How do we define the presidency of George W. Bush? Many have dubbed his presidency a disaster. And by extension have viewed him as a failure. One of the worst presidents ever! Are they right? Time will tell. In one sense the moniker Disaster President fits the 43 president.

George W. Bush’s Presidency has been defined by disasters. Less than one year after he became president NINE ELEVEN occurred. This was a terrible disaster that cost us millions of dollars and thousands of our citizens. It demanded action. Bush acted swiftly and defiantly. He created the department of Homeland Security, and mounted a two-pronged war against the “Axis of Evil”. This was a bold move; his presidency was decisive and courageous. As a result we have not been hit again, did not go into economic distress when Manhattan was destroyed, and are well on the way to a peaceful Iraq.

George Bush’s presidency ended with disaster. The economic downturn destroyed major financial powers such as Lehman Brothers. We are now in a recession. Once again Bush took decivisive action. He boldly enacted a stimulus package that although very controversial seems to have at least stemmed the tide, and thus far prevented a total meltdown. Small government conservatives are aghast at this bailout. He could  have just sat on the sidelines and ran out the clock on his presidency. But Bush understood that something had to be done. Whether it is the right thing will take time to accurately judge.

Yes in some ways the moniker fits, Bush’s presidency was marked by disasters. But instead of a fumbling bumbling dolt, he acted couragouesly often taking the hard road and going against his own party. Is he a disaster? Or has he had the unfortunate luck of beign at the helm during a times of major disasters? He will be remembered by how well he handled these disasters? For that to occur some time must past for Bush the disaster president to be renamed Bush the heroic president!

The President is like a Security Guard.

It has been seven (7) wonderful years since this nation suffered a terror attack. May God bless us with many, many more, as we continue to battle the forces of evil that have terrorized not only the West, but the whole world. We have been –for lack of a better word—lucky. Terrorists have bombed London, Madrid, Israel. Religious zealots have destroyed churches in India and Pakistan. The world is rife with ethno-political conflict in areas such as Darfur, the West Bank, Tibet, and Indonesia. Yet the United States –that one nation that for many is the very symbol of evil in that we espouse both Christianity and Capitalism—has been safe and secure.

I believe that much of the credit for this must be given to President George Bush. Despite sagging poll numbers and a faltering economy, heightened by attacks from our liberal/progressive/neo-socialist friends, he has maintained an effective policy of offense and defense. Many are now (reluctantly) admitting that the War on Terror—the offensive, two-pronged attack on terrorists-- is working. Iraq is much safer than it was, and the terrorists’ safe-havens have been reduced.

Yet not as many people seem to be recognizing the defensive successes marked by the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and the passing of the (much maligned) Patriot Act.  I believe I have some insight that may be helpful.

For more than two years I worked as a security guard, monitoring a parking garage in a downtown city. I worked the morning shift, and often when I clocked out at 2 P.M., nothing of note had happened. Since I had a Master’s degree and -- to use a Biden phrase --“was bright and articulate”, many wondered why I was working at this low level job. Unlike other vocations, the security guard usually does not have a long list of accomplishments that he can boast about. The work is often low tech, and requires seemingly minimal skills, namely being alert and aware of surroundings and noticing anything unusual.

Often security guards are seen as bottom feeders in the world economy. They are often depicted in media as lazy, incompetent louts who are barely able to walk. Even the much despised day-laborer has more esteem, for they are seen as providing a vital job with sweat and grunts. But the security guard it seems rarely sweats. He merely sits on his chair, or patrols his beat with little exerted energy. At a pay rate barely above minimum wage the hapless security guard is seen as a barely employable person. Some wonder why they are even on the payroll.

A good security guard is usually not able to advertize his success. Everyone is painfully aware of what happens when the guard is not around, or is asleep; cars get vandalized, and property gets destroyed. But if none of that happens then who gets the credit. Was it luck that your new car was not keyed by the teenage thugs who destroyed the cars in the lot next door that was unguarded? Did the security guard keep the bad people at bay? It is hard to know for sure. The fact is that he was there, and on his watch nothing happened; coincidence or planning?

Thus the same is true of the President’s defensive job of securing our nations’ borders from terror. Has he, as our media friends insist, just been lucky? Is it merely a coincidence that nothing has happened? Is George Bush a barely-competent security guard that after an initial attack has merely walked his beat, seemingly accomplishing little?

I say NO. ThePresident, like a security guard, is put in the unenviable task of defining success not on accomplishments but on the lack of disaster. He has to quantify the unquantifiable. How do we know that without him as President, we would be just as safe—or perhaps safer as some on the Left assert? The reality is that a good President, like a good security guard is a deterrent, for he sends the message to all the bad people that he is alert and aware of his mission. Historians will debate whether his predecessor Bill Clinton was as alert and aware when during his watch multiple acts of terror did occur (the first World Trade Center attack, the bombing of the USS Cole and others). But for Bush only one terrible event occurred. As a security guard he did his job. He kept –and continues to keep—us safe. That may be his biggest success.