I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing

Dick Cheney is apparently set to reveal in his memoirs that he felt that Bush stopped obeying listening to him during W’s second term. I suppose this more or less confirms what everyone knew, which is that Cheney had an outsized view of his office and the role that he was to play in government.

Barack Obama, Master Politician

One of the things that helped Bush win the White House twice was the perception that he was the sort of guy that people would be more likely to want to invite to a BBQ and hang around with – at least more so than Al Gore or John Kerry. To the extent that the President can profit from being seen as everyone’s fantasy pal. I’d submit to you that no one in American politics right now is doing this better than Barack Obama. I have no idea the degree to which this is an act or whether this is just who the guy is, but he sure does have it down:

Actions Have Consequences

I know that any attempts to have the authors of the American torture regime answer for their crimes will be politicized and blocked by all manner of Bush apologists. The Ann Coulters and Rush Limbaughs of the world will attempt claim that the Bush White House and its legal, medical, political, and military accessories are martyrs and true patriots. People will get angry, it will be divisive. Yet having read about the torture memos today, I cannot reasonably say that this should just go away. If the rule of law is to mean anything, if no one is truly above the law, then there must be investigations, and given the evidence so far, likely trials.

Almost Over

Bush now has less than three hours to be President. What next for this man? Well, there’s one big question:

Will he be charged with anything like war crimes?

Given his approval of torture it is certainly something that remains possible. Much as I’d like to see him answer for it, I very much doubt it – and even if charges are brought, he won’t stand trial. You might see someone try to bring charges at the Hague but the US probably wouldn’t extradite him. If Bush stays home (something I imagine he’ll be happy to do), he’ll be safe.

Feels good

It’s less than three week till President Obama. Anyone want to start a pool on when war crimes charges are brought against Bush?

Presidential Rehab

Or perhaps: presidential reputation rehab. Theo Caldwell takes a stab at salvaging some kind of good name for George W. Bush. He pushes the argument that it’s too soon to assess Bush’s legacy. The real zinger here is an attempt to suggest that the argument that Bush squandered the international goodwill generated in the wake of 9/11 is “bollocks on stilts” (yes he said that). The only evidence that Caldwell can provide for that is that some people did not like Bush even before 9/11. Instead Caldwell believes that Bush should somehow get the title of father of Middle East democracy if at some point such a thing comes around.

There will no doubt be more attempts like this in the weeks and months and years ahead. Many of them will repeat Caldwell’s idea that if, at some far-distant point, democracy breaks out in the Middle East that Bush will deserve all kinds of credit for this. Why not credit Turkey for creating the idea of a modern (semi) democratic Muslim republic? Or Iran – a nation that has it’s problems for sure – but still manages to attempt some democratic forms? How about some of the smaller gulf states that trying to create forums for debate and the like?

Supporting the troops?

This is one more thing to put in the “Worst President Ever” file for George W. Bush. He gave up golfing… to support the troops.

A Prediction of the Bush Administration

Looking back as the Bush era enters its final year, I reread this article from The Onion, it’s sadly prescient. A sample:

“During the 40-minute speech, Bush also promised to bring an end to the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton, assuring citizens that the U.S. will engage in at least one Gulf War-level armed conflict in the next four years.”

Like I said, prescient.

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass

That’s the sort of sentiment that I sort of feel is emanating from many corners of the US after Bush’s last State of the Union address. Here Juan Cole marshals his arguments against Bush one last time. Meanwhile, BAGnewsNotes remarks on Bush as a sort of eternal fratboy. The sense of fatigue that people have from this man’s time as president is palpable. I suppose that someone somewhere down the road will attempt to rehabilitate his reputation.

Good luck.

The Lies that put the US in Iraq

Juan Cole has a post on the false statements that paved the path to war. According to the study cited by Cole, there were some 935 false statements made by the Bush administration.