The Presidency Isn't a Popularity Contest

Recently a topic of discussion by the media has been how low President Bush's approval rating is, coming to a low of 19% and how he is "the worst president ever." Even though the approval rating is true, I find there to a misinterpretation of what the President should do.

The Presidency is not a popularity contest. Sometimes Presidents have to make tough and unpopular decisions, it's part of the job. And it seems these presidents have acquired these numbers in the most trying times, when a lack of such decisions could have proved to be the most costly.

An recent example of this is during the worst of the insurgency in Iraq. In that time President Bush most likely could have become more popular if he decided to withdraw. With worldwide protests decrying America, a Congress that was doing quite the same, and a situation in Iraq that was even depressing conservatives, it would have been easy to withdraw, but where would that have left us? I'll tell you. It would have left a completely failed state from which Al Qaeda could launch attacks from, a civil war, and a region deeply damaged due to such actions.


Instead we stayed, the surge was enacted, and we have agreed on a Status of Forces Agreement that will allow the Iraqis to have a chance at a real future worth looking forward to. In my opinion, it has been worth it. We have taken action that will change how the Middle East fundamentally operates and although it will not be an easy task it will be well worth it.

I believe President Bush will be judged well by history. It may well be years and years down the road, but as far as foreign policy is concerned, I feel, as with other presidents, that his legacy will be a good one. We'll have to wait and see if President-elect Obama will be able to make the same tough choices to keep us safe.