Sunday, May 21, 2006 | 7:39 a.m.
This JOA deal is turning out better than I thought!
When we agreed to move the delivery of the Las Vegas Sun to the morning along with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, I knew I was going to acquire over 150,000 subscribers more than we used to have with the afternoon Sun. I knew people from all around this state would, once again, have access to the wisdom and responsible journalism that has been the Sun's hallmark for more than half a century.
But never did I think that the Sun's circulation would reach deep into the George W. Bush White House. How could I? From most accounts, the president didn't even read newspapers and, even if he did, why would he want to read the Sun which, let's put it mildly, has been somewhat critical of his decision-making ability since shortly after he took office over five years ago.
Well, I was wrong. I must be wrong because there is no way that President Bush could have given his speech to the nation the other night about the immigration problem without referring to one of my recent Where I Stand columns. That's because his address to the people was almost a verbatim recitation of that column, and I am long past the point in my life where I believe in such coincidences.
Actually, I am puffing just a bit. Not that the president wouldn't find my columns very interesting and informative - I know I do - but I don't believe he would take the time from his very busy schedule to care what a newspaper editor in Las Vegas thinks. Yet another significant difference between this president and his predecessor.
I have not had the opportunity to publicly grade the president's speech about immigration and his principles for a comprehensive solution to the border enforcement, work status and citizenship process that is appropriate for this country to move forward along with the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the United States.
Admittedly, I am an easy grader but I gave President Bush an "A." By the way, that is his first "A" from me. It was driven in part by the fact that I would be a fool to not reward a high grade to a president of the United States who agrees with everything I wrote. It is like giving myself an "A," which could be categorized as a first, that is if you count college and law school!
The other reason, beyond the substance of his words, was the reaction by most of the nation's press the following day. Headlines with words like "middle ground" seemed to dominate. And stories that reported the president's move toward the middle of American political thought as a responsible way to meet the challenges of the illegal immigration question all seemed to point to a new chapter in the president's administration.
Phrases like "compassionate conservative" and "bipartisanship" jumped back into my head as I quietly commended President Bush for not only agreeing with me but also showing rational and responsible leadership at a time and for an issue that requires exactly that. I was hoping that not only did his rhetoric change but so, too, did his vision about how to lead this country toward greatness.
For sure, there has to be more to a president's change of heart than just his words. Deeds go a long way also. His call for more beds for illegals caught in the act of well, being illegal, is somewhat disingenuous since he has had the ability to get more beds for a while now and hasn't spent the money to do so. More Border Patrol agents have also been approved by Congress with, so far, the administration failing to build up to the new quotas allowed.
But all that is in the past. This is a new president with a new vision for just how things must be done in a country with close to 300 million people and at least that many opinions about how things should be done. The job ain't easy.
But, for now, I welcome my president to the great middle of American political life with every good wish that he remain there until he fixes all those things his stubborn refusal to pay attention to before have caused him to break.
And, if it will help him any, I will be glad to write overtime with more good ideas. Now that I know he reads my column, that is.
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