Washington, this August. The W is back. For months it seemed to have disappeared, but lately the little, fat letter seems to sneak back into the editorials of the newspapers, the TV-talkshows and into the heads of the people. Because W stands for Double-U, Dubya in texan, W stands for George W. Bush as we all know, W stands for the pre-war president - pre-al Quaida, pre-Terror.
W also stands for Witz (german for joke) and that should make the man in the White House think. Because lately it is commonly tolerated to joke about W, about his limited intellectual capabilities, about his need for extended vacations. Bush shall, so tells us a joke, call the prime minister of Canada, and yes, Canada is that other whole country which is not Mexico. Shortly after through the door of the Oval Office we hear the voice of the President: "Amigo!"
In the months after 9/11 it was considered a public conspiracy, if not even blasphemy, to joke about the war-president, the hero of the home front, the freer of Afghanistan. All Americans were patriots, and patriots dont laugh. But now, as Sep 11 is around the corner again, the aura is gone. The hero flapped his wings and lost his feathers.
That became quite obvious while W's recent visit at Mount Rushmore. Has anybody seen that picture? Previous presidents have avoided the comparism with the titans of the past. The contrast is too enormous - who could keep up with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln (racist or not) and Teddy Roosevelt? All I thought was: That W is very small.
Yes, indeed, he is small, and surprisingly its not the democratic opposition who is critizising W this summer. The critizism comes out of the republican camp. The conservative publicist Michael Kelly talked about a "summer of missed opportunities. September 11th was one of the most terrifying and equally greatest changes in world history. But somehow all that got lost this summer."
There's two major subjects W wanted to take care of this spring: the war against terrorism volume 2 and the regaining of national and international trust in US-economy and its shady managers. Unfortunately, nothing happened, and that had little to do with the fact that W still insisted to spend the whole month of August at his texan Chapel Ranch. After all, the White House staff had officially declared this vacation as "Working-Vacation". In fact, W was eager enough to visit eleven states (in order to support republican candidates for the upcoming congress election and to collect money). But that was about it, the rest of the time W put on his Denim-shirt, working-gloves and longed after his chainsaw to cut some wood. The White House press corps was given the once-in-a-life-time-opportunity to watch America's supreme leader lifting wood and encouraging himself with working chants of "Oh, baby!". The Washington Post quoted an historian, who found a deep metaphor in this low type of physical work: "You can get rid of your aggression by chopping innocent bushes", said Steven Wayne of Georgetown University. "And when you are done, you can look happily at what you have accomplished."
Thats exactly what W needed, because in the war against terrorism he seemed to have missed one thing: visible success, an accomplishment. Not only that, the past few months were a major catastrophe for America: floods, woodfires, kidnappings, financial desasters... its been a while since the public has been tortured by so much negativity. And the president? He is posing for the cover of the jogger-magazin "Runner's World" claiming to run even faster sense the beginning of the war against terrorism. "Too bad I cant run more often, Thats one of the bad parts of being a president", he informed the amused readers.
However, he wont be able to run fast enough, when the facts will come to get him. When the americans will moan the dead of 9/11 in the next few weeks, they will be reminded that the government didnt keep its many big-headed promises: of Osama bin Laden, wanted dead or alive, no sign, neither dead nor alive. No success in capturing major leaders of al Quaida. The worst failure however is cleary on the back of W and his cold warriors: the war against iraq seems to be a blasting bubble. Back in February W had announced that "time is not on our side". Now, seven months later, W has mutaded into a "very patient man". A quote by ex-president Teddy Roosevelt comes to mind: "Speak softly, but hold on to your cane!" W, who likes to be compared with the big T, changed that motto to: "Yell at Saddam, but hold on to your toothbrush!"
W didnt even make it to convince his own militaries, his secretary of foreign affairs, the congress and the majority of the american people of the neccessity to attack Saddam. Even more interesting is the following news: W doesnt even listen to the advice of Bush Senior. Henry Kissinger, Lawrence Eagleburger, Brent Scowcroft or James Baker - the cold warriors of the Bush senior era failed to convince W to calm down.
And here is the obscure part: the emancipation from his father is definetely the most successful change in the personality of George W Bush - and he can thank Osama Bin Laden. Because its clear that only the reaction to 9/11 let W step out of the shade of his father. Bush senior always was better than his son. he was a better student, better soldier, better president. Bush senior... well, we all know about his looser life.
But the shade of his father is long and its being speculated that presidnet no. 43 might fall over economy just like no. 41, Poppy Bush. Because nobody wants to believe that the recession in the US is truly over. Experts are already talking about the Dubya-Recession.
Long live W!

Nice editorial, Soulpower. Since I live in Texas, I've had to live with the policies of this clown for several years now. Can't wait for 2004, when we can get this idiot out of office.

JediMaster said:

sometimes a country has to go all the way to the bottom to be able to climb up again.

George W. Bush is my hero. He is a great man and I respect him.

I would think that was a nice attempt of sarcasm. but then it I realized that it's you, IceNine

Let's all give three cheers for George W. Bush!

Hip
Hip
HOOORAY!!!

HOP
HOP
HURRAYYY!

Who is this George Bush?
Family to Bugs W. Bunny?

Well, if IceNine likes him , I like him too.

If anyone watches The McClauchlin Group they would have saw this coming along time ago..John McClauchlin has already gone on record saying W wont get re-elected...and John is a big time conservative...

Whoa, DUDE,
you writin way too much!!!

let me say this, (without readin that)
sence 9/11, i have made myself the most UN-INFORMED
person in AMERICA.
i refuse to watch, or read THE NEWS. that said.
this country and goverment is just like the soaps.
you dont have to be watchin them, to know what's
goin on.
you can miss them for a year, when you tune back in,
it'll be the same ole shit.

people say that clinton was fucked up, but so much was
done, that was good.

i say REMEMBER ONE THING...
when it's all said and done.
THE NEXT FUCK IN OFFICE... WILL BE WORSE!!!
that's if we are left with a democracy,
the BUSH'S intend to be the last.

IceNine said:

I think he looks great in jeans and that chimps might enjoy his communication skills.