Bush: Demon or Human?

You should read the Crooks and Liars discussion of whether George is drinking again (as Nat'l Enquirer reports). That's a very scary possibility, given that he has spurned any treatment for his alcoholism. He's been a dry drunk, just hovering on the verge--Baby Jessica dancing on the edge of the well. [Update: This link to Laura K's IMHO blog on the lingering effects of Bush's drinking contains not only Laura's usual good sense but also an interesting link to this article, "Dry Drunk Syndrome and George Bush."]

Also scary is that I've had some feelings of compassion for the fool lately. The Peter Principle and all that. I keep remembering that his family (parents and wife and kids) didn't fully support his bid for the presidency. The parents had picked Jeb for the presidential bid. George never had the character for the job.

Here's the family fuckup, running for president, and not getting elected by the people, despite the best efforts of his party to tilt the election. He had to be appointed president. And the Diebold reelection again indicated that the party didn't have faith in his ability to win an election cleanly. That's an invitation to drink, especially as the current fuckups have started piling up. And there's every indication that there will be more arrests among his staff, more failures in Iraq, more failures in domestic policies, more snubs within his own party.

Then there's the ridicule. That's very hard for a person with his personality. I remember my dad, who was an ace at the negotiation table, advising me about a difficult teacher in high school. Dad recommended ridicule as the best way to defeat a demagogue. From the fool's behavior during the debates, it's clear that he's insecure. A self-secure person is not that defensive in the face of criticism. And he's so easy to ridicule.

I remember reading that they found an aspirin bottle with tooth marks on the child-proof cap when cleaning out Nixon's desk after his resignation. As much as I hated Nixon--and I did--at that moment he turned human again. It's hard to demonize someone who evidences such human frustration.

I think I'm at that point with Bush. I can demonize him until I'm forced to face that he's just another bozo on the bus. Of course, he's supposed to be driving the bus, and that's why it's necessary to unseat him.

According to The U.S. Constitution online website,

The 25th Amendment reiterates what is stated in Article 2, Section 1: that the Vice President is the direct successor of the President. He or she will become President if the President cannot serve for whatever reason. The 25th also provides for a President who is temporarily disabled, such as if the President has a surgical procedure or if he or she become mentally unstable.

And the line of succession goes like this, unless the person holding that post is not eligible to be president (foreign born, for example):
* Speaker of the House of Representatives: Dennis Hastert of Illinois
* President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Ted Stevens of Alaska
* Secretary of State: Condoleeza Rice
* Secretary of the Treasury: John Snow
* Secretary of Defense: Donald Rumsfeld
* Attorney General: Alberto Gonzalez
and so on through the cabinet until you get to
* Secretary of Homeland Security (not yet set by law): Michael Chertoff

That's why these nominations are so important.