2005-09-08 - 3:20 p.m.
PUTTING THE BLAME ON MAME
By Peter Fredson
September 8, 2005
In a way, it’s amusing.
Watching the Bush cabinet, sycophants and True Believers scurry madly to explain that Bush is not to blame for ANYTHING. It seems that the main object of the post-Katrina government effort is not to succor the victims, drain the water, or rebuild the city but to refurbish the image of immortal leader George W. Bush which has been tarnished by the fecal waters of the Gulf.
All efforts are made to show that Bush is honest, sincere, compassionate, uniting, fearless, energetic, and any other positive attributes that Karl Rove and associates decide will be positive statements about their leader. Katrina is definitely secondary in the attention of the Bush administration.
Bush is the main focus, the “poster boy” of the True Believers, corporate executives and neo-conservatives. He must not be touched by dirty waters, by hints of racism, by criticism of incompetence, inattention, or heedlessness.
His thugs in suits probably give Bush hundreds of suggestions daily to demonstrate that he is The Man of The Hour. Photo-Ops are one way to show his ability.
“Why don’t you pick up a little black boy and hug him?” “Why don’t you get your picture standing in front of a crane?” “Why don’t you hand someone a sandwich?” “Why don’t you kiss a cute little white girl?” “Why don’t you put your arm around someone just rescued?” “Be sure to look sincere at all times.”
“Tell the crowd that just like in Iraq you’re going to stay the course until New Orleans is rebuilt again.” “Have your picture taken looking out of Airforce One, maybe wiping away an imaginary tear.” “Why don’t you have your Mom, Barbara, hug someone?” “Why don’t you make a joke about Trent Lott’s house getting all wet?” “Make sure Dick Cheney doesn’t say F--- You to anyone.”
“Whatever you do, don’t blame God for this, but always thank him for saving whoever got saved.” “You can always mention 9/11.” “Let’s get some big flags behind you.” “Be sure you are holding a bible.” “Whatever you do, don’t let Jerry Falwell in the picture.”
I’m sure that bloggers can furnish hundreds more helpful suggestions for George Bush.
We know that local, county, state and federal officials were negligent in not rebuilding levees for years. We know that people are used to riding out storms on the Gulf Coast, and didn’t think this was a big deal.
We know that Bush is making a record of staying away from the “hard” job of being President by pretending to be a gentleman rancher. We know that Bush was trying to avoid Cindy or any explanation of any “noble” purpose for being in Iraq. We know that Bush was strumming a guitar, eating cake with McClain, making speeches about “staying the course” and about his “flypaper” strategery in Iraq.
We know that Bush avoids taking responsibility for anything, has unlimited denials at his disposal, and has tried and trusted boot-licking sycophants to divert any criticism by Rovian counter measures.
We know that Bush confuses reality with fantasy. We know of his egomania, dry-drunk syndrome, and manic ways of showing charm and personality to offset his petulant, irresponsible, irritable, bullying ways.
We also know that thousands of people died because of incompetence, lack of foresight, and sometimes for common stupidity. We know his hacks are in control of news media and will spare no rhetoric to show that Bush is blameless for anything that happens.
But all that is explained away by the Bush people. Right now they are launching public relations gimmicks to show how noble, charitable and efficient they are, and how criticism of them is treason or will hamper efforts to rescue people.. Now they want to talk about “Uniting, not Dividing” only 5 years too late. They still don’t like to discuss race, poverty, homelessness, but if they could blame everything on God without seeming to be irreligious, they would certainly do so.
George Bush has determined not to let reality intrude on his fantasy of world domination, so he and his thugs engage in spinning the truth like Whirling Dervishes.
He and his public relations agents have decided to wage an intensive personality campaign, manic in intensity, in which Bush struts, swaggers, grins, smiles broadly, gives bear-hugs, puts his arms around dazed storm victims, stares intensely to show sincerity, and does his level best to show charm and positiveness by showing lots of teeth. He scurries about madly hugging everyone in sight of a camera.
He is determined to eradicate all negative aspects connected with his failing presidency, and concentrate on the few positive aspects. He figures correctly that being likeable, like Ted Bundy, will make some people forget or forgive his failures as President.
We know that he has a wide following, called the True Believers, that are predisposed to forget and forgive in advance of any of his actions, like they did with Jimmy Swaggart. He would have to kick a puppy to death before they would abandon their rapturous dreams in him as their savior. They will defend him might and main, and have dozens of blogs explaining why Bush is blameless, like the White Knight of the Crusades.
We know that Bush has decided to investigate himself. This may be satire, but seems in line with what Bush has already done to investigate why he is in Iraq. We already know what the result will be, so he should save the public the expense of a fake investigation.
We know that Bush followers will ask the public not to play “The Blame Game.” Of course, they know who is to blame, but don’t want people talking about it. They do not repeat Harry Truman’s THE BUCK STOPS HERE, because they say, “What Buck? We never saw any Buck. There’s no Buck.” And, when you have millions of bucks in the bank, just one is too much to ask you to account for.
So, it’s all a matter of Public Relations. Whoever can come up with the best slogan, or symbol, will win the game. The Gulf Coast is incidental.
Still, we feel obliged to say: Bush you are a disgrace as President. You are now the worst President this country has ever had. You have lost all credibility, all respect. All your swaggering, smiling and smirking conceals a vicious power-mad person who wants to rule the world and will not hesitate a moment to demolish anyone in your way.
