It Ought To Be A Word
It's true what he said: we misunderestimated him.
George Bush came into his presidency with a huge wave of goodwill. Not from me, but from the others. An amazing number of people who should have known better thought of him as a charming guy whose intellectual limitations would somehow be as benign as Ronald Reagan's, whose promise of a fairly passive presidency would be as survivable as Dwight Eisenhower's. So he couldn't seem to get a sentence out straight, so what? And as for his religious rigidity, that was simply his way of dealing with an alcohol problem without the sloppy conventions of AA.
He was misunderestimated in every way. It was hard to imagine that this feckless leader could do so much damage. But even as the worst emerged, he was given the benefit of the doubt because of the ongoing mysteries of his administration -- mysteries that have remained unsolved in spite of the skills of hundreds of gifted journalists who have attempted to uncover them:
- Who exactly was running the country these last eight years?
- What did the President know, if anything, and when did he know it, if ever?
- Was he capable in any way of even one sleepless night, much less the ongoing insomnia that any sentient person would suffer after so many wrong decisions and pointless deaths?
- Did he mispronounce the word "nuclear" 1) on purpose, in order to make himself seem folksy 2) because he actually thought he was pronouncing it correctly or 3) just to piss us off?
The exit appearances that Bush has made in recent weeks will be something future presidents will refer to as often as Lincoln's Second Inaugural, although for different reasons. Here's what he said:
- We did the best we could under the circumstances.
- It's not easy being President.
- It wasn't completely my fault.
- Everyone makes mistakes.
- I kept America safe, except for this one time.
- After that one time I worked really really hard almost every day and had to read a lot of stuff about foreign countries.
This is Bush's legacy -- a stunning series of alibis. This is what he will crawl off to Texas with, hoping that it will fool a publisher into giving him a substantial book advance and contributors into giving him money for a library full of pilfered papers.
On Monday, we will have to get used to a different thing entirely, a president who's in the loop, who reads history, who speaks decent English. He will rob of us of something -- of the burning anger that has sustained us the last eight years, and that will take some adjusting to. But we're up for it; after all these years in the dark, we're ready for a little overestimation. Which is, unlike misunderestimation, an actual word. But come to think of it, misunderestimation ought to be a word. I certainly know what it means.
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Don't worry. I'm sure you'll find something to complain about after Bush is gone.
A bitching sailor is a happy sailor.
yes, we will. but we will have, for a change, a competent leader who thinks and consults before he acts. for that we rejoice.
Olbermann's making a good start - he's planning to use his Monday show to encourage Obama to investigate and prosecute the Bush Administration's torturers and the people who authorized them. I've been annoyed about how partisanly pro-Obama Keith has been (including Obama-vs-Clinton, not just Obama-vs-Bush), but I'm glad to see he's not going to let Bush go gently into that good-night-and-good-luck.
it's more amazing he was allowed to continue on his path of destruction
You might ask Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi about that.
or the tens of millions of americans who reelected him. A majority of Americans no less.
we got no one to blame but ourselves.
Why does he smirk?
Why does Cheney smirk?
Bush and Cheney could not have done any of this without the complicity of others including the MSM and Congress.
Those in Congress who enabled Bush and Cheney were not just Republicans. Nor were they just Republicans and Blue-Dog Democrats.
The Bush legacy of mindless violence unleashed by uncomprehending stupidity - poor George doesn't understand what he's done, and is incapable of reflecting on his life in any meaningful way.
Dear Texas -
The First Dolt is retiring to your great state.
Please do _not_ let him out into the world unsupervised again - he is dangerous when faced with making decisions, and reacts predictably with violence and anger.
He is unable to function in a complex society and he needs intense and constant adult supervision.
George " does not play well with other children ".
He is most happy when facing a big pile of brush with a chainsaw that he has nicknamed "Buzz"....
In general, keep him away from others who might have different opinions or believe in a different God.
If he doesn't try to destroy them he at the very least makes an ugly scene.
