ADDICTED TO BUSH
I had a dream the other night.
In my dream, I was standing on the curb of a street watching a parade go by. There was something about this parade, though, that wasn’t quite right. The marching bands, the drum and bugle corps, the floats - even the pretty girls twirling batons - all looked pretty much the same. They were vaguely familiar; like you’ve met them in your dreams before but never in real life.
Then it hit me. That high stepping drum major looked just like George Bush. The little girl twirling the baton? George Bush. The beauty queen on the float? Ditto. Even the trained dog looked like Bush.
Everywhere you looked, George Bush looked back. Then I noticed the crowd around me. OmiGod! Those beady eyes. That smirk!
At that point, I woke up in a cold sweat. Thank God. I puttered into my office and turned on the internets, going immediately to Memorandum to see what people were writing about. An article caught my eye and after reading the headline, my blood froze, my mouth opened in a silent scream of anguish and despair.
It can’t be, I told myself. But there it was in black and white - my metaphorical dream come to life:
President Bush was asked by a SkyNews correspondent whether the end of his term marked the end of the Bush presidential dynasty that began with his father’s Oval Office tenure 20 years ago.
In response, Bush singled out his brother, who has often been mentioned as a possible Republican presidential contender. “Well, we’ve got another one out there who did a fabulous job as governor of Florida, and that’s Jeb,” he said. “But you know, you better ask him whether or not he’s thinking of running. But he’d be a great president.”
There had been wide speculation in 2000 that Jeb Bush would enter the Republican primary race that was won by his brother.
During the SkyNews interview, first lady Laura Bush added that public service was an “unbelievable” life.
“One of the reasons George and his brother, Jeb, served in office is because they admired their father [Presient George H.W. Bush] so much,” she said.
Asked whether that meant her husband was not “the last Bush,” she responded: “Well, who knows. We’ll see.”
No, no, and I say no again. I cannot - will not - accept this affront tothe sancity of our republic. Bad enough that Hillary ran this year. But three presidents from one family? Makes us look like a goddamn banana republic. I don’t care how competent Jeb is. I don’t care if people think he’d be the best president to come along since Michael Douglas played that guy who got to do the slap and tickle with Annette Benning (”I’m going to get the guns.”). I will pray to the political gods that they spare us the prospect of another Bush - Jesus I don’t believe I’m saying it - ANOTHER BUSH IN THE WHITE HOUSE!
We have suffered through rah rah Bush and now compassionate conservative Bush with a guy possesing the morals of an alley cat and the hormones of a teenager in between. No wonder people are going crazy over Obama. The guy seems almost normal by comparison. Who cares if he hangs around with bigots, crooks, radicals, and terrorists? At least his name doesn’t conjure up nightmares of dynastic wars as one branch of the Bush family eventually splits off and we have our very own “War of the Roses.” Imagine the horror! Legions of Bushbots ravaging the countryside, raping and pillaging in the name of one Bush or another.
Some may bring up the Kennedy’s as a example of true dynastic American politics. They would be right to a point. Many expected Bobby Kennedy to win in 1968, serve for 8 years to be followed by Ted Kennedy for another 8 years. From there, any one of a half dozen of the 2nd generation Kennedy children could have vied for the presidency.
This nightmare never came to pass thank God. But the political success of the Kennedy family nevertheless shows a disconcerting eagerness by the American people to embrace this kind of “royalty in all but name” that we get from the Bush’s and Kennedys.
Witness the goo goo eyes the American people made at that little waif of a princess Diana. I found it creepy that her death would have elicited such an outpouring of grief in this country. The “People’s Princess” indeed. Spoiled, rich, bratty, a shameless publicity hound, the fact that she actually believed that because she was porked by some Duke or other and her resulting whelp was deserving of being King of England just because of who his father was is so un-American that I thought I heard John Adams crying out in pain and anguish from the grave. Diana did absolutely nothing in the entire span of her privileged, sheltered existence to warrant anything except our contempt. She shamelessly used her children in her war with her philandering Dumbo of a husband while jumping from bed to bed herself. The antics of the super-rich may make for interesting tabloid reading but should hardly interest good republicans such as ourselves.
Speaking of Adams, his son became president of course. But not until a decent interval had passed - nearly 25 years. Now we are looking at the nauseating prospect of three Bush’s as president in about a generation. And God knows how many lord and lady Bushes are waiting in the wings out there, just waiting for their chance.
True nightmare scenario; Jenna is eligible to run in 2020.
It used to be that children of privilege either spent their lives in dissolute hedonism, burning through the family fortune as fast as their self-destructive behavoir would let them. Or, they were groomed to enter the family business in order to protect the assets of those who came before them.
The Kennedys and Bushes enter politics and run for president for exactly the same reason. And from my point of view, it’s no way to run a republic.
I think you’ve contracted a slight case of BDS, Rick. Jeb Bush is an enormously accomplished man and a very classy guy! I’d vote for him and I’m the crankiest woman on planet Earth!
Comment by Gayle Miller — 6/18/2008 @ 8:35 am
I’m with you- no more Bushes. But don’t discount another Clinton- but her name is Chelsea. I never thought Hill was dumb, but her intellect (as Dick Morris says) is a “shadow of her husband’s”. Chelsea (by some reports) may have gotten her father’s IQ and ambition. I’m sure that she is praying not to inherit her mother’s backside.
