Richard Cohen's Column today--pretty damn good

[joeybee12]

The Patriotism Refuge

By Richard Cohen
Tuesday, November 25, 2003; Page A29


If patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel, as Samuel Johnson said, then it is the first refuge of politicians. That at least is the case with the Republican National Committee -- and by implication the White House -- which has started running a television commercial defending George Bush's handling of the Iraq war, saying the president's various Democratic opponents are attacking him "for attacking the terrorists." Not really. It's for doing such a bad job of it.

-snip-

EDITED BY ADMIN FOR COPYRIGHT REASONS

[calimary]

1. Yes, it IS pretty damned good. Anybody paying attention?

Or do they all have flags stuffed in their ears (or in their mouths - or maybe even up their butts)?

[Spazito]

2. Wow, excellent article!

Thanks for the link!

[Malva Zebrina]

3. Nice article, but I have to disagree slightly with Cohen on this point.

I don't think Bush was snookered into going to warI think he does not have a clue and probably does not care much about anything except the play acting, where he can be center stage and make himself feel like he is a "leader"--those kinds of things take the pain out of realizing one is just a puppet and not really up to the challenge of being a president . I think he just does what he is told--makes no decisions at all, is uncurious and not very intellectualy endowed. Portraying him as a naive, hoodwinked man is handing Bush a face saving device, and it only opens the door to admiting more excuses for his incompetence in, -- to make it appear the Bush is really a real nice guy at heart.:eyes:
NOT

[terrisel]

4. I think he is a con artist and con artists can convince

people that they care-especially in person. They can also stir up trouble to protect themselves and feel no guilt about the price others have to pay.

As things begin to close in on him we will see more elaborate emotional fakery and more trouble being stirred up.

I think of him as Beetlejuice. Phony empathy and trouble wherever goes.

The Supreme Court 5 said Beetlejuice Bush 3 times, and we have been in a mess ever since.

Like Nixon I expect him to sacrifice anyone around him if it becomes necessary for his own survival.

[izzie]

5. Holding on to power at any cost because he is wrong.

Even in his own party the right wing and neo=cons are running it, It may be that the old time GOP will jump ship but power is hard to give up. I may belive half that vote are for the GOP but not most of the people.We sure do have a poor congress. No statemen just people who wish to keep power.

[vdeputy]

7. Bush reminds me

of many of the inmates of our jail. Some of them can be so charming. They are always fooling naive people, especially from churches, who take them under their wing, provide them with money and support when they get out of jail - and then are shocked when the oh-so-likeable criminal screws them over and steals them blind.

[izzie]

9. Gee I know much married women and men who do the same.

n/t

[newyawker99]

6. joeybee12

Per DU copyright rules
please post only 4
paragraphs from the
news source.


Thank you.

NYer99
DU Moderator

[Postman]

8. Funny how this guy was beating the war drums before the invasion...

now he's questioning?

[NewJeffCT]

10. Link, please?

I didn't see a link?