I've been too busy/lazy/distracted of late to pay much attention to what the rest of my blogging ilk are saying about then Governor Bush's use of the middle finger salute (Salon subscription or day pass required).
This is, as the article points out, the same guy who called a New York Times reporter a "major league asshole," so the fact that he flipped the bird at someone (he apparently thought it was advisor Karen Hughes) shouldn't really surprise anybody. The video, obtained by Texans for Truth, isn't likely to change anyone's minds. Supporters will laud it as indicative of Bush's "give 'em hell" attitude, while opponents will get more ammunition for their "smug fratboy prick" claims. Personally, I probably gave the finger on five separate occasions yesterday.
That, combined with my sneering dislike for humanity, is merely one more reason to why I will never, in a gazillion years, run for public office.
"My sneering dislike for humanity" gets my vote for The Pete Line Of The Year.
Don't get me wrong, most aspects of the man's behavior fill me with a loathing only copious amounts of potent alcohol can diminish (which is how I got through the first debate, BTW). Just not this one.
And I still think the Tucker thing comes in second to his joke about not being able to find WMD.
Anybody care to enlighten me about what he said about Karla Faye Tucker?
I'm familiar with the case, but not what Chimpy McFlightsuit's take was.
Pete, a sneering dislike for humanity is one of the prerequisite characteristics for a holder of the office of the Vice President. He must hold a long-suffering, Sideshow-Bob-esque loathing in equal parts for his constituency and his superior. Late at night, when nobody is around, he drinks.
I think you would make a fine veep.
Peenman:
Her execution came before him when he was governor, and most of his natural allies in the evangelical right were urging him to stay or commute her sentence, because she had undergone a conversion and was an attractive white woman (being a black male convert earns you nothing).
Bush's response was to mock her getting down on her knees and praying for deliverance.
Thanks, Not Greg.
That's not cool.
Whether you buy someone's faith or not, mocking it is bad mojo.
I'm sure every president (except Lincoln, maybe) had an urge to flip off the public at one time or other. Honestly, we publicks can be pains in the executive tush! What stopped the other Chiefs? Being The President I would think. I mean, no matter how rumpled, generally uncouth, room temperatured IQ, back-door-deal-makin' guy he is, presidential bird flipping will definitely lead to "death by media". It's bad enough if a prez does it and it's reported in the newspapers. But to have the frijoles to do it to a TV CAMERA!? It just isn't done, Dubyah!
P.S. Pete. Thanks, a million thanks for the Godzilla photo. As you know, Godzilla is my homeboy!
BJ, that's actually Yongary, one of the Korean peninsula's contributions to the kaiju pantheon.
Oh, sorry. Hey, I'll bet Godzilla could kick Yongary's ass! Doncha think? :)
Oh yeah, OK, I get it! I just noticed Yongary's a horny little bastard. But I still think Godzilla could beat his ass.
I dislike Bush as much as anybody (OK, almost anybody), but the finger thing didn't bother me much. If Bill Clinton had given Newt an off-camera salute in that manner, I'd have cheered, personally, so I can't get too upset at Bush's crudity.
I'm still bothered by him making fun of Karla Faye Tucker, though.