down in turn. I disagreed with much that President Bush did; I fully expect to disagree with far, far more that President Obama does; but just because they do not serve in the way I would prefer does not mean I’m not grateful for their willingness to serve. Indeed, barring actual corruption, if you have to agree with everything a politician does in order to be grateful for their service, if you can only honor politicians who think the way you do and support the policies you want, then there’s something wrong with you. I mean that in complete sincerity.This is now something conservatives need to bear in mind. We’ve dealt with eight years of “He’s not my president” and similarly dishonorable talk from liberals; for the sake of the Republic and the health of our own souls, we cannot afford to return ill for ill. Just because we didn’t get what we want doesn’t mean we have the right to declare Barack Obama “not our president,” or to belittle him, or spread lies about him, or treat him with contempt, or dismiss him as unworthy, or run down his character, or any of the other things we’ve watched liberals do to George W. Bush for the last two terms. He is our president—Lord willing, the only one we’re going to have for the next four years—and for the good of our country, we need to support him as best we can. Not only would it be sick and wrong for conservatives to be as evil to him (or anywhere close) as his supporters were to President Bush, it’s a luxury we can’t afford. We need to be better than that. My prayer is that we will continue to be.HT for the picture: Benjamin P. Glaser
