Tannishblog

The NY Times reports on Our Favorite Shrubbery and his Veteran’s Day speech in front of yet another coerced audience in Pennsylvania. Military bases offer a cheap and effective way for our Lamest Duck Ever to reinforce the carefully spun “macho” image of a hands-on, DIY president, or they’re the only places where the administration can assure, with reasonable confidence, no one with an “Impeach Bush” sweatshirt will interrupt the proceedings. Chances of a terrorist attack on a military base are lower, too.

Our Wind-up Monkey-in-Chief said the following:

“The stakes in the global war on terror are too high, and the national interest is too important, for politicians to throw out false charges,” Mr. Bush said. “These baseless attacks send the wrong signal to our troops and to an enemy that is questioning America’s will. As our troops fight a ruthless enemy determined to destroy our way of life, they deserve to know that their elected leaders who voted to send them to war continue to stand behind them.”

He’s beating the same drum as ever: disagreement is treasonous, well-documented accusations are “Baseless” and somehow, Iraq becomes the ultimate evil, possessing power to “destroy our way of life.” That last floors me; I’ve been paying attention lately, but…When did that happen? How did Iraq, after two bloody years of systematic destruction, collateral damage bordering on genocide, and routine torture at the hands of American military somehow become so powerful as to undermine the “American Way™?” As a side note, I’d still like the media to report on who sells Iraq their weapons and munitions.

Finally, the stab at Democratic senators fooled into voting for the war. What I’ve been hoping for from my party-of-choice is an admonition of guilt, an apology. What the Democrats should present to the people of the United States is a letter of wrongdoing, admitting the error of their waysin regard to voting for the war. A statement they were guilty of believing presidential spin, innocent of the depths Dick Cheney would go to achieve his personal agendas of war profiteering, and unaware of how desperately the Neo-cons lived for war, American military supremicism, and imperialism. A simple “I’m sorry. We were wrong” goes a long way in life; especially when America will not get the same from the Republicans. I, for one would forgive a congressional representative who admits error and vows corrective action. They’re only human.

So much for the obligatory sound byte on taxpayer dollars, acted out before a captive audience disallowed free expression. So much for the threadbare platitudes, offered un-asked for and unwanted, by a wannabe GI Joe known for such verbal gems as “Mission Accomplished,” and “Bring ‘em on!” This trick is so tired not even the newspapers can resuscitate it. Let George believe we’re listening, he’ll feel better about himself.

When will he realize that dog won’t hunt?

If I could write a letter to the president, it may look something like this:

Thank You Mr. Bush, for killing thousands of innocents, for lowering the quality of life for thousands more injured in you war-for-profit, for presiding over economic stagnation and the looting of the National Treasury. For the unfortunate dead, their suffering is over. In some ways, they’re the lucky ones.

For their families, for the maimed, and the families of the maimed, the rest of their lives shaped by your policies. As hundred of wounded veterans return home to a bankrupt nation, they face struggles affording the lifestyles they left behind, forcing their parent and spouses to shoulder burdens of care, compensation. These vets will bring home less money, if at all, adversely affecting the lives of their children, limiting the future choices of education and opportunity, perhaps for decade to come. Such is you presidential legacy, Mr. Bush.

Further, I would thank you for helping the Democratic Party regain its footing after the sound beating they’ve taken in past years. Your policies have almost single-handedly reinvigorated them. Thanks. They needed it. Finally, I would thank you for setting the precedent of becoming the Worst President Ever. This can only act to strengthen America, as we shed new light upon the festering sore of extremist ideology. No one could have done more to steer our nation back to the center, where it belongs, and I thank you.

From a constituent who has voted against you - Twice.