TIME's Man of the Year

And the winner is...........................President Bush! This is the obvious choice for so many reasons. TIME explains their reasons as:

For sharpening the debate until the choices bled, for reframing reality to match his design, for gambling his fortunes and ours on his faith in the power of leadership, George W. Bush is TIME's 2004 Person of the Year.

These are definitely good reasons, however here are three reasons why I believe President Bush deserves "Man of the Year":

1.) The momentous event of his reelection. Considering the level of hatred and vitriol that was stacked against him throughout the campaign, and the fact that he carried Republicans down the ticket with him to victory, increasing GOP majorities in both the House and Senate, President Bush's reelection was a truly momentous event. Not to mention the fact he received the most votes of any presidential candidate in history and he was the first candidate to receive a majority of the popular vote since his father's victory in '88.

2.) His perseverance in Iraq. Despite all the doom and gloom that was put forth by his opposition and those in the media who cover him, President Bush has never wavered in his approach to Iraq. Strictly rebuking those who have called for us to cut and run immediately or prepare to exit gradually, President Bush has reiterated time and time again that we are going to stay the course, no matter how tough that course may be, and achieve victory in Iraq.

3.) His courage and moral certainty. President Bush went into Iraq because he believed it was the right thing to do, fully aware that he was gambling his presidency and his legacy. This courage is something few presidents have or ever will possess. And as we have hit rough spots along the way, we have never relented. President Bush has focused on the big picture, that the only way to defeat terrorism in the long run is to recultivate the ground that terrorism finds fertile. To remove terrorism from the culture of the middle east, you need to spread freedom and democracy there, taking away forever the hopelessness and poverty that currently exists throughout the region.

To believe and to stick with these principles takes true leadership, and a strong sense of conviction. There is no doubt that President Bush possesses both these, and for this he deserves not only "Man of the Year", but a place in history with all the great American presidents and leaders.