Watching “White Christmas” the other day, I paused to reflect after Bing Crosby's rendition of “What Can You Do With a General?”
For those who haven't seen the film, the song is a melancholy commentary on what life is like for retired military generals, dressed with medals but stripped of authority.
It's never been my favorite song from the movie, but in an inaugural year the sentiment is certainly fitting.
As President-elect Obama announced his cabinet decisions last week, I couldn't help but think about the Bush administration, packing their belongings into boxes like any other Average Joe whose been given the boot.
I'm sure many of Bush's advisors will continue their careers in politics, but the key players will surely retire.
And then there is George W. Bush, a man who leaves office with the lowest approval ratings in history. What will become of our beloved Dubya? Grover Cleveland once said, “The question of what shall be done with our ex-presidents is not laid to rest; and I sometimes think to take them out and shoot them is worthy of attention.”
Harsh kidding aside; surrendering the most powerful position in the world can't be easy. Imagine having to abandon eight years worth of work with absolutely no influence over your successor. It's a scary thought for me, and I've never done anything of note.
Eisenhower is quoted as saying, “Oh, that lovely title - ex-president.” Whether he was being sincere or sarcastic, I couldn't say. But I imagine the resignation of the presidency must be bittersweet.
Consider; the only power Bush has left is the power of explanation. I'm sure he'll give hundreds of interviews in the coming months before the inevitable book tour.
In fact, his next official service to the country will be to write his memoirs, which could actually repair his legacy if it isn't a total snore. (Anybody read Bill Clinton's “My Life”? Publishers Weekly reviewed it, a 957-page doorstop).
But when the memoirs are written and the war in Iraq is long in the past, what will become of Bush? What will become of Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove?
If nobody loves you when you're down and out, it's going to be a long dark road for the outgoing administration.
Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com.
It's never been my favorite song from the movie, but in an inaugural year the sentiment is certainly fitting.
As President-elect Obama announced his cabinet decisions last week, I couldn't help but think about the Bush administration, packing their belongings into boxes like any other Average Joe whose been given the boot.
I'm sure many of Bush's advisors will continue their careers in politics, but the key players will surely retire.
And then there is George W. Bush, a man who leaves office with the lowest approval ratings in history. What will become of our beloved Dubya? Grover Cleveland once said, “The question of what shall be done with our ex-presidents is not laid to rest; and I sometimes think to take them out and shoot them is worthy of attention.”
Harsh kidding aside; surrendering the most powerful position in the world can't be easy. Imagine having to abandon eight years worth of work with absolutely no influence over your successor. It's a scary thought for me, and I've never done anything of note.
Eisenhower is quoted as saying, “Oh, that lovely title - ex-president.” Whether he was being sincere or sarcastic, I couldn't say. But I imagine the resignation of the presidency must be bittersweet.
Consider; the only power Bush has left is the power of explanation. I'm sure he'll give hundreds of interviews in the coming months before the inevitable book tour.
In fact, his next official service to the country will be to write his memoirs, which could actually repair his legacy if it isn't a total snore. (Anybody read Bill Clinton's “My Life”? Publishers Weekly reviewed it, a 957-page doorstop).
But when the memoirs are written and the war in Iraq is long in the past, what will become of Bush? What will become of Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove?
If nobody loves you when you're down and out, it's going to be a long dark road for the outgoing administration.
Estabrook's column appears Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com.
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former resident of auburn wrote on Dec 9, 2008 10:23 AM:
I agree with you about Bush being held accountable for his deliberate invasion of Iraq, and that he will probably never see the inside of a prison cell. But then I thought the same thing about OJ Simpson, and look what's happened to him.
So there is always Hope that when Barack Obama finishes fixing all the messes that Bush is leaving him, he will decide to investigate Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Tenet, etc...
But the mess that Bush is leaving will take YEARS to fix, and we may never find out all the damage Bush did to this country in our lifetimes. Bush tried to destroy this country--and he Almost succeeded.
You people who voted for Bush, not once, but twice should be responsible for part of what is happening to us and our economy. After all, if you hadn't voted for him he would never have been allowed to try to become "King George" of the USA, and he would never have been allowed make his rich friends richer and screw the rest of us.
But the thing I hate the most that Bush did was to stand by and watch while our US troops and Innocent Iraqis were killed for his deliberate lies--all while he smirked at US and the world... "
brew1234 wrote on Dec 9, 2008 1:06 AM: