An alcoholic is a weak man. Bush turned to God for the strength to overcome his alcoholism, but it takes more than the grace to be a teetotaller to transform from a weak man to solid one. It takes years of prayerful introspection for a man to know himself and truly grow up.

But Bush is a man of action, and not contemplation. He is a competitive, ambitious, driven to equal or surpass his father and brother. He never ran for office in order to change policy as Reagan did with principles burned into his heart and soul. He ran to feel good about himself, that he was an achiever and not a weakling or a loser (like Clinton in that).

After all, why did any of us vote for Bush the first time, if you can remember back in 2000? It wasn't his rhetoric, his conservative principles, or savvy. He just seemed a better choice than Gore, and maybe a tad more conservative than McCain. And he was likable. Probably the most important aspect to most people.

Anyway, I despise Bush's (lack of) leadership. He's okay as a fellow, but I think he's as bad as Carter was when I think of all the harm he had done which was entirely voluntary on his part, and not forced upon him by events. He truly captained a rudderless ship and never fought for anything worthwhile with passion or courage.

I supported the war in Iraq as a get in, get out and leave them to their own desserts proposition. I knew that democracy is impossible for tribal, clannish peoples such as most Muslims are. Bush really thought, like a fool, that culture doesn't matter.

But of course, people who seek higher and higher office tend to be ambitious, weak, and unknowing of themselves and so much else.