By Jay D. Homnick on 5.10.07 @ 12:06AM
Fair-weathered friends and sunshine patriots are beginning to jump ship.
Two millennia ago, the Mishna (Avot 2:3) taught, "Rabbi Gamliel,
son of Rabbi Judah the Prince, said: Be wary of the politicians,
for they only act close to a person for their own needs. They
appear to be friends only when it is to their benefit but they do
not stand up for a person when he is under pressure." Gamliel came
from a political family; he knew whereof he spoke.
Speaking of political families, President Bush is experiencing
that phenomenon right now. Suddenly there is a spate of
resignations and retirements of key administration staffers. The
Number Twos and Threes in major agencies are evacuating, overnight
rediscovering the importance of spending time with their kids. Nor
is there a long line of qualified applicants panting to fill the
vacancies. Working in this administration at this point in time is
about as sought after as bubonic plague. All the eager beaver
go-get-'em conservatives are showing themselves to be, in Tom
Paine's phrase, fair-weather friends and sunshine patriots.
Old Washington hands will tell you something like this happens
in the penultimate year of every two-term Presidency. The Seven
Year Itch on one hand and a desire for some real scratch on the
other. Tired of long hours and short tempers, overworked,
underpaid, overwhelmed and underappreciated. Make a joke in an
e-mail and next thing you know you're kissing Schumer's ring at
some stupid hearing. Time to get out into the private sector where
a fella can write a memo without getting a subpoena.
Well, true enough, but if an administration is seen as
successful overall, even if it has dragged for a few months, like
Reagan after Iran-contra, you still get a pile of resumes on the
Chief of Staff's desk every time he announces an opening. Hungry
youngsters hoping to get a leg up, lifer government guys who would
always rather be in than out (read David Gergen), and has-been
semi-retirees who prefer eating pizza pie in a West Wing office to
humble pie at home with wifey (read David Gergen). This time folks
are staying away because they think it is a sinking ship.
Which is sad, because the Bush presidency is not sinking,
although it is foundering. The perception is that Iraq is the
problem, but in historical terms Iraq may still be seen as this
administration's greatest achievement. The intermediate years, the
occupation years, are always hectic and enervating. But if a
workable government remains after we leave Iraq, history will view
our incursion as a net victory, even a critical victory. Add a good
economy to the credit side of the ledger and the main minus of
eight years will be the gas prices -- and the impassioning of
Democrats.
Now is a time for loyalty. All hands on deck. One for all and
all for one. No "I" in team. Prudence, patience, fortitude. Think
back to Ben Hecht during WWII, working with the Irgun to save Jews
from the Holocaust and help Israel in ways deemed too incendiary by
polite company. Once he attended a Hollywood party and was left
standing alone, shunned by the in-crowd. Ferenc Molnar, the
Hungarian playwright, spotted him and crossed the room to greet
him. He bowed to kiss Hecht's hand theatrically and said, "Thank
you for all you are doing." Which side of that room would you
rather be identified with?
President Bush, from his side, is unstintingly loyal. He sticks
with his people through thick and thin. Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales is the most recent member of his team to be the target of
very vocal criticism, including from the occasional weak-kneed
Republican, but the Prez stands behind him like a rock. This
conduct on his part actually transcends the typical pol described
in the Mishna. He walks the extra mile for his people; it would be
nice to see some walking the walk on their side too.
Even if self-interest is the order of the day, it behooves the
forward-looking wonk to display outward fealty and stay on the job.
The next potential employer, say Fred Thompson, will not be charmed
by the tough guy who got going when the going got tough. So if
loyalty to the other, loyalty to the boss, loyalty to the team is
not enough, how about loyalty to the prospect of future
employment?
The fact remains that although there is a great deal of
discomfiture associated with the present condition of the
administration, including the bane of low poll numbers, it may well
be remembered for its good economy and courage in fighting
terrorism. And history will treat kindly those whose word was their
bond... not those who bail.
topics:
Hollywood, Iraq, Iran, Israel
