It was Thursday, November 2, 2000; a mere five days before the most hotly contested presidential election in our nation's history. With only a few days left in the campaign and debates a distant memory, George W. Bush circled his wagons around two or three ringing promises. While his Boeing 757 dubbed "Responsibility One", remained parked outside the white-walled Sun Country Airlines hangar located in Minnesotas Twin City airport in a torrent of rain and ominous lightening, he spoke to the 6,000-strong that crowded enthusiastically inside. And he promised: " I will work with Republicans and Democrats to get the people's business done, to rid Washington of its bitterness and set a new, constructive tone." He continued on, I will also swear to uphold the honesty and integrity of the office to which I've been elected, so help me God." It was part of a three pronged message hed carry with him to victory: he will cut taxes, nurture Congressional unity, and return honesty and integrity to the Oval Office. It has been five and half years. My simple question to the 6,000-strong who cheered wildly that stormy day in Minnesota and the rest of America is a slight variation of what was originally a question that the irascible New York Mayor, Ed Koch, asked of himself after years on the job: So hows he doin? And I suppose if you believe one out of three is good enough, youd say he doin just fine. |
