Wall Street Journal | May 17, 2008
Peggy Noonann is right: the GOP is in serious trouble. But Ms. Noonan seems to think that Republicans could have saved themselves (and their party) by breaking with the administration sometime between Bush’s second inaugural address in 2005 and the midterm elections in 2006. This timeline is ill-judged.
While some maintain that the magnitude of the administration’s failures did not come to light until after Mr. Bush was reelected, there is no disputing that these failures were the direct result of decisions made, budgets implemented, and wars started during the President’s first term. That those who anticipated the devastating outcome of these indiscretions turned out to be right is not a matter coincidence.
After seven and a half years of reckless leadership, America is craving prudence, accountability, and intuition. The wise Republican would have broken with the administration long before Mr. Bush renewed his four-year lease on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The pink slips are stamped, sealed, and ready to deliver. But they were filled out six years ago.
Click here to read Noonan's column.