Let him sneak a little drink from time to time - but not too much, as strong drink makes him even more abusive than normal.
And please (insert cosmic power/diety of your choice here) give us the strength to clean up his mess - we will need it.
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I heard Crawford, Texas is throwing a lynching party in the late evening of Jan. 20th of 09, I don't know if Bush is just coming to town to be a witbess to this festive occasion, or he will be the guest of honor...but I hoping he the guest of honor!
I used to believe that the POTUS personally could not do so much damage to the country. With the premise of "checks and balances" and accountability, it was impossible to imagine that a single individual could create so much havoc and damage. There is not a single sector of our economy and society that has not been negatively impacted. And the damage done to our reputation overseas is incredible. We no longer have the moral authority to comment on issues such as the conflict in Gaza, and other abuses of human rights throughout the globe.
I can not wait to move forward in a new direction. It won't be easy, but I already like the tone that is being set. If one individual could create such a mess; let's hope one individual can turn it around.
Careful now, let's not let the Republican rubberstamp congress that was so supportive of allowing the American public to be fleeced by these criminals.
True dat. The 110th Congress under House Speaker "The weight is too great" Hastert and Senate Majority Leader "Slap me so I can get some color in my cheeks" Frist were Bush's "yes men".
Selfish politics gone crazy.
"Lets not forget " is what I meant to say.
before we worry about Gaza etc we need to put our own house in order ...we are in a big mess right now ..look at unemployment ...jobs being lost every week ...Hope Obama wont worry too much about Gaza ..than us ..it is we need help right now after Bush devastated the economy ..
We can add to GW's long list of "accomplishments" that he did more to damage the spread of Christianity than anyone since Vlad the Impaler.
I can't see how the "christians" that supported this man can explain what good they done themselves, the country, or the world at large. I thought that accepting and supporting righteousness over evil was a christian value?
My point exactly.
these evangelicals are "end-timers." they believe in and are LOOKING FORWARD TO Armageddon and the RAPTURE. --they believe in order for the second coming to be expedited israel and iran must go to war pulling in the US and russia to set the stage -- their interpretation of "revelation."
therefore, the bush administrations preemptive posturing is precisely what they wanted. THEY WANT TO EXPEDITE THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!
that is why they still believe bush is the greatest president we've ever had. youtube "john hagee and max blumenthal" and "jesus camp" for a lens into their world . . . it is daunting.
Thank you for pointing out that every cloud has its silver lining. It would be lovely to look up from contemplation of a government that's bankrupt in every sense of the word, and know that at least something has happened to slow the spread of destructive superstition. It's a lovely thought.
Sadly, I'm not sure I believe it. Christianity enables its devotees to feel enlightened while promoting ignorance, to enjoy intolerance while preaching peace, and to feel blessed in their beliefs while simultaneously freed from responsibility for or even understanding of their actions. This is a heady, addictive mixture few seem able to resist, and despite his best efforts, I doubt President Bush has managed to discourage many from it.
Still, thanks for trying to cheer me up.
As been said many times around the blogosphere;
An end of an error
WRONG! This man's error will be with us for almost a generation. (20 years) Maybe longer, if there are interruptions to the fix.
We indeed had a serious system error - years of it
Fortunatly and fnally - we can re-boot...
Wishful thinking. This "error" is the gift that will keep on giving. And giving. And....
Denial????? He is THE KING WITH NO CLOTHES. This man is so far past denial it isn't funny.
www.goodbyegeorgew.com
I would love to be a fly on the wall when GWB arrives at his home in Texas, turns of the TV with this bowl of pretzels, and begins to see for himself how detested he really is!
Also, as a side note, would love to see him with a packed box moving out of the Whitehouse on Monday; priceless!
better yet, how about we all show up in Dallas on Wednesday to have a beer with him?
The anger isn't gone; it just switched parties
I will give Bush this: he does not seem to be an evil person. It seems like he is unable to resist the evil people around him like Dick Cheney. The reason for that, I couldn't tell you.
