The president, down at the "ranch" in August for a little vacation, found himself confronted daily by Cindy Sheehan who, along with her growing number of angry supporters, were handing Bush his ass on a silver platter (to go with his "silver spoon"). With public approval of Bush and his Iraq fiasco sinking, Bush was forced to 'hit the road' to shore up his reasons for war which, up to then, had all turned out to be lies.
Almost all of August, Bush was justifying our continued presence in Iraq as a way of preserving the honor of those soldiers who had died. To keep the memories of the fallen from dishonor, more must die Bush reasoned. The fact that Bush chose to resell his war with his same tired rhetoric in very, very red states like Utah and Idaho was amusing. Utah and Idaho already love his freakin' war. They're not the ones who need convincing. Oh well, maybe it's easier to get up and lie to the majority of the nation before a backdrop of 'rah-rah' war lovers than risk the dissent he might face in a California or Oregon.
Sadly, by August's end even Bush was remolding his rhetoric at the expense of Iraqi freedom, democracy and the honor of our fallen soldiers.The president had come up with a new reason to stay the course in Iraq. Standing in front of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, Bush admitted in a speech commemorating the end of World War II that our justification for staying in Iraq now was oil! Suddenly, Iraq's freedom and our fallen soldier's honor were on the back burner. "Protection of Iraq's vast oil fields" became the new Bush mantra. To leave would permit Iraq's oil treasure to "fall under the control of terrorist extremists."
Was Bush gaining sudden lucidity? No. Bush's narrowing gap between fact and fiction was borne out of desperation. And much of that was the result of the huge split between he and Cindy. Ah, but enter "Katrina".
By month's end, Bush gladly dumped Cindy Sheehan. Having failed miserably in his attempts to court her, the president abandoned his "ranch" vacation early--a couple days late, as it turned out--and eagerly raced off to embrace his new paramour, Katrina. Suddenly public opinion was rapt better than any grocery store check-out line Star, Globe or National Enquirer gossip rag could have ever done.
Katrina provided Bush with a perfect new love interest. Distracting folks from Iraq, his war, and Cindy, Katrina gave the president just what he was seeking, that is, much needed headlines and photo-opportunities. And were photo ops ever plentiful! Suddenly Bush was appearing presidential, touring the rubble of communities and lives ruined.
But no sooner than Bush and Katrina had become a tabloid item, there were signs of a split. Rumors of the president trying to capitalize on his relationship with Katrina didn't set well with many people. It made for interesting reading, Bush as bumbling lover with horrific results--the unnecessary deaths of thousands of innocent victims.
Perhaps that's why, in an attempt to salvage himself in the eyes of the people, the president has made a second visit to the gulf area today. To save his sullied reputation. To exploit Katrina for all she's worth.
As Bush once more reassured us, "This is one of these disasters that will test our soul and test our spirit, but we're going to show the world once again that not only can we survive but we will be stronger and better for it," Bush said.
"We can survive"? Despite thousands who may have needlessly suffered or died because of your bumbling, Mr. President? And "we're going to show the world....and be stronger and better for it." I think we've already shown, not only the world, but U.S. citizens as well, the weaknesses of the nation under your strong leadership, Mr. Bush.
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