Friday, July 26, 2002
George W. Bush, the Movie
There’s a great rock and roll band called the Mekons and I hope you’ll give them a listen. They’re a ragged outfit, but they care mightily about how music can save your soul. In one song they shout: “History has a stutter...and it says wwwatch out.” For my money, they got it right, especially when one reflects on the multiple messes our country is in these days.
I was thinking of the Mekons and that one lyric after reading President Bush’s assessment of his recent meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Bush was asked by a reporter whether, given our country’s divergent views on the Middle East, he was worried that Saudi Arabia might use oil as a weapon. Bush said no because, and I quote:
“I want you to know, I had the honor of showing him my ranch. He’s a man who’s got a farm, and he understands the land. And I really took great delight in being able to drive him around in a pickup truck and showing him the trees and my favorite spots. And we saw a wild turkey, which was good.” End quote.
Ok, cue the Mekons and their vision of the world, because let’s face it, it is time to “watch out.” We are not in good hands. We have a President who has a 75 watt light bulb burning brightly in his head. And only a man of such a limited intellect could possibly believe that because he had the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia riding shotgun in his 4x4 that they could construct a lasting peace between Israelis and the Palestinians. And let’s not forget that after they were looking at the fish and fauna in W’s backyard “the two had a lunch of beef tenderloin, potato salad, brownies and ice cream” as The New York Times helpfully noted.
This example of Bush’s reasoning skills is by no means unique; they are on display on a daily basis. A friend of mine who was commiserating with me on why Bush continues to receive high approval ratings put it this way: “I feel as if I am watching a different movie than the rest of America.” Exactly. Yet, what movie are we watching these days and how does Mr. Bush figure in it? A shoot-em up Western? A teen horror flick? How about a melodrama where everyone suffers horribly but is all the wiser by the last reel? A few years ago the social critic Neal Gabler wrote a provocative book entitled Life the Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality. He argued, in deadly earnestness and despair, that reality had become too boring for Americans so nowadays we all aspire to have lives that could be shown on the silver screen. And maybe that’s the answer to the mystery of W.’s popularity. Here’s this very ordinary guy who hasn’t struggled for a thing, who somehow becomes President, and yet doesn’t hesitate for one second to proclaim his shallowness for all to see. He’s in a movie too many Americans like to watch: a mindless, upbeat comedy. Or maybe it’s just that images have finally so overwhelmed substance that when we see Bush taking a nature walk on Earth Day, most of us overlook his attempts to gut the Clean Air Act once he makes it back to the Oval Office.
To add insult to injury here, W. doesn’t even seem to like watching movies. Say what you will about Ronald Reagan, but the movies coursed through his veins and clearly lodged in his thought patterns to the point that he often found himself confused as to which was real. And Bill Clinton is such a film nut that Roger Ebert invited him on his tv show to talk about the movies. (Clinton may need a refresher in morals, but anyone who realizes that High Noon starring an aging Gary Cooper and a very young Grace Kelly is a showpiece of American art can’t be all bad). But not W. He finds solace in exercising and spouting non sequiturs.
Oh, one more thing about that lunch between W. and Prince Abdullah. No doubt they prayed before the meal, during the meal, and after the meal given that God has been used and abused relentlessly since September 11th. My only wish is that every time W. or Attorney General John Ashcroft proclaims that he is doing the Lord’s work, they would step back and remember the words of another Republican President and what he said on the explosive issue of mixing God with politics. When Abraham Lincoln spoke in his Second Inaugural Address in 1865 he wondered how God could have allowed such a horrible war to be visited upon our country. Lincoln’s conclusion: “The Almighty has His own purposes.” But we have a snowball’s chance in Hell of having W. back away from invoking Him whenever it serves his base political purposes. May He take pity on our poor souls.
A random selection from more than 300 Michiana Chronicles -- refresh the browser to see another set:
Joe Chaney -- More essays by Joe
Louise Collins -- More essays by Louise
April Lidinsky -- More essays by April
Jonathan Nashel -- George W. Bush, the Movie / More essays by Jonathan
Jeff Nixa -- More essays by Jeff
Ken Smith -- More essays by Ken
Jeanette Saddler Taylor -- More essays by Jeanette
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About the series
Michiana Chronicles is a series of radio essays by Jonathan Nashel, Louise Collins, Joe Chaney, Jeanette Saddler Taylor, Jeff Nixa, April Lidinsky, and Ken Smith.
Michiana is the region of north-central Indiana and southern Michigan roughly centered on South Bend, Indiana.
Michiana Chronicles airs on Fridays at 7:35 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on WVPE (88.1 FM), the home of public radio in Elkhart / South Bend, Indiana.
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