Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Is Bush Real? Is Bush Real? I don't know how many people remember the 1980 film Kagemusha by the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.  In the movie, a common thief is called upon to play the double of a famous warlord after he is wounded in battle.  When the warlord dies, the thief suddenly finds he cannot escape from his assigned role.  Coming to think he is a warlord himself, he leads his clan and followers to a disasterous defeat. Somehow, the latest ramblings from Bush about the war planning meeting in Crawford reminded me of the movie.  In 2000, those who said Bush was too disinterested, lazy and inexperienced to be president actually had it right.  But there was a consensus among Republicans and many corporate contributors to put him forward as a steward for their interests.  Now, acting on his own instincts and disregarding the views of some of those who put him in power, Bush is scaring the pants off some of his backers. At issue is whether his warmongering will destroy the economy.  Already, oil has passed $30 per barrel.  The public discussion or "frenzy" as Rumsfeld described it today is far more visible in the Republican party than anywhere else.  And the reason, I think, is that if I were CEO of an oil company,  I would be scared stiff that Bush's simple convictions could lead to disaster.  The problem with war in the oil patch is that it is like a shoot-out in an airplane.  If done recklessly, the whole plane goes down.  Oil is still the driver for our economy, and Bush's war talk is increasing the danger of an economic collapse that could unleash a new period of populism.  No wonder the handlers are scared, and are signalling Bush in every way possible to Slow Down. 11:26:31 PM   comment []

© Copyright 2002 Toby Sackton. Last update: 12/26/2002; 9:29:44 PM.