Kissing up to Bush-God, the Book

[ck4829]

If one accepts the view that the criteria for presidential greatness is the ability to confound one's political opponents by stealing their issues and outsmarting them at virtually every turn, then New York Post columnist and political author John Podhoretz makes a convincing case for the premise of his new book, "Bush Country – How Dubya Became a Great President While Driving Liberals 'Insane'".
(Who's on medication for being mentally unstable? All Liberals OR Bush?)

By that measure – from tax cuts (to the rich) to (imaginary) education reform to the war on terror (on innocent Iraqi civilians) to his domestic spending priorities to his mid-term election victories – if political success equals greatness, then George W. Bush is a great president indeed.

Podhoretz categorizes his book nicely, with chapter headings that serve as introductions to a series of "crazy liberal ideas".

Crazy Liberal Idea #1: Bush Is a Moron

Crazy Liberal Idea #2: Bush Is a Puppet

Crazy Liberal Idea #3: Bush Is a Fanatic

Crazy Liberal Idea #4: Bush Is Hitler .… Only Not as Talented

Crazy Liberal Idea #5: Bush Isn't Protecting You

Crazy Liberal Idea #6: Bush Wants to Bankrupt the Government

Crazy Liberal Idea #7: Bush Is a Cowboy

Crazy Liberal Idea #8: Bush Is a Liar

(My Sane Liberal Idea: Bush is a Liar, he is a Cheater, he didn't protect us on 9/11, he appeals to Fanatics, and yes, he is a moron)

Podhoretz gives a fascinating critique of the contrasts between George W. Bush and his immediate predecessor: Bush is incredibly self-disciplined. Bill Clinton had little personal discipline. Because Bush is respectful of other people's time, he is punctual, starting and ending meetings precisely on time. Clinton was chronically late. Bush is a tea-totaling ex-smoker and early riser who retires each night at 9:45 p.m. for a full eight hours sleep – after reading his 15-minute daily devotional from the Bible. Clinton kept an erratic schedule, sleeping just a few hours at a time and indulging in numerous personal vices.
(Before 9/11, Bush was on vacation at least 40% of the time. Why did Podhoretz forget to include that?)

...

Another stark contrast between Bush and Clinton has to do with the role (or lack of same) played by their fathers in shaping the character of the sons. Clinton's father was absent. Bush's was an important man in business and in politics, and it took Dubya until age forty to emerge from his father's shadow in both arenas.
(And George H.W. Bush's father was a friend to the Nazis)

...

Podhoretz obviously has great admiration for this president... (He must be one of those Fanatics I mentioned earlier)

http://www.americasvoices.org/archives2004/PattonD/PattonD_031604.htm

[flordehinojos]

1. Podhoretz is a myopic idiot.