Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
Login | What's Hot
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Ross Mackenzie :: Townhall.com Columnist
Before Osama, and after
by Ross Mackenzie
Forward Print Share Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
 
Poll
Will the Dems' health care Christmas Present to America be an improvement or detriment to our health care system?


Sept. 11 changed a great deal, maybe everything. A review of the preceeding weeks - a time away - discloses these happenings.... Internationally: Yasser Arafat lacking either the ability or the will to rein in Palestinian terror against the Israeli citizenry. Mexico's Vicente Fox demanding amnesty for Mexicans illegally in the United States - a viscerally alien notion. The Bush administration failing - that's failing - to oppose China's missile build-up and underground nuclear testing. China belatedly acknowledges an AIDS epidemic there. Continuing chaos in Colombia, Zimbabwe, Macedonia, Northern Ireland; Argentina financially spiraling down. The racism conference that found racism where it isn't and no racism where it flourishes. Longtime Communist Daniel Ortega, declaring himself scrubbed and reborn, seeking Nicaragua's presidency. Russia, where hard life has pushed male life expectancy down to 59, celebrating (Aug. 19) a decade without Communism. Nationally: The left hammering the president on defense, anti-missiles, Vieques (how about moving those necessary exercises to Camp Lejeune?), global warming, arctic drilling, the surplus, tax cuts, stem cells, Social Security, and all manner of money matters. Gary Condit is re-examining his political future. Phil Gramm and Jesse Helms out; Janet Reno and Liddy Dole announcing; Al Sharpton going for the presidential gold. The Fed cutting the federal funds rate another quarter-point (the rate now having dropped three points since January). The surplus dwindling and the stock market stumbling. The kids back in school with the young ladies exhibiting still more skin (yet another argument for school uniforms). SAT scores drifting generally sideways or south. Deer and bears in the 'burbs. Westvaco getting together with Mead, Hewlett-Packard with Compaq. The feds seemingly relenting on Microsoft. Barry Bonds stashing them in the seats. All this occurred prior to the Sept. 11 enormities that changed so much. They did not change how three all-knowing Washington Post columnists view President Bush. Mary McGrory said he "flunked" his first test after the assaults. Tom Shales said the president "appeared on television early in the crisis but proved ineffectual, neither reassuring nor forceful enough." And David Broder said that in not returning immediately to Washington, the president was searching out a "hideaway ... from his own nerves." But in Congress a lot will be different. None of the appropriations bills for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 has emerged from conference committee; neither house has even taken up the bills on education and defense. Prior to 9/11, newly hard-money Democrats were blaming Bush's $1.35 trillion tax cut - predicting "monumental" battles with the White House over education, the budget, an anti-missile system, and defense. On the Sunday prior to the Tuesday assaults, the newly hard-money Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, who hungers to succeed Bush, said darkly: "We're going to have a great deal of difficulty avoiding a train wreck." Yet now the train wreck seems unlikely to happen. As Osama et al. have created a new civility and oneness across the land, so they may have forced a new spirit of true bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.
Share:
Forward Print Single Page
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author

Ross Mackenzie lives with his wife and Labrador retriever in the woods west of Richmond, Virginia. They have two grown sons, both Naval officers.

Be the first to read Ross Mackenzie's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

Join The Debate!

Post Your Comment
(0 comments so Far)
View in ascending order     View in descending order
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
 *
State:
 *
Zip:
 *
Phone:
       
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.