He said he backs Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld "100 percent" and supports Rumsfeld's "modernization" of the Army that has upset so many generals. Bush said Rumsfeld, not a band of generals, is firmly running the Pentagon and that's how it should be.
Bush dismissed as cynical the charge that he hasn't asked the American people to accept sacrifices as American soldiers fight against terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere. "You know what the definition of sacrifice is for a lot of people" who question him about the lack of sacrifice? "How come you didn't raise taxes? That's what that means as far as I'm concerned . . . If we had raised taxes to create a sense of sacrifice, it would have caused even greater sacrifice because I believe raising taxes in a recession would cause the economy to get even worse."
The president said he is not isolated in the White House. "I know exactly what's in the news," he said. "I listen to a lot of people. I've got smart people around me. And they can march right in here--this Oval Office can be slightly intimidating, but I've got people here who can fight through the aura and say, 'I think you're wrong. I think you're right.'"
In the midterm election on November 7, Bush predicted Democrats won't win either the House or the Senate. "I believe these elections will come down to two things: one, firm belief that in order to win the war on terror there must be a comprehensive strategy that
recognizes this war is being fought on more than one front, and, two, the economy." Bush said the price of gasoline, which has been falling rapidly, is one of the "interesting indicators" that the press should watch carefully. "Just giving you a heads up," he added.
Fred Barnes is executive editor of THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
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