Bush at peace with himself.
The after presidency Bush piece in the WaPo made me mad, especially because of the casual tone of the former office holder,
Almost like his presidency wasn't that important to him, like all those lives in Iraq, New Orleans, all those lives ruined in the economic collapse, just weren't that important to him. I wish we could all put it behind so easily.
(I think I'm wanting some expression of remorse I'm not ever going to get.)
Bush has said that he expects to live at least 20 more years, and that he does not want to spend all his time dwelling on an eight-year presidency.
Almost like his presidency wasn't that important to him, like all those lives in Iraq, New Orleans, all those lives ruined in the economic collapse, just weren't that important to him. I wish we could all put it behind so easily.
(I think I'm wanting some expression of remorse I'm not ever going to get.)
posted by mikevotes at
6:29 AM
6 Comments:
People do tend to want to forget their mistakes and not want to relive their bad times.
By
Unknown, at 8:04 AM
Bush never took the "presidency of the United States" seriously. To him it was just an extension of a privileged birth-right to exercise power. Not in the context of being a servant of the people, a keeper of American laws and values, but in the context of a titled Lord, so to speak. It was part of a continuum of privilege... privilege to exercise power over other with immunity. Like getting out of going to Vietnam, getting out of National Guard duties, getting into Yale.... getting to play "leader of the free world."
Do you see what I'm saying? Or am I
By
-epm, at 8:30 AM
Time, I understand. It's just hard after all he's inflicted to think that to him it's just another eight years of his life. That he gets to walk morally free.
...
EPM, I kinda get it, although I'm not completely sure I agree with the psychology.
I'd phrase it more surface. He wanted to be president more than he wanted to be actual president.
By
mikevotes, at 9:52 AM
I think he confused being 'elected president' with 'chosen as king'.
But we never confused the two. Pretty much every other citizen in the US understands that the president is the servant of the people.
In a certain sense I admire us for respecting the office more than the person, and not kicking him the hell off his little perch.
In a certain other sense I'm incredulous at us respecting the office more than the person, when he was instrumental in causing hideous atrocities.
By
Anonymous, at 6:48 PM
I'm not so sure he is going to get to put it behind him so easily. Not only did we see what he did, the rest of the world did, too. There are courts that may be calling him out for his crimes some day. Look at the conviction of the former president of Peru (I think it was Peru).
By
Marciale, at 11:39 PM
Anon, Periodically, someone will come on the site talking about protests in the streets and such. That's not the way we're wired.
Protests come from people who think they have more to gain than lose, and in this US environment, most people don't want to risk losing.
....
MArciale, It was Fujimori of Peru, but I don't think we'll ever see a serious prosecution of Bush. I just don't think that happens in the current world structure. The US will not allow itself to be put on trial like that.
However, the slights and diminishment could be interesting. Like, this morning I asked if Bush is doing a commencement anywhere. And we're yet to hear of him addressing any seriously high profile groups.
(He's doing some fundraising kinda stuff, but it's small money and no profile for those involved.)
Is he getting invited to lead major issue conferences? Is he being put up in profile by anyone but his own defenders?
I think that's about all the rebuke we're going to get.
By
mikevotes, at 10:15 AM
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