The Arrogant Administration
 

December 31 2004
Counterbias.com
Scott C. Smith
 

I’m beginning to think that a prerequisite exists before one assumes a position with the Bush administration: applicant must be arrogant.  Just like George W. Bush.

We’ve seen many examples over the last four years of Bush administration arrogance.  Take Attorney General John Ashcroft’s remarks to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 7, 2001 as an example.  Ashcroft said, referring to critics of the Patriot Act, “To those who pit Americans against immigrants, citizens against non-citizens, to those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this: Your tactics only aid terrorists for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve…they give ammunition to America's enemies and pause to America's friends. They encourage people of good will to remain silent in the face of evil.”

All of this said as if Ashcroft was a fan of the first amendment, which apparently is not the case.  Unless someone is critical of a Democrat, then it’s open house on attacking liberals.

Further proof of Ashcroft’s arrogance is found in his resignation letter to President Bush.  In one passage from the letter, Ashcroft states, “The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved.”

A pretty bold statement, considering that neither objective has been reached.  If it has been achieved, no one has been told about it, especially the terrorists and criminals, who apparently still operate around the world.

Donald “the Army you have” Rumsfeld is another cabinet member who seems to think he’s above criticism.  Several senators, many Republican, have criticized Rumsfeld’s handling of the war in Iraq.  The critics might as well be speaking to a wall.  George W. Bush shields Rumsfeld from reproach, and it’s clear that Bush has no intentions of suggesting that Rumsfeld step down. 

Passing the buck is a popular game with team Bush.  The object is to hold it briefly and then pass it off to someone else.  Rumsfeld held the buck for a moment when he said on May 7, 2004, that the prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib “occurred on my watch, and as secretary of defense I am accountable for them, and I take full responsibility.”  Which is great, but what does taking responsibility mean? It’s a pointless admission by Rumsfeld, considering that he was not forced to resign over the abuse scandal, which is what usually happens when a cabinet secretary admits to any kind of wrongdoing.  But not Rummy.  And you have to admit, using a mechanical pen to sign 1000 letters of condolence to the families of fallen soldiers in Iraq smacks of arrogance.  Rumsfeld only stopped when the European Stars and Stripes ran with the story that Rumsfeld had not personally signed many of the letters. 

And then we have President George W. Bush.

Where to begin with him? Bush does what he wants, not because it’s necessarily the best course of action, but because it feels right to him, consequences be damned, such as his decision to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001.

It seems when Bush is at his Crawford, Texas ranch the problems of the nation are set aside so Bush can enjoy himself. 

When a tsunami hit countries along the Indian Ocean on December 