Comment by Michael B. — 6/18/2008 @ 8:48 am
agreeable, glad you mentioned the adams family and the kennedumbs, what do you say, what do you do, Americans have delusions of grandeur, pretty sure obama will help us as he is the “average” man that will help us “overcome”, overcome what that is to be determined. though i must say, i would prefer my dreams of talking pigs and flying monkeys to bushbots anyday…
Comment by jambrowski — 6/18/2008 @ 9:49 am
No doubt, our political process, at the presidential level has become a corrupt and convoluted scheme that favors only the privileged few. The elite who own and control our media, international corporations and banking czars allow us to pick between the two candidates of their choice.
Nepotism flourishes as politicians “hook-up” their relatives with the inside elitists in back room meetings and back yard barbecues. Already prepped, the incoming brood understands what is expected in return for support. Without their support, no candidate stands a chance of raising the $300 million or so to make a viable run.
While the relatives of those who hold high office certainly have a big edge, they are not guaranteed the coronation of the elite. For example, the Clintons got too uppity and George Soros turned his 527’s against Hilary clearing the way for Obama. If Hilary plays the good girl in supporting Obama, Chelsea Clinton may be rewarded later. If Hilary doesn’t, rest assured they have enough dirt on her to make her life miserable.
Speaking of Soros, he really outdid himself this election. John McCain sold his soul to Soros and Teresa Heinz Kerry back in 2001 in exchange for campaign finance reform. As part of the package, he agreed to open our borders for the coming Mexico-United States-Canada union, very similar to the EU.
Am I over simplifying things? Maybe, but make no mistake, the system has become corrupted.
Comment by DrKrbyLuv — 6/18/2008 @ 10:23 am
Calm down, as the libs say. Jeb still says he has no interest in running.
Comment by Juan Paxety — 6/18/2008 @ 10:34 am
Surely there’s an Eisenhower or a spare Johnson out there somewhere, just to break the monotony.
Spare Johnson. heh. heh heh.
Comment by michael reynolds — 6/18/2008 @ 10:54 am
After 4 years of Obama you may be whistling a different tune - namely anybody but Obama.
Comment by SShiell — 6/18/2008 @ 11:09 am
One word of advice for you, Rick: DECAF.
John Adams’ son became President, too. So did Harrison’s grandson. And TR’s nephew — who was President for so long there were some people who thought that was his first name. There’s little doubt that JQA and FDR both earned their Presidencies on their own political merits. (The second Harrison, maybe not so much.)
Besides, we have at least four years of interregnum coming up before we need to worry about the possibility of a third Bush Preisdency. And by 2012, Jeb Bush will be old news.
Comment by Transplanted Lawyer — 6/18/2008 @ 11:10 am
Comment by mannning — 6/18/2008 @ 12:36 pm
Slow down, drop a few ice cubes in the Koolaide to water it down and limit the effect. Treatment for BDS is going to be expensive and you don’t want to donate too much to my niece when she treats you. She switched her major just to be ready for the flood of gold coming in the near future. Like when Bush goes back to Tx and people realize he’s not the problem, they are simply crazy on their own.
Comment by Scrapiron — 6/18/2008 @ 12:36 pm
I’m pretty sure George has inflicted enough damage that there will be no other President Bush, at least not in any of our lifetimes.
Comment by Melanie — 6/18/2008 @ 12:44 pm
Say waa? You don’t care if Jeb is any good, you hate his name/legacy/anything Bush enough to say never-ever-ever? And Diana never did anything worthwhile? Whatever her motives may have been, she did a lot of charity work. I’m not gonna look it up but I bet her charity work lives on. What have YOU done lately?
Not that either needs defending, but you’re WAY out of line.
Comment by DoorHold — 6/18/2008 @ 1:15 pm
Say ‘no’ to Jeb, Jenna and the Rest of the Bushes…
I had to disagree with Rick Moran yesterday about assigning blame on the oil crisis, but the Right Wing Nut House blogger is back in fine form today: Addicted to BushNo, no, and I say no again. I cannot –…
Trackback by Conservatism Today — 6/18/2008 @ 6:42 pm
What? No Roosevelts? How soon they forget. Theodore 1901-1909 Franklin 1933-1945, *subtracts*, *adds* Wow! That’s 20 years of Roosevelts! I’m profoundly, absolutely against American political dynasties. They’re a bane upon the body politic, which already has enough banes. But I swear, if they’re grooming Chelsea, and it seems they are, then the Republicans should hold open at least the threat of another Bush. After all, what’s good for the goose is good for the, um, other goose. Have you seen her in imitative “Evita” mode? Have you seen they way they fall all over her? It’s obnoxious.
Comment by bour3 — 6/18/2008 @ 11:17 pm
Rick, I can’t blame you for feeling bushwhacked
as I fully agree. A shame that we had to suffer the Elder.
The younger has been a success only when compared to Carter so what of the collective legacy?
Comment by Robert P — 6/18/2008 @ 11:22 pm
Christ in a polo-shirt. Get a grip, Rick.
Comment by Gang of One — 6/19/2008 @ 7:12 am
I remember reading that it was Jeb that was the assumed successor of Bush I. Wonder what happened there. And from everything I’ve read about the Florida governor, it seems we got the raw end of that deal.
Comment by WrongWay — 6/19/2008 @ 6:22 pm
Rick,
blame the american people for who ends up in office. that will be where the blame will lie when we get an Obama presidency …., horrors!
and I concur with the diagnosis of BDS - please get help soon.
Comment by rayc — 6/20/2008 @ 8:09 am