Who's Your Daddy?
Namely, Bush’s father, one George Herbert Walker Bush, a.k.a. “41”.
The Kerry that emerged from the GOP hate-fest in New York is the effete war hero, the patrician slumming awkwardly amid the lumpen, the white shoe elitist hung up on flabby, politically inert concepts of public service, democracy, and consensus.
In other words, the Bush who lost the election to Clinton 12 long years ago.
The Bush that George W. couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge as he cited past presidents in his acceptance speech.
That’s great news.
Because the Bush who lost to Clinton could certainly kick George Jr.’s ass in this year’s election.
Democrats have a lot to worry about: the rightward drift of the American people away from democracy; GOP domination of the agenda-setting Major Media machine; a party that is philosophically and perhaps morally adrift; a candidate whose campaign style seems to amount to beating rhetorical swords into soporific plowshares…
…but taking the fight to George W. Bush who, but for his illustrious name, would probably be replacing divots on a golf course by day and drinking himself into morose self-pity in a mortgaged double-wide trailer by night, should not be one of them.
George W. Bush deserves neither fear nor respect — the two attributes he craves the most.
The two attributes that point to his deepest insecurities, and are the key to his personal and political weakness.
Following the conventional wisdom and his own desires, Bush has positioned himself as the Father of his Country: the stern, reassuring Paterfamilias guiding the submissive wives, obedient sons, and dutiful daughters of this nation into the promised land of prosperity and safety.
But even the most favorable evaluation of Bush’s anointing convention must acknowledge that the hot buttons he pushed were mounting anxiety and desperate resolve, not security, maturity, and ability.
Bush’s post-convention bounce has more to do with the politics of fear that the GOP single-mindedly pushed on the first three nights of the convention, than confidence in the strawman savior the masses obediently hailed on the last day.
And as America’s pulse rate descends, Kerry has a last opportunity to make people think — and question.
Bush, in his obstinate, defiant denial of limits and reality, displays only the attributes of the bull-headed son — Boy George, or Bad Boy George. Admirable traits in a car salesman, a defensive tackle, or perhaps a serial killer, but a little shy of the skill set needed by the Leader of the Free World.
So what should Kerry do?
Should he announce he can be just as self-destructively pig-headed as George W. Bush?
Should he try to turn back the clock and try that old “It’s the economy stupid” black magic that worked so well for Clinton against Bush’s dad? (Please, no!)
Or should Kerry perform a clever piece of political jiu jitsu and happily assume the role that Bush and Co. have so eagerly prepared for him?
Oh, yes.
Kerry should cast himself as the wise and experienced father, the George H.W. Bush-like figure, that creates such an effective contrast with that desperate, flailing adolescent, George Jr.
As a delightful bonus, highlighting Bush’s unflattering and dishonorable relationship to his father’s ideals, abilities, and legacy is guaranteed to send Bush’s blood pressure through the roof.
A good stump speech for Kerry would be:
“I don’t know why George Bush forgot to acknowledge his father at the convention. After all, his father served with distinction and heroism in the military, came home to a long and distinguished career of public service, and as president, won his war against Iraq at the head of a mighty and universally respected international coalition.
Then again, maybe now I understand. Maybe George W. Bush doesn’t want to be like his father.
But George should reach out to his father. It is not enough for a president to act strong. He’s got to be wise. He’s got to reach out to people with experience, perspectives, and abilities that exceed his own, so that America gets the finest leadership this nation can provide, not just the best George W. Bush can offer.
And, quite frankly, George Bush’s best just hasn’t been good enough.
A mismanaged catastrophe in Iraq, massive deficits at home, an economy that has shed a million jobs since he took office, and an administration that sacrifices our good name abroad and integrity at home to the narrowest political calculations — that is the legacy of a weak and uncertain president who can only appear strong by refusing to acknowledge, learn from, or correct his errors.
Staring into a camera and proclaiming one’s resolve is not a way out of trouble; it’s the quickest and surest way into greater difficulties.
George W. Bush describes the first three decades of his life as his lost years. Those are the years he could have benefited from the guidance of a father who not only served his country with distinction in a number of high posts, but also served as president! The very office that George W. Bush is attempting, with little success, to fill.
For instance, I don’t think Bush’s father would have told him to squander America’s unity, resolve, time, and troops in the war on terror to a two-year misadventure in Iraq instead of attacking al Qaeda with everything we had;
…or advised him to put on a flightsuit and land on an aircraft carrier to announce “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq, when, in fact, the struggle for Iraq had just begun and will soon claim its 1000th American life;
…or permitted a foreign policy team that has utterly mismanaged postwar Iraq to remain in office, not only uncensured but rewarded by a president unwilling to correct error or even assign responsibility;
…or allowed the Oval Office to fall under the shadow of a powerful, ethically tainted Vice President whose corporate interests frequently seem to conflict with his public responsibilities.
It’s not always a case of ‘Father Knows Best’, but if George W. Bush can’t reach out to his father, one of the most distinguished and experienced public servants in this nation, it’s no surprise that he can’t reach out to the Democratic opposition, foreign leaders, or the vast number of Americans who hold serious and justified doubts about his ability to lead.
You can’t fight the war on terrorism with one hand tied behind your back; but that’s exactly George W. Bush has done — to himself!
America can and must do better.”
This kind of attack does a few things:
First, it diminishes George W. Bush, and reminds people he is a feckless son riding on the coattails of a famous father.
Second, it reminds people that resolve is only a Bush virtue by default — in fact it’s the only virtue that an obstinate, myopic non-leader devoid of the ability to listen, understand, or convince can claim.
Third, given “41’s” personal invisibility during his son’s 4 years of misrule, and plentiful evidence of “43’s” efforts to evade or tarnish his father’s political legacy, it’s too late for Bush Sr. coming out to defend George Jr. and describe all the heart to hearts they’ve been having about the family business, without it looking like Jr. needs another last-minute helping of Bush family favoritism to whitewash another screw-up. If George Sr. stays quiet, then people start talking about the history of friction between the two, and what is it with this screwed up Bush kid anyway?
Fourth, thanks to the Bush team’s own framing, Kerry looks more like George Sr.: the Bush that most people probably would prefer to have in office.
And it allows the media to play an entertaining psychohistory game: is Bush trying to win the election against Kerry, or against his own father?
Who’s your daddy, George?
John Kerry?
Copyright 2004 Peter Lee
Peter Lee is the creator of the anti-war satire and commentary website Halcyon Days. He can be reached at peter@halcyondays.info.
