Not having anything particularly brilliant to say when our President and his "henchmen" transgress, I try to draw on my own experience, not in politics, but rather in the business of media and life in order to make a point.
"Transgressions" happen, not because the President is a purported conservative Republican, but rather because he is someone so imbued with his own ego and power, that he will run the government as he sees fit, start a war for his own reasons, and then lie about the reasons as time passes.
This ego allows him to ignore existing laws, court decisions, and the constitution. He can always conjure up a reason that would allow him to do as he wishes when "traitors" like the NY Times alert the populace to what he is doing. He manages to avoid the laws that he finds convenient to ignore.
When discussing the issue with a friend this morning, I commented that "these people in the administration have no shame." While that is true, the administrations power comes form the ego of the President, who apparently feels that he is able to do whatever he chooses to do, wherever and whenever he chooses to do it. This would be bad enough, but he thinks that he is somehow ENTITLED to do things his way.
In any event, here is little personal insight that either supports my point, or makes the entire exercise seem silly.
It is now almost 30 years since "Hollywood" was embroiled in a major scandal. David Begelman, the President of Columbia Pictures, (and my boss) forged Cliff Robertson's signature on a $10,000 Columbia check. He was caught, suspended, indicted, convicted, and re-instated to his Presidency. The print media went berserk, and he was fired.
The Columbia board of directors decided to punish the Companies President, Alan Hirschfield for not supporting the reinstatement of Begelman who had only committed a small series of felonies by forging a few checks.
Word of this pending action was leaked to the senior staff of the company and a group of us went to NY to convince the board not to fire Hirschfield.
I was assigned to speak in support of Hirschfield to the very powerful rich, bright, handsome and charming Herbert Allen Jr. When I did, Herbert became very angry with me, and it was apparent that he did not care what I had to say. The company after all "was his" and he was going to deal with it as he desired.
A few days later Hirschfield was indeed fired.
Shortly thereafter I had lunch with Begelman, and he told me how upset Herbert Alan had become when I suggested that he should not do what he wanted to do in firing Hirschfield. "Norman, Herbert was raised as the rich and very powerful member of a very rich and powerful family. He has always had his way. You challenged him and he was very upset with you, and will remain so."
In retrospect Begelman was correct, and that the powerful Herbert Allen only wanted whatever it was that he wanted. That was not very complicated, or difficult to understand.
Looking at the chaos that is and has been going on concerning the war in Iraq, (and a few other things); one can hardly blame anyone for this other then President Bush. He could fire or accept the resignation of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, but he has not, nor is he likely to.
Many have mischaracterized Bush's behavior as loyalty. "He stands behind his people" and such. I would attribute his behavior to an incredible EGO! Not loyalty. One has the sense that he feels that he is somehow entitled to do as he chooses, and the public be dammed. It is also very telling when he describes himself as "the decider."
It is probably unreasonable for me to draw a parallel between Herbert Allen and George Bush, but what the hell.
President Bush has known no consequences for his actions. His reported issues with alcohol, the Air National Guard stuff, business failures and such, did not impede his becoming a Governor and then the President of the United States.
How about consequences for mistakes? For George Bush, his life is not, nor has it been on the line, nor is his personal financial future at risk. I even wonder if he considers "his legacy."
I can only speculate as to the nature of the mischief that this ego driven Bush can create in his two plus years remaining as President.
President Bush can return to Crawford Texas after the completion of his term, read the classics, newspapers, and clear brush.
Cheney can probably spend all of his time developing his scowl.
Rumsfeld will probably take Vice President Cheney's old job and run Haliburton.
There will be dancing in the streets when this all happens.
Norman Horowitz