Palaver & Blather

George W. Bush, The Dissident President

Natan Sharansky was a Soviet dissident who became an Israeli politician.  He advocates for democracy in the Arab world as the way to peace.  President Bush has read and valued his book, "The Case for Democracy,".  In National Review Online, Joel Rosenberg quotes Mr. Sharansky describing a meeting between himself and President Bush:

"I told the president, 'There is a great difference between politicians and dissidents. Politicians are focused on polls and the press. They are constantly making compromises. But dissidents focus on ideas. They have a message burning inside of them. They would stand up for their convictions no matter what the consequences.'

"I told the president, 'In spite of all the polls warning you that talking about spreading democracy in the Middle East might be a losing issue--despite all the critics and the resistance you faced--you kept talking about the importance of free societies and free elections. You kept explaining that democracy is for everybody. You kept saying that only democracy will truly pave the way to peace and security. You, Mr. President, are a dissident among the leaders of the free world.' "

Bush the Insurgent
A president who won't kowtow.
BY FRED BARNES

The scheming in Washington as President Bush prepares foris second term is easily explained. It's the insurgents versus the Washington establishment, and the insurgents are winning.

Mr. Bush finds himself in the unusual position--for a president, anyway--as leader of the insurgents. Unlike other presidents who came to Washington with bold plans, Mr. Bush has not been housebroken by establishment forces. Even Ronald Reagan made peace with Washington. Mr. Bush hasn't. He wants to impose a breathtakingly conservative agenda in his second term, one that has prompted cries of protest from establishment figures like David Gergen, aide to four presidents, and the voice of the Beltway, the Washington Post.(203)

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• #3 Comment from neddybeeEntry Author 
  12/16/04 7:23 PM | Permalink

  Yes, The article about "Bush the Insurgent" was written by Fred Barnes of Fox News.  Above that is my writing about Natan Sharansky.  ~~Neddy
• #2 Comment from hpgalactis 
  12/16/04 12:02 PM | Permalink

  I mean FNC not NC lol [Fox News Channel].
• #1 Comment from hpgalactis 
  12/16/04 12:01 PM | Permalink

  Is that the Fred Barnes from NC and an editor for the weekly standard? cuase that doesn't really sound like him.