I know everyone was glued to her or his TV screen watching George Bush’s farewell address, and if you were then you were no doubt struck by a line in his speech that was stolen from Jimmy Carter’s farewell address 28 years ago. (h/t Heather Hurlburt)
George Bush’s 2009 farewell address:
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“And I will always be honored to carry a title that means more to me than any other: citizen of the United States of America.”
Jimmy Carter’s 1981 farewell address:
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“In a few days, I will lay down my official responsibilities in this office — to take up once more the only title in our democracy superior to that of president, the title of citizen.”
Now George Bush can function as a citizen! Think about it. And there are things that George (like Jimmy) wants to do.
In March 2008, after U.S. President George W. Bush got an earful about problems and progress in Afghanistan, he said:
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“I must say, I’m a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed. It must be exciting for you … in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger.”
Well, we’ve got some jobs lined up for George now that he’s leaving office where it will be romantic, you know, confronting danger. Afghanistan! Yes, that storied land of the Hindu Kush and the Khyber Pass can now be a reality for Georgie.
Heck, he’s only 62 years old and with all that mountain-biking I’m sure that even a dummy like him he can handle the easy jobs we’ve found for him.
Anyhow, here’s some jobs for Georgie in Aghanistan, where he can have a fantastic experience even at his age.
First, with his Commander-in Chief experience, there are some jobs working for KBR in operations:
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Job Title : Operations Coordinator
Requirements
Coordinates with Operations project teams by developing and implementing common work processes and procedures and providing other management and administrative assistance as required. Reviews operating reports for content and report compliance. Assists management in the identification of client/customer needs and the development of appropriate work processes to meet identified needs.
Job Title: Operations Specialist
Requirements
Under general supervision, assists project teams by developing and implementing common work processes and procedures and providing other management and administrative assistance as required. Creates support organization structure for facilities operations. Reviews operating reports for content and report compliance.
Now if those don’t fit, then with Georgie’s executive experience there are these positions:
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Job Title: Administrative Associate
Requirements
Works under close supervision, with work closely defined and standardized which allows the incumbent limited opportunity to use judgment or initiative. Performs simple, routine, and repetitive administrative functions. Requires 2-3 years of experience and a high school graduate or equivalent.
Job Title: Administrative Specialist, Senior
Requirements
Under limited supervision, works within a specialized function with work verified on an as needed basis. Some independence is exercised in defining methods and procedures used to reach an end product. Requires ability to analyze and resolve problems and effectively deliver information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Okay, absent Karl Rove and Dick Cheney we might have trouble with the general/close/ limited supervision, but Georgie is motivated (“fantastic experience”). Just do it, George, and be sure to write. Thanks for everything that you’ll do. And let’s hope the experience will make a man of you. It’s never too late.
This morning, CNN w/ John Roberts wrapped its bland report of the speech with comment by… of all people, David From. (author of the worst line in all of Bush’s speeches — the “axis of evil”)
Even From was “leaving it to history.”
I wonder how it was that From was selected for this “honor” of spinning the first re-write of the Bush “legacy.”
In this instance, the ending of an 8 year trauma of 300 million citizens and with a doff of the cap to MLK….one can only claim…..FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST….THANK GOD WE’RE FREE AT LAST.
GWB was the servile tool of a neocon cabal whose primary and principal objective was not the health and welfare of the USA or the principles for which it stands.
To regain its stature in the eyes of its own citizens as well as the rest of the community of nations Americans need to commit themselves to punishing the guilty as well as making certain that a repetition of the past 8 years never transpires again.
omop,
Point well taken.
We’ll do more than doff our cap to the deserving MLK — stayed tuned in this weekend.
The “8 year trauma of 300 million citizens has been an absolute picnic compared to the ongoing and in some cases irreversible traumas the Bush regime has brought on in other parts of the world.
Before we get too self-absorbed let’s not forget that the American voters brought this on themselves, but more importantly they brought it on tens of millions of others who were given no choice in the matter.
Shirin,
In my blogging I used to refer to the “American sheeple” who brought on these problems. No more.
I have learned about the extensive manipulation of the American people by the criminals who gain power and profit from war, to include politicians, corporations and the media working together. The “American voters” are never given the truth nor the opportunity to vote for what they really want. Third parties are virtually excluded from the process by exclusionary laws and practices.
The “American voters” you refer to were led to believe in 2000 that George Jr. was a compassionate conservative who eschewed foreign entanglements, particularly nation-building. Oh, that’s right, I forgot — it was the Supreme Court and not the voters who decided that one.
In 2004 it was John Kerry who in August said that if he knew in 2002 what he knew then (2004) he still would have voted to give Bush unlimited war powers. Some choice for the voters in that one, between slim and none.
In 2008 — well, we know what’s happening to the “American voters” now, don’t we.
Personally, I didn’t vote, so don’t blame me. You?
Don, we can maybe give the American voters a pass for 2000, but 2004? No way!
And what is the difference between those who “got it” after four years and did not vote for Bush the second time around (my now-former-Republican son-in-law, for example), and those who did vote for him (my son-in-law’s brother, for example)? What is the excuse for needing four more years for most people to finally understand?
Sorry, but I am just not as forgiving as you are.
