Evaluating Bush's first speech
Gary J. Caruso
Capitol Comments
This writer gives "Dubya" a B grade on his first address to Congress. I almost fell into the trap of expecting so little, then becoming so surprised at his performance that I blindly awarded a grade above its merit. Instead, I stuck to the rigorous academic standards embodied in the Notre Dame classroom.
Overall, Bush's performance was one of balance, embodied most when he said, "An artist using statistics as a brush could paint two very different pictures of our country. One would have warning signs: increasing layoffs, rising energy prices, too many failing schools, persistent poverty, the stubborn vestiges of racism. Another picture would be full of blessings: a balanced budget, big surpluses, a military that is second to none, a country at peace with its neighbors, technology that is revolutionizing the world and our greatest strength, concerned citizens who care for our country and for each other."
Yet the speech was full of irony, beginning with the fact that none of the five Supreme Court justices who voted for Bush attended. For Democrats, the irony included the thought that only a set of unusual circumstances paved the way for Bush to become president. They included mimicking Bill Clinton's brilliant political strategies while exploiting his pathetic personal weaknesses.
Democrats found irony in Bush's campaign to return civility to Washington when it had existed between the political parties for decades in Congress until Republican Newt Gingrich began his nuclear combat. It is easy now for Bush when his party controls the White House and both houses of Congress. One should expect many accomplishments since Democrats do not engage in Gingrich's mortal combat.
Democrats on the House floor sighed when Bush said, "Let us agree to bridge old divides. But let us also agree that our good will must be dedicated to great goals. Bipartisanship is more than minding our manners. It is doing our duty."
Many chuckled in the House chamber when the President said, "Together, we are changing the tone of our nation's capitol. And this spirit of respect and cooperation is vital — because in the end, we'll be judged by what we are able to accomplish."
This week, Bush's success lies in a technique perfected by President Clinton, what former Clinton strategist Jack Morris calls "triangulation." Triangulation occurs when a politician uses his opponents' issues along with his own issues to place himself somewhere outside of both parties. Thus the three points, or triangle, on the political scale.
While some see it as stealing the other party's thunder, it is good politics. Bush cannot fail for simply co-opting the other party's thoughts and beliefs. Triangulation is the loophole of political persuasion.
Early in his speech, Bush spoke of many traditional Democratic issues such as prescription drug coverage, a patient's bill of rights, Social Security and Medicare. Later he mentioned traditional Republican beliefs such as ending the inheritance tax and support of faith-based initiatives. Bush played to both sides when he referred to religious organizations by saying, "Government should welcome these groups to apply for funds, not discriminate against them. Government cannot be replaced by charities or volunteers. Government should not fund religious activities."
Bush chastised Congress, implying that he was on neither side when he said, "Year after year in Washington, budget debates seem to come down to an old, tired argument: on one side, those who want more government, regardless of the cost; on the other, those who want less government, regardless of the need."
But with last year's Republican controlled Congress stuffing all the pork in last year's budget, Democrats shook their heads when Bush said, "Last year, government spending shot up 8 percent. That's far more than our economy grew, far more than personal income grew and far more than the rate of inflation."
Democrats see Bush as triangulating on the budget by proposing a 4 percent increase this year. His desire to increase military spending and to resurrect the so-called "Star Wars" missile defense program seem to skew the surplus numbers when added to his massive tax cut. When the details are presented in April, we will finally see how his budget puzzle fits together.
But for now Bush successfully triangulated the tax cut proposals by saying, "Some say my tax plan is too big, others say it is too small. I respectfully disagree. This plan is just right." Some believe that Bush will ultimately accept a smaller tax cut but call it a victory if he can fit his other priorities into the equation.
Thinking back to late 1999 when Bush used focus groups to formulate his tax cut in anticipation of Steve Forbes and his flat tax proposal, Democrats also laughed when Bush said, "I didn't throw darts at a board to come up with a number for tax relief. I did not take a poll or develop an arbitrary formula that might sound good. I looked at problems in the tax code and calculated the cost to fix them."
Yeah, right, and Oprah is the Queen of England!
Gary J. Caruso, Notre Dame '73, served in President Clinton's administration as a Congressional and public affairs director. His column appears every other Friday, and his Internet address is Hottline@aol.com.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, March 2, 2001
