The Divine Calm of George W. Bush: Iraq's a mess, half the country hates you - just keep praying!

Village Voice ^ | May 3rd, 2004 9:30 AM | Rick Perlstein

[Howlin]

I agree that if you don't tell lies, it's impossible to be caught in one.

But if you do...you're a liberal like John Kerry!

I also believe that Perlie boy doesn't know the difference.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Perlstein, besides being a young and dumb I have to commend you for trying to sell a book. If bull shit were music you would be a one man brass band, as my Grandpa used to say. Zell Miller said it equally well in describing John Kerry...all vines and no taters.

Obviously you have never seen war....but with the likes of your ilk..you will..here in America because the bad guys understand weakness and you personify that trait.

[section9]

Aw, come on, Perlstein. You almost have the balls to pony up and admit it, then you don't have the pair to deal with your own hypocrisy.

You like King, Carter, Berrigan et al, because they are of the Left. You have no problem with a Father Drinan using his priesthood to serve in the Congress in an antiwar capacity, but let a Conservative express his Christianity openly, and you scream bloody murder.

What do you want, an inoffensive, milquetoast, "I'm sorry that I'm a Christian, Mr. Islamic Fascist! Please don't hurt me!" kind of Christian faith? With all due respect, f*#k that. The thing I like about Bush is that he's a "praise the Lord and pass the Ammunition" Christian.

That's the kind of Christian that refuses to be a victim.

Otherwise, a good piece. One of the things that liberals don't understand about Bush is the extent to which he has "died to the self". Yes he's a political animal, but you can't seperate him from his Christianity. It's the center of who he is. The liberal who thinks that it's an act is the liberal who hasn't a clue what's going on. And it resonates with most voters, Rick. They don't perceive him to be a fanatic, and no matter how hard liberals try, they won't perceive him to be so. Because he is not a fanatic; he is a man of conviction.

In time of war, they want conviction. John Kerry hasn't figured that out yet. That's why he feels compelled to wave his medals in my face. There is a tremendous weakness hiding in there, Rick. It's a weakness that Bush doesn't suffer.

But a very good piece, nonetheless. Hentoff still publishes in the Voice, doesn't he?

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[VRWC_minion]

The decision to hate precedes the gathering of facts. Classic.

[JasonC]

Geez, why in heck isn't the rube running in terror from our leading editorials? Doesn't he know we are God? Doesn't he know that by incurring our disapproval, he stands condemned before the only competent eternal tribunal of all that is right and true? Who the heck is this guy anyway? How dare he defy us!

Well, it is understandable. He is, after all, deranged and certifiable, a religious nutcase, who thinks the favorable opinions of a dozen ignorant housewives in Duluth is more important than the editorial boards of the New York Times, Village Voice, and Tikkun combined. How absurd. We must get fanatics like him out of the White House.

Fortunately, his blithe stupidity, while a tower of strength in terms of his ability to ignore us, also keeps him from seeing anything about the real world. That is why our policies of appeasement and pacifism have worked as often as they have been tried, while peace through strength and energetic use of the military has never accomplished anything to speak of.

Yes, he is the one out of touch with reality and the way the world really works. And with the hearts and minds of the American electorate, all of whom (except the aforementioned dozen housewives) are just like fellow readers of the Village Voice.

[EDINVA]

you are absolutely right in the "targeting" of the poll audience, and then using the poll to form opinions.

When I was a (mea culpa) liberal living in NYC, I was Gallup'd, Nielsen'd, and otherwise polled annually.

When I was in the conversion process, living in liberal Washington, DC., I was polled by the Washington Post and one other national pollster.

Since moving to more conservative Virginia, I haven't heard from any pollster in 20 years.

Go figure.

[Perlstein]

Jimmy Carter: terrible politician, admirable man. Did his best in a tough period; inaugurated many ideas Reagan got credit for, neither of which I agreed with (deregulation, increasing size of the military). Didn't have what it took to lead. Has worked hard to make the world a better place since his retirement, though I disagree with personal diplomacy (but he seems at least to be decent at it).

