Monday, January 5, 2009

D'Ya Think?!

Compared to his son, George H.W. Bush was a decent enough fellow. Disturbingly, however, now he'd like to see his son, Jeb, be the president one day.



What I love is the last line he speaks, which I think says more about what he thinks of his son's handling of the presidency than anything else he could possibly say.

I mean right now is probably a bad time... We've had enough Bushes in there.

Can we say, "ZINGER!"

And while I have your attention, last night a friend sent me this quote from George Orwell. Obviously I need to add "Notes on Nationalism" to my reading pile.
All nationalists have the power of not seeing resemblances between similar sets of facts. A British Tory will defend self-determination in Europe and oppose it in India with no feeling of inconsistency. Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage — torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, the bombing of civilians — which does not change its moral colour when it is committed by ‘our’ side ... The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.
Is that not just a little frightening or what?

15 comments:

Cele said...

"but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them."

Oh mi gosh too real.

Anonymous said...

Wow, it's fun to revive classic thought. I'm sure today "nationalism" has a more eupemistic meaning -- one would call it "Orwellian?"

- Phoebe

Janet Kincaid said...

Cele: Isn't that frightening?


Phoebe: I really need to get out de Tocqueville's Democracy in America and read it from cover to cover. (I've only read his observations on freedom of religion.) I'm sure I'd be shocked. As for today's nationalism, in other countries, they call our brand terrorism.

JulieAnn said...

Wow....chilling, actually.

Katherine said...

Tonight's game plan:

1. Force Sexy Republican to listen.
2. Watch fireworks!

Janet Kincaid said...

Julie Ann: Isn't it, though?


Katherine: Hee hee. You must return and report.

Scenic Wheaton said...

Have you seen W yet? (the movie)

foundinidaho said...

And to think I used to admire HW Bush for not being stupid enough to go all the way into Baghdad. And I believe he even wrote that would have been stupid in his memoirs.

I'm sure the man loves his kids, but for heaven's sake, enough is ENOUGH.

Janet Kincaid said...

Scenic: I have not, but it's on my list of want-to-see movies. Have you seen it?


FII: Thankfully Jeb has decided not to run for the Senate from Florida in 2010. As for GHWB, he should have gone all the way to Baghdad. If he had and he'd captured Saddam, we might not be in the quagmire we're in now. I'm with you, though. Enough is enough.

Scenic Wheaton said...

I did. I thought it was entertaining - (but I think every movie I see is entertaining). It really makes his cabinet seem like a bunch of buffoons.

Brian said...

I think that Daddy Bush has a much clearer understanding of the world than Shrub (Little Bush) does. And while no one can blame him for being a proud father, I'm sure he realizes that with approval rating that even make Nixon's look good, it is unlikely that any American anywhere would ever vote for another Bush again.

Anonymous said...

I think that Daddy Bush has to answer for using his connections to throw a career of politics onto his nincompoop, incompetent son.

Hi, Tewkes!

- Phoebe

Janet Kincaid said...

Brian: I'd have gladly elected Daddy Bush for another term in office over his incompetent son. And if the American people are stupid enough to elect another Bush in four or eight years then a) we deserve what we get and b) I'm moving to Canada for sure.


Pheebs: Hi! And amen!

RoeH said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

zinger, indeed.