At best, George H.W. Bush was a mediocre President. He surrounded himself with the same incompetent gang of dunderheads that blessed his son’s dubious leadership.
Recently Bush “Number One” went on a rant over critics of his son’s incompetence. Citing both Keith Olbermann and Rachael Maddow he called them “sick puppies.” I guess he believed that was what a daddy should do in defense of the indefensible. Somehow the old man is confusing MSNBC with that sterling news organization called FOX.
All this brings up a criticism of George Herbert Walker Bush that I have not heard before. It’s the stellar parenting of his nincompoop son commonly known as “W”. Barbara has to take some responsibility too. But since it is well known that “W” has “daddy issues,” let’s take a closer look at “Read My Lips Daddy.”
In my opinion he was the poster boy for the “Peter Principle.” He was a typical political hack that came from a family of politically ambitious mediocre people who used family connections to backslap their way into favored positions. There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s the red, white and blue American way to create a dynasty. He begat several sons. One needed daddy to rescue his ass from bank fraud. Another became Governor of Florida just in time to rig the election so his third son could become President.
Then there is the family fortune. It was garnered through building Panzer tanks for the Nazis. It’s an American success story if I ever heard one. The son that became President was persona non performus in the National Guard. But as President he loved dressing up in military garb and declaring victory prematurely. By the way, that war is still going on.
Honesty does not run through the Bush family bloodline. There may be a truth chromosome or two missing. George W. Bush probably would have been a better president if he were adopted. But no such luck. Let’s just say that daddy was neither a good role model or a genetic benefit. Besides, daddy is living proof that lying pays off.
However, there are many other flaws that good parenting could have prevented. But why prevent something when it can get you the top job? From childhood “W” was imbued with the notion that he could fake his way through life … that political connections were more powerful than intelligence and accomplishment. Most important, Bush Number Two proved that cynicism and politics are great bedfellows. All you need is the right team of cohorts to guide things along. With them a failure becomes a success, ineptitude morphs into being a visionary. And most important, up is down, black is white and the greater wrongs twist into virtual triumphs.
And yet, Bush Number One believes his son has been wronged. I’ll tell you who has been wronged: The United States of America. Almost single- handedly “W’s” Presidency has been the worst moral and governing catastrophe issued directly from the White House since Warren G. Harding. Not that Bush Number One was any shining star. He also busted the economy.
Frankly, the latter part of the 20th century will not go down as a sterling example of American leadership. This includes one of the biggest fakes of all, Ronald Reagan. I have no idea why conservatives point to him as a great leader. He did appoint some good people to important positions, among them George Schultz. But his selection of Bush Number One as Vice President was more political than any thing else.
And, while I am at it, I might as well include the current President on the lackluster list. This guy is no “Change You Can Believe In.” He doesn’t show me much as far as “backbone I can believe in.” FDR asked to be judged by the enemies he had made.
Obama seems to be afraid to make enemies and wants to make nice, nice with the worst of the worst. All we needed was for him to win the Nobel. Now he believes his indecisiveness to be an international virtue. Playing nice, nice has its rewards but not where Obama is forced to play. I feel deceived. His speeches said one thing. His actions say something entirely different.
On the opposite end of the scale are the Bushes. They don’t play nice, nice unless it pays their sponsors big dividends. They know which side of the bread to butter, how much butter is needed and where to get the butter. But, if you are waiting to see which way the wind is blowing like Obama, you are mistaking the wind for a butter knife. Not taking any position unless you absolutely have to is not leadership. It’s Neville Chamberlain hoping Hitler will turn over a new leaf. The only new leaf here is that on every front Obama is losing the battle because he is not willing to stand for anything. This offends me most of all.
I can’t depend on Obama to do anything but waffle and give away the farm before it’s time for the farm to go. However, I can depend on the two Bushes to do what is right for their sponsors. The trouble with that is, the average Joe and Jill ain’t one of their sponsors. Daddy Bush should have done a better job with “W” and, in turn “W” would have done a better job for the country.
Tags: Bush