Ran a very racist campaign in 1970 for governor, by the way, after getting swamped in 1966 by the racist Lester Maddox, and one of the great blots on his record was that he never owned up to it.

[Fifth Business]

So, a plebescite: should I stay or should I go?

You've been polite, responsive, and interesting. Stay.

[onyx]

Warning:

You stick around here, and you'll
see the folly of the Left.
They're dangerous,
and unAmerican.
But you already know that.

Sorry to hear your dad is going
Left like Barry Goldwater.
Adolescence and old age.
Guess both look to a nanny government.

[Vision Thing]

It frustrates me when religion is used for an excuse for existential certainty, instead of a place for a trembling sense of our inadequacy before God...

Sounds like you are absolutely certain that no one should have any certainty.

[VRWC_minion]

You stick around here, and you'll see the folly of the Left

A friend of mine once said there are no lookers in a new car lot, only buyers. .Maybe he is buying and doesn't know it yet.

[normy]

"We've got to ask, why is this man (Osama bin Laden) so popular around the world?," said Murray, who faces re-election in 2004. "Why are people so supportive of him in many countries ? that are riddled with poverty? "He's been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. We haven't done that. "How would they look at us today if we had been there helping them with some of that rather than just being the people who are going to bomb in Iraq and go to Afghanistan?" Patty Murray US Senate Dem.

[Miss Marple]

Mr. Perlstein, Furthermore, those of us who have seen him undermine his own president in time of war in order to get that Nobel Prize he has been lusting after for 20 years, do NOT find him admirable.

[Perlstein]

The guy who thinks Bush might be the Anti-Christ is a prominent citizen, a retired Republican state senator from Wyoming, and this guy--I made absolutely sure--was referring to Bush. I left him out of the article when research suggested that his was a very idiosyncratic opinion (though it didn't take me long to find people who agreed). Takes all kinds to make a world.
>that he must be fulfilling the prophesy that the Beast would come forth as a protector of Israel, then would withdraw his favor 3.5 years into the 7 year period.

He was referring to the pope. Some Christians are convinced he is satan.

[Vision Thing]

My Dad always said I'd turn right when I had to meet a payroll. Then he retired--didn't have to make a payroll anymore--and is becoming more left.

Your old man is growing soft in his old age. You're following in his footsteps, even at your young age.

[Mo1]

Has worked hard to make the world a better place since his retirement, though I disagree with personal diplomacy (but he seems at least to be decent at it).

You mean like that agreement he made with North Korea over nukes?? .. and how he bashes this country every chance he can??

Personally I think Jimmy should have stuck to building houses .. he stayed out of trouble that way

[ladyinred]

Never in my life have I witnessed more bias, hatred, and downright unAmerican behavior than I have seen the past few months. It is beyond reason, and I pray with all inside me that it backfires on these EVIL people!

[Paul_B]

Interesting article. One fault is it's a broadbrush:

> This belief among his followers is another element behind Bush's apparent imperturbability. His signals to them have produced a mass of people who unequivocally embrace the notion that their president was given to them by Providence.

I dare say that many of us do think he is God's man "for such a time as this", however that does not translate to a lack of criticism for some of his positions. Spending, coddling Arafat for a couple years (though never as much as Clinton did), backing the likes of Arlen Specter, etc. have all been cause for chagrin among Christian conservatives. Some actually have bailed, to go to, perhaps, Buchanan. But most are more practical and have learned/are learning the need for compromise and incrementalism. Especially when elections are won and lost by razor thin margins, we don't have the luxury of being overly independent of mainstream choices.

Speaking of Arafat, there's a case that shows that Bush can change his position. Bush giving him too much legitimacy was very troublesome. But he eventually backed off on that and took a harder line. I don't recall an announcement that the policy had been changed, and certainly there was no apology, but the policy was indeed changed for the better.

[onyx]

Maybe he is buying and doesn't know it yet.

I warned him.
We'll change his mind!
Might have to help him find another job. :)

[Mo1]

Ran a very racist campaign in 1970 for governor, by the way, after getting swamped in 1966 by the racist Lester Maddox, and one of the great blots on his record was that he never owned up to it.

And this has to deal with his strong faith .. how ????