Saturday: Hanson on Bush, Krauthammer on Clinton

From Victor Davis Hanson: On Bush stepping up

"Bush, like Truman, will have to leave his final assessment for posterity. But for a variety of historic reasons as well as his own self-interest, the president should at least take his now-unpopular case to the people, with more press conferences, public addresses, stump speeches and one-on-one interviews...

"The American people are more interested in exactly how they are going to improve things, rather than hearing each hour how our collective problems are simply the fault of one man. Searing 'Bush did it' into the public conscious won't resolve our energy, economic or foreign policy challenges.

"The truth is that America is providing unprecedented amounts of money to address the AIDs epidemic in Africa. Tax cuts brought in greater, not less total government revenue. International trade agreements created more, not fewer jobs. Security measures at home and losses suffered by terrorists abroad, in part explain the absence of a second 9/11.

"And drilling ANWR and off the coasts of building more nuclear power plants, refineries and clean coal plants---if Congress would only approve---could provide a short-term mitigation of energy prices until we reach a new generation of clean-burning and renewable fuels.

"George W. Bush could learn from "give 'em hell" Harry. A disliked Truman never went silent into the night, but defended his record until the very end---and was ultimately rewarded for it."

From Charles Krauthammer: On Hillary stepping down

"The lightness in Hillary's step just before Indiana and North Carolina reflected the relief of the veteran politician who, after months of treading water, finally finds the right campaign strategy. But it was far too late. And the gas-tax overkill, one final of modulation, sealed the deal---for Obama.

"There's only one remaining chapter in this fascinating spectacle: negotiating the terms of Hillary's surrender. After which we will have six months of her stumping the country for Obama, denying with utter conviction Republican charges that he is the out-of -touch, latte-sipping elitist she warned Democrats against so urgently in the last, late leg of her doomed campaign."