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Presidential dynasties?
One hundredseventy five years later, history would repeat itself as George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States. His father, George H. W. Bush was the 41st president, serving from 1989 until 1993. Bill Clinton defeated the senior Bush in 1992 and would serve two terms as the nation's 42nd president. Clinton couldn't serve a third term and the younger Bush was elected in 2000. Now, Clinton's wife, Hillary R. Clinton, is seeking the Democratic nomination for president and it looks like it is her race to lose. She is almost certain to be nominated and, unless the Republicans pull a rabbit out of the hat and come up with a more viable candidate than those running, she'll likely be elected next November. Some people are certain the world will end if she is elected. I'm not so sure. Out of the multitude of unimpressive Democrats and equally unimpressive Republicans wanting to be president, she might be the best qualified for the job. I know that statement won't set well with some of my readers. Hillary is detested for a variety of reasons, some because she is a Democrat, some because she is Bill Clinton's wife and some simply because she is a woman. I chuckle at the Republicans who get so steamed at the idea of her winning the office. But they have no one to blame except George W. Bush who has made such a mess of two terms of the presidency as to push voters to the other end of the spectrum to vote for Hillary. If Hillary is elected it will be historic. She would become the first woman in history to hold the most powerful elected position in the world. She would also become the first spouse of a past president to serve. Bill Clinton did a good job as president and I think Hillary could be effective in the office. My only concern is whether or not we are setting up presidential dynasties. Do you realize if Hillary is elected and serves two terms, through 2017, we would have had a Bush or Clinton in the White House for 28 years? Is this too long, at least for a continuous period of time, for two families to control the highest office in the land? At least with John Adams and John Q. there was a 25-year gap between the father and son terms. I suppose it depends on how well an individual performs in the office. The senior Bush did a pretty good job in one term but the current Bush has been lousy across two terms. I am comforted in the idea of Hillary being president by the fact that Bill would be there to counsel her. The cartoon above of ol' Bill thinking about daughter Chelsea becoming president is supposed to be funny, by the way. Jim Cox is editor and publisher of The Clarke County Democrat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
