Kings

[poliphilo]

George Bush reminds me of those useless late-18th century kings, George III and Louis XVI. He has no instinct for leadership; he has to be told what to do. "Say, Mr President, don't you think it would be a good idea if you flew down to the Delta and put in an appearance?" "Awww...do I have to?"

A natural-born leader would have been down there, mingling with the refugees, just as soon as it was safe to fly.

Sooner or later every dynasty throws up a man unsuited to the job.

George III was a successful farmer and Louis XVI had a talent for watchmaking and George Bush- if left to his own devices- would have cut the mustard (just)in the lower levels of middle management.

Did they tip the tea into Boston harbour for this? I think not.

Comments

[qatsi.livejournal.com]

Ah, you remind me of this Private Eye cover from 2001. Of course, the US Army is so tied up in other people's countries right now that they can't come to the rescue of their own.

During the Florida election fiasco of 2000, I remember Fidel Casto offering to send independent election observers. I wonder, has he offered to send troops on a humanitarian (or even, given the reports, peace-keeping) mission this time?

[philtration.livejournal.com]

You are correct. We have 20,000 troops in South Korea and another 200,000 scatted across Europe. I want those troops protecting our border with Mexico. It is time for other nations to defend themselves. How many billions of U.S. tax dollars have been spent over the years trying to keep the Soviets out of Europe? Do you really believe that flowers and banners and singing songs of peace kept them from doing the same thing that the Nazi's did? Who saved Britain in the war? Chamberlain or Churchill?

[qatsi.livejournal.com]

Who saved Britain in the war?

Stalin. Or Hitler and Stalin, between them.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Fidel has a sense of mischief. It's something I like about him.

[philtration.livejournal.com]

His people have suffered for many years while under his thumb. I can see nothing to like about him.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We Europeans tend to have a romantic view of the Cuban revolution- largely grounded in ignorance. My son, for instance, has a huge poster of Che over his bed- but I bet he'd be completely unable to give you an account of what the man was and did.