Don Bacon’s mention of the pseudo-word “sheeple” (in the context of what American voters have achieved with their democratic electoral franchise) reminded me of a little book that an elderly lady family-friend bequeathed to me back in 1961, my freshman year in high school. Its title: A Nation of Sheep, seemed a bit melodramatic back in those seemingly innocent days. Who, after all, had ever heard of “Laos”? Who today, for that matter, has even heard of “Gaza”? Still, appropos of Don Bacon’s remarks, I think we might revisit with profit the opening paragraphs from Chapter One of William J. Lederer’s timeless tale …
“The destruction of a mighty nation may well be approaching because of the activities of one person. He has encouraged leaders to tranquilize the population with half-truths. He has lured the press into inattention and has assisted the people in duping themselves. He has persuaded his fellow citizens to concentrate on life’s comic strips and mindless entertainments and to avoid the bruises of reality.”
“The culprit is the person whose eyes scan these words, and whose hands — at this moment — hold this book. The Country is the United States of America.” …
Forty-eight years later, I wish I could think that Mr. Lederer’s “gloomy” (i.e., prescient) observations had faded into history instead of serving as prologue to our present, perennial problems. But as Sinclair Lewis had Elmer Gantry say: “When I became a man, I ceased to think childish thoughts.” …
Shirin.
A point well deserved in regards to other nations.
I would think that Don’s point infers that …if we do not respect ourselves as a civilized society and treat others with the respect and understanding we expect from others then the sheepie is more of a complimentarity.
Who in this instance is baser than the other? We, who provide Israel with an increasing number of cluster bombs or, the Israelis, using such bombs on women and children?
Shirin,
Let’s see, as for 2000 you’re more or less with me. In 2004 you think the voters should have voted for the hapless, bumbling, flip-flopping Kerry who differed not one iota from Bush on any essential policy area (except perhaps the environment). On 2008 you don’t comment on the (mostly) retreads who are oozing their way into the next administration to (mostly, apparently) continue the same national security scam that has earmarked previous administrations with its lies and its dependence upon a destructive military, except 90,000 stronger.
Michael,
As I indicated above, before I educated myself I would have doted on William J. Lederer’s every word. I recommend a similar transformation to you. The idea that you, I or anyone we know “has encouraged leaders to tranquilize the population with half-truths” is patently ridiculous. Or perhaps you have some evidence?
omop,
Any Israeli use of cluster bombs pales when compared to the US use of them, to say nothing of napalm and white phosphorous. Nasty burners of flesh, that stuff. So the US is more than a provider — it is a bad example.
Don,
You said above: “Personally, I didn’t vote, so don’t blame me. You?”
Then, you ask me for evidence in support of William J. Lederer’s comment that some citizens of the United States have “encouraged leaders to tranquilize the populace with half-truths,” et cetera.
I’d say that you, yourself, have provided all the evidence you need. Nothing encourages political leaders to demagogue the populace like electoral apathy.
In the interests of a more complete introduction to the point Mr. Lederer wanted to make, I suppose I should have included his third opening paragraph, as well:
“A companion in guilt is the author, who for many years, failed as a patriot. Like most average Americans he accepted the privileges of citinzenship but rejected its responsibilities.”
As you progress in your self-education, then, may I suggest that you follow Mr. Lederer’s example and include yourself as part of the problem. The privilege of citizenship carries with it the responsibility to vote, no matter how restrictive and/or unsatisfactory we citizens may find our choices. Then, we get to bitch all we want. For as my Depression-Era/WWII-Generation mother used to say while educating me: “If you don’t vote, then you’ve forfeited any right to bitch about the kind of government you get.”
Now, if you’ve got a serious point to make and wish to discuss it in something more than just glib sound-bytes, I’ll happily reciprocate.
Michael,
Horsefeathers and poppycock. Holding one’s nose and voting for the lesser of two evils only encourages more evil. The Democratic Party, for one example, no longer cares a whit about the people that routinely vote for its candidates.They’re all taken for granted — but they wouldn’t be if they didn’t vote, would they.
Your continued quoting of Lederer just gets you in deeper and deeper with his failed analysis. The simple fact is that I, and the rest of the half-electorate that doesn’t vote because nobody represents their views, have the best of both worlds. We enjoy the privileges of citizenship but can rightly exclaim that the liars and thieves who fail at being our representatives gained no support from us. Your mother notwithstanding, we have forfeited nothing and retained everything.
Go ahead, wear a hair shirt, continue to tell the world that it’s all your fault that Washington is peopled by crooks and charlatans, but don’t expect me to share your blame.
Shame on me, I missed this part of Bush’s speech:
“We see America’s character in Bill Krissoff, a surgeon from California. His son Nathan, a Marine, gave his life in Iraq. When I met Dr. Krissoff and his family, he delivered some surprising news: He told me he wanted to join the Navy Medical Corps in honor of his son. This good man was 60 years old – 18 years above the age limit. But his petition for a waiver was granted, and for the past year he has trained in battlefield medicine. Lieutenant Commander Krissoff could not be here tonight, because he will soon deploy to Iraq, where he will help save America’s wounded warriors and uphold the legacy of his fallen son.”
So with a waiver Georgie could for the first time serve in the active military!
I don’t want to EVER hear that disgustingly romanticized propaganda term “wounded warrior” again. Not in ANY context.
The silly thing about arguing left/right, red/blue, dem/rep is that the differences between the parties are fluff. Both parties throw token issues to the wind in order to see which the public picks up and energizes. We (public) control their “issues”.
The issues that matter aren’t debated or reported. That also means the U.S. has one real political party. So even partisan arguments serve more as distraction away from what’s really the issues. I’ve watched both parties change subjects on “no-no” subjects that we (citizens) aren’t supposed to care or know about (trade is always a good one).
What I don’t get is that most people have been subject to marketing starting the first second we’re born. We should be pro’s at sorting out fact from fiction/distractions. What happened?