A Leader with Clout

A Leader with Clout
by Robert Yoho

Should Texas Gov. George W. Bush become the next President of the United States then the country would once again have a leader with some international clout.

Although it is actually possible to be loyal without being a lackey, Vice President Gore does not seem to see the difference. That blindness became apparent on February 12, 1999. Following the two articles of impeachment passed by the House of Representatives, Gore and Clinton appeared together on the White House lawn. Gore introduced Clinton, embraced the man, and called him "one of our greatest presidents."

If the vice president truly believes that Clinton is one of our greatest presidents, then we should question Gore's sanity. If he was just saying it to appear loyal, then we should question Gore's integrity and judgment. Gore is much too smart to recognize that Clinton will not be regarded by history as anything other than a small man who benefited from a big economy.

America is desperately in need of a man in the White House who will show some real leadership in America and abroad.

Many Republicans are saying that the Clinton-Gore administration has no energy policy. That is certainly not the case. They do have a policy. And that policy will make the United States totally dependent on foreign oil. Thanks to the militant environmentalists who are infesting the upper echelons of this administration, America is no longer able to explore, drill, and pump some of our best sources of domestic oil. Now there is talk about a fabricated shortage of home heating oil and an impending energy crisis.

Clinton responded by releasing 30 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves. That is roughly equivalent to the amount of oil America would use in a day and a half. Thirty-six hours of oil will not make any significant difference in the nation's supply of heating oil or the price for a gallon of gas. It was simply a move to benefit Hillary and Al Gore, and thereby improve their standing with New England voters.

This craven example of politics over principle does nothing to help the situation. However, it does much to place our nation at risk. These stockpiles are there to ensure that our country can adequately protect itself should the free flow of oil become interrupted. The reserves are also available to fuel our economy during a very real crisis.

Saddam Hussein could see the release of these reserves as a sign of weakness and be encouraged to act. With Clinton desperate for a legacy and Gore desperate for election, a hostile move by Hussein might be just the "October Surprise" that the administration has in mind.

In 1991, former President Bush drove Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait and protected Saudi Arabia from an eventual invasion by the Iraqis. For his bold action and the complicated coalition of Arab states required to successfully pull it off, George Bush gained the respect of the world. To this day, among the Arab leaders and other members of OPEC, the name "Bush" still carries some weight.

If George W. Bush becomes president, then there is no question that some of that respect would be accorded to the son. The Arab people respect strength and they respect those who will keep their word.

The office of President of the United States, once respected and often feared around the world, has become a source of derision during the Clinton administration. Look at the past eight years. In the Oval Office, we have had a man getting a "lewinsky" from an intern while on the phone discussing foreign policy with members of Congress. We have seen our president bomb and kill innocent people in order to distract the public from his high crimes and low behavior. And all of these things happened just down the hall from the Vice President's office.

Thinking that America is nothing more than a land of reprobates, the Arab states now have some evidence to buttress their charges. None of them want to sit down in peace talks or trade negotiations with a man who does not keep his word. Clinton has already betrayed the people who elected him, so why should they believe that he would keep his word to them? Further, it is unlikely that they will gain any great trust for Al Gore, the self-professed inventor of the internet and the inspiration for Erich Segal's Love Story.

The real intellectual lightweight in this race is the man who constantly wants to lie and/or exaggerate about his actual accomplishments. Bill Bradley was right about one thing. If you cannot believe what Gore says to you in a campaign, how can you believe he'll tell you the truth as president?

America needs a man who understands the oil business and what it takes to supply our nation with energy. We need a man who can command the respect of his friends and demand the respect of his enemies in a dangerous and often unstable world. Moreover, our country needs a leader with some real clout in our highest elective office. And it is obvious that America will not get that from Al Gore.