The Cabinet Maker

by: Jenni Vinson
January 12, 2001

It is not often that I get the opportunity to behold a piece of furniture that is two to three hundred years old, but I have been awestruck by the beauty of what I have had the privelege to see. It is amazing that anything made of wood, nails and glue could endure the passage and ravages of time.

The cabinet maker was considered to be lowly in society, as were any craftsman who worked with their hands. I can imagine the time and care that the furniture maker must have put forth in the selecting of the individual pieces of wood he would use in creating something that ended up being beautiful and useful for centuries. His care, patience and wisdom created something that immortized the work of his hands.

G.W. Bush has been labeled as lowly in our society. His opponents have stuck a stigma on the man that insists that he is stupid. We have been asked to believe that this man who graduated from Yale and then Harvard is ignorant even though he went on to be very successful as a business man. He was also elected to the Governorship of Texas- twice, which is something no other Republican had ever been able to accomplish before him.

Well, we may concede that perhaps there are other people who are smarter than G.W. Bush, but I would dare say that there are not many others who are wiser. My Huela (grandmother), a very wise woman, used to say: �Dime con quien andas y ti digo quien eres� (Tell me who you associate with and I will tell you who you are). Applying Huela�s addage, G.W. Bush has the quiet strength of character of his Vice President, Dick Cheney.

He has the military toughness of his Secretary of State, General Colin Powell. Not even Bob Dole, a war hero, was able to draw him back into service and yet General Powell is willing to serve alongside G.W. Bush.

G.W. gains the fiscal know-how of his Treasury Secretary, Paul O�Neill, who served under Presidents Ford and Bush. Carter had approached him to stay in his position under his administration as well. He has been the CEO of the extremely successful alluminum company. Alcoa. Most notedly, O�Neill is the personal advisor and friend to Federal Treasurer, Alan Greenspan. Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense bring to G.W. the military strategy that will help our country rebuilt our military and strengthen our defense in this global community that grows more and more dangerous.

At the height of the Cold War, which is supposed to over, the world had TWO superpowers (counties that have nuclear capability), the U.S. and the Soviet Union. At present date, there are SEVEN countries that have developed or purchased nuclear technology. Our country needs to meet this challenge with responsible and intelligent growth of our military- the personel and the arsenal.

And, the choice of Condeleezza Rice for National Security Advsior exemplies G.W. Bush�s intelligence, compassion and ability to draw the very best and most qualified people to work along side him.

Condeleezza Rice was born into poverty. Her parents instilled in her a sense of pride, a diligent work ethic and a love for knowledge. She received her first college degree at the age of 19. Her doctoral studies were in Cold War and Soviet and Czech militaries. She speaks Russian and it said of her that she administers with a �velvet-glove forcefullness�.

There is also Christi Todd Whitman (Enviromental Protection Agency), Robert Zoellick (U.S. Trade), Andrew H. Card (Chief of Staff), Alberto R. Gonzales (White House Counsel from San Antonio), Elaine Chao (Secretary of Labor) Ann Veneman (Agricultural Secretary), Donald L. Evans (Commerce Secretary), Tommy Thompson (Health and Human Services Secretary), Norman Mineta (Transportation Secretary), Spenser Abraham (Energy Secretary), Rod Paige (Education Secretary- from Houston), and Anthony Principi (Veterans Affairs Secretary).

This is a veritable WHO�s WHO list of the citizens from across this country who have individually managed to accomplish great feats in their given fields and are now their joining their talents and strengths for the sake of our country.

It is not important that we know which of these Cabinet members is Black, Hispanic, Asian, male or female because they were not chosen for this attribute.

G.W. Bush is taking time in patiently building a Cabinet out of straight and strong individuals. He is creating a Cabinet that will bring forth the ideas and implimentations that will benefit all of America for this generation and for many to come. This collection of Americans will work towards restoring our county�s faith in our government and towards making our government work for us and not despite us.

All in all, this Cabinet is not too shabby for a man who was greatly underestimated by his opponents.