The United States is facing its greatest financial catastrophe in almost 80 years. With shares crashing, houses foreclosing and banks vanishing into thin air, the time for competent governance is of paramount importance.
Instead, the United States is headed by a C+ student whose only qualification seems to be running several businesses into the ground. George Bush is without a shadow of a doubt the most incompetent leader of any western democracy in modern history, and has failed in just about every aspect of his presidency. He has utterly failed to occupy the countries he has invaded, ignored the most pressing issue of our time -- global warming, allowed the country's infrastructure to collapse, run the economy into the ground and destroyed his own party from the inside.
Why is this man still president? Forget the massive crimes he has committed, his incredible incompetence trumps everything else. The world's economy is literally hanging on a thread, and the last person you would want to lead the way out of the crisis is the person who bumbled his way into it.
Bush is a lame duck president, no question about it. He has only a couple of months left, and has no serious sway with his party any more. The economic mess is something that requires new leadership, and it is of vital urgency that Bush gets out of the way.
Perhaps Bush could do one decent thing in his presidency: Resign, and walk away gracefully. His legacy can't get any worse, and he may do himself a favor by putting the country in front of his ego. His sins will not be forgiven, but he will be remembered less harshly for the abomination his presidency has represented.
If Bush walks now, the crisis won't be solved, but it will send a message to the world that America is serious again. Serious about practical, non ideological solutions to the many, many problems we face, and serious about putting itself on the right track. It would be symbolic, but the right symbol at the right time can do the world of good. Markets need calming, and people need reassurance. Bush cannot do this, and the consequences this time are far too serious to ignore. He must go, and he must go now.
Ben Cohen is the editor of www.thedailybanter.com and a contributing writer to www.espn.com and Boxing Monthly Magazine. He can be reached at thedailybanter@gmail.com