It's the ones who don't "seem" to be evil that are the most dangerous. His narcissism is much more apparent and has served as a screen behind which the more obviously "evil people" around him could plot and spew. But make no mistake, evil is as evil does.
Bush's diminishing mental capacity as seen over the last 8 yrs. isn't very surprising to me. What is surprising, is the number mental midgets_no pun intended_ who voted this id iot back in office after he stole the first election.
What has been done to Americans over the last 8 yrs. reminds me of the way some people cook lobster.
They put the lobster _alive_into cold water and then slowly turn up the heat. The lobster slowly cooks and doesn't realize what has happened.
That is the Bush administration. Slowly Bush has put Americans and it's journalist to sleep to a point that where America doesn't even realize what has happened.
Bush is worse than we think he is. He is an egotistical maniac with a inferiority complex. He has destroyed America to a point that we will never fully recover. He is a laughing stock of a person who lacks the inability to feel for others not in his immediate family (sociopath?). He believes he is the noblest of the noble in his decision to lead America into an endless war allowing thousands of Americans and Iraqis to be slaughtered.
The thought that Bush thinks history will vindicate him is maddening. The mere thought of him thinking that all will be forgiven over time is testimony to the total fantasy world he and him around him live.
What's more shocking than the idiots who voted for him in 2004 are the idiots who still like him!
But, GWB did not put us to sleep... it was a team effort. Tactics of the most corrupt administration, enablers in the legislative and judiciary branch... and corporately owned (liberal - yeah right!) media who reported his press releases like they were news.
great article! i'd still like to know why 27% of the country continues to "misoverestimate" him though.
Because they think that the end result of the Bush regime is ultimate neocon victory. That Dub will eventually be thought of as a great president because he was able to finally bankrupt our current form of government (by outspending the liberals, like Reagan outspent the Soviets), causing the collapse of the US as we know it, and replacing it with a land where Americans are free of government intrusion in their lives and we all live happily ever after, living in a world run by nothing more then an unfettered free market dominated by mega globalized corporations instead of nationalistic governments...
either that, or they accidentally polled way too many people from my home state of Oklahoma
27% of Americans have always been 'tards. At least as far back as my coming of age during the Vietnam era.
It wasn't the neocons who coined the phrases "love it or leave it" and "silent/moral majority." Twas their forefathers in 'tardiness.
Because it's this subset of the country that is unable to think for itself. They fall lock, stock, and step behind the neo-con leaders. These same people are the ones who fawned all over Sarah Palin like she was the greatest thing since sliced bread. (not realizing that she is in fact, one of the most dangerous political "leaders" of our time)
It's more important for this part of this country to stand for SOMETHING. Call it conservatism, republicanism, etc. As long as they are standing FOR something, it matters not what it is.
The need to belong to the "group" is a strong enough pull to encourage an entire portion of the country to continue to approve of this President, his ridiculous policies, and the wish of the neo-cons to continue on the same darn path.
How come none of these hundreds of gifted journalists never once asked Bush a direct question about anything? These gifted journalists missed hundreds of opportunities to try and get some sraight answers from this administration all because they were too afraid to get blacklisted from future WH events. A pat on the head, a new nickname and a wink or two is all it took to effectively neuter the entire MSM.
That one's simple - all of those " gifted journalists " were more concerned with keeping their front-row seats at each Lie-Fest than taking a chance on p-oing the person who writes up the invite-list.
Career before Country was the motto - go easy, don't be the first or second or howevermanyitwouldtake person to expose the Emporer's Clothes for what they are (were). Play by WH rules or you'll find yourself outside looking in.
Yet another consequence of the 24-7 " news cycle " - if you ask a " bad question " and get tossed off the list, your office partner will get promoted to replace you, and the Lie Machine goes on and on and on...
Baaaaaaddddddd.
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Well said Nora. Except the burning anger will remain till such time as the Bushies are prosecuted for their crimes.
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