As President George W. Bush prepares to leave office a review of his
eight years as the Nation's chief executive is in order. While the end
of his presidency has been overshadowed by economic problems and angry
calls from the left about various aspects of the war against radical
Islam, Bush did have some success which should be recognized.
Bush's greatest success in office came when he remained faithful to his
principles-namely, his belief in the sanctity of human life. When, in
2001, the issue of scientific research on embryonic life came to the
forefront, Bush wisely held the line on Federal funding for the
destruction of human embryos not already in use, in spite of calls from
many that he was "anti-science." Six years later he vetoed the Stem
Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would have permitted public
financing of human embryonic stem cell research.
When vacancies appeared on the Supreme Court Bush was able to find
nominees who were highly qualified and who respected the Constitution,
as written, to be the law of the land. Chief Justice John J. Roberts,
Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito have proven to be sound scholars, as
well as serious and thoughtful Justices who respect the limits placed
upon their branch of government by the Constitution. In other words,
they have not tried to legislate ideologically from the bench nor
attempt some sort of social or cultural engineering through the law.
One other success stands out. Bush frequently and consistently
supported faith-based non-profits and voluntary organizations within
American society. He recognized that they role they play in local
communities, at the State and national levels forms part of the bedrock
of America. This is a theme as old as the country itself, but after the
secularist assault on faith in the 20th Century, many of these groups
struggled. Now more people recognize the services and resources these
organizations contribute to those in need and, especially in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, how valuable they are.