The Perfect President: George W. Clinton?

 by George Shadroui  

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Neither George W. Bush nor William Jefferson Clinton had the complete package of character, guts and political aptitude to effectively govern in perilous times and to secure his own standing in history.

Years ago, when we were still agile and young enough to take sports seriously, my brother and I used to kid each other that together we might have made a great athlete.
 
He had more size, strength and speed. I had quickness, hand-eye coordination and a gift for thriving under pressure. Alas, without each other's gifts, we were condemned to being no more than weekend warriors.
 
This thought occurred to me as I have watched George W. Bush get pummeled not only by the left, but increasingly by the right. Some of the criticism is justified, some of it not, but it occurred to me nevertheless that – like Clinton before him – Bush is a man of great gifts, but also significant flaws that have led to many of his political problems. If we could combine the two men, we actually might have a great president — George W. Clinton.
 
Hear me out.
 
George W. has the toughness to launch the war on terror. But Clinton would have been smart enough to be cautious where Iraq was concerned. He would not have risked his legacy without having a fully developed plan for winning and getting out.
 
George W. goes it alone when necessary, but Clinton would have been shrewd enough to know how to endear himself to allies and thereby win their support.
 
George W. would have been candid and direct. Clinton would have known how to be obscure when the situation called for it.
 
George W. would be humble in many instances, but Clinton would know when to seize an opportunity to demonstrate great leadership — say when Katrina hit and the nation looked to the President (as they did on 9/11) to continue to lead dynamically.
 
George W. would applaud our military and intelligence agencies because he admires them. Clinton would have held them accountable by listening to dissenting voices, thus ensuring our strategies were based on sound thinking and knowledge.
 
George W. would have said the heck with polls, but Clinton would know when to temper that attitude, understanding that poll ratings help win political support, which helps drive effective policy.
 
George W. has the character to honor his office and his wife by not trying to seduce every woman who walks into the Oval office. Clinton, on the other hand, would have known how to seduce political adversaries and win their support.
 
George W. would make some great speeches. Clinton would have held more effective press conferences.
 
George W. would inspire the nation with his faith. Clinton would inspire it with his political aptitude.
 
George W. would have stumped for his conservative agenda, but Clinton would have tried to control spending if only for the sake of his own legacy.
 
George W. would refuse to compromise on key principles, but Clinton would know that to adapt and even compromise is sometimes the key to getting things done.
 
In short, if either man had some of the gifts of the other, they might well have led this nation with great skill and ability. Alas, neither man had the complete package of character, guts and political aptitude to effectively govern in perilous times and to secure his own standing in history.
 
Bush has one hope. He could still right the ship — if he could conjure up some of the political gifts of his predecessor while not squandering his strong values and sense of self.

Politics: General

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