Bush Needs to Drive an Agenda that Will Help in the 2008 Election

The primaries are little more than a month away. It is sad to see that in order to win, Republicans seem to feel a need to run away from your administration's record. In spite of the fact that I support many of your actions, your failure to take a stand on securing the border first before entertaining any talk of earned citizenship and guest workers, your failure to hold the line on costs when Republicans were in control of Congress, and your failure to continually sell the Iraq War have left the party in trouble. Fortunately, the Democrats seem committed to running against anything Bush, and they have not yet realized that you are not running. They are defined by what they are against, not by what they are for.

I remain optimistic because of the quality of our candidates, their leadership experience and their ability to communicate effectively. I think any of the front runners will do well against Obama or Clinton. The front runners are not tainted by coming out of Washington. They can effectively support some of your policies without supporting you. We are on the right side of the issue on the war against terrorism, the economy, taxes and immigration. I think we will win the day, but it will take work.

You can help by pushing for continued progress in Iraq. The surge has worked. It's time for the Iraqi government to do their part in showing progress. Over 50% of Americans are now seeing the progress whether the Democrats admit it or not. Keep it up.

As to your Israeli-Palestinian Peace initiative, it was wise to bring them together and to put the emphasis on a deadline for an agreement before 2008. But there is serious doubt that the Arabs will give anything in return for Israel's concessions. You've been to Israel. You realize how vulnerable giving up the Golan Heights would be. You've seen how giving back Gaza has only resulted in more rocket attacks. Don't pressure Israel to sell it's soul for a peace document that means nothing. Every president wants to leave a legacy by bringing peace to the Middle East, but Israel is the only party that is expected to give up land that they won because they were attacked. They didn't take the land; the Arabs lost it through their aggressive actions. Israel's existence is too important to risk. Move carefully in the coming months.

In Conservative Support,

Terry L. Paulson, PhD