Blumenthal: Bush*s Best Is Not Good Enough

[kskiska]

Even now, the White House - or at least one room, the Lincoln bedroom - is being redecorated for President Bush's second term. The famous long bed will remain; so will the original Emancipation Proclamation in its glass case. But, dominating the room, above the bed, will be placed a large carved crown from which will flow, ceiling to floor, royal purple satin drapes. The crown has been sent to be gilded with gold in anticipation of Bush's triumphant return from his campaign.

Bush began the TV debates with John Kerry ahead in the polls. After grimacing his way through the first debate, he corrected himself by maintaining strict control of facial muscles in his second. Then after he channelled his boiling emotions into hot-headed belligerence, he recast himself for the third debate with fixed grins however grim the subject. It was his best performance, and the best he could do ... and not good enough.

(snip)

Bush's story is only of the "war president". As he tells it, September 11 leads him in a straight line to invade Iraq, and "freedom is on the march". True or not, it is a simple story that many can follow. But his narrative of the "homeland president" is a melange of avoidances and denials. Chronology is crucified, cause and effect stood on their heads. Under his aegis, nearly one million jobs have been lost, the worst record since the Great Depression; he has squandered the largest surplus and created the largest deficit; more than 4.5 million have lost their health insurance and more than 45 million are uncovered; and so it goes on.

(snip)

Haunted by his father's defeat, Bush's presidency has been a case study in reaction formation. He marched to Baghdad, ensured he had no enemy to his right, and cut taxes regardless of the deficit. In the last debate, he sputtered about "a liberal senator from Massachusetts", repeating attack lines from his father's old campaign and coming full circle in pursuit of the gilded crown.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/comment/story/0,14259,1327970,00.html

[GainesT1958]

1. So THAT'S how Dub is spending OUR money..

To entertain his biggest contributors!x(

Lincoln is having appoplexy in Heaven...he's one of the LAST people who'd have slept in a bed with a guilded crown above it. The Kerrys should "archive" that abomination as soon as they move in!:mad:

Better yet, maybe they should auction it on E-bay to help preduce the Dub deficit!:eyes:

B-)

[kskiska]

2. Actually, Lincoln never slept in that bed or in that room

The bed was purchased by Mary Lincoln, a shopaholic, but never slept in. The "Lincoln Bedroom" is just a room chosen in modern times to exhibit furniture and memorabilia from Lincoln's time. The Lincolns never used it as a bedroom. It's a myth that this room is a sacred relic.

[lakemonster11]

3. A gilded crown!?!

Purple satin drapes!?!

I'm am now utterly convinced that Bush fancies himself our king.

[kaitykaity]

4. kick

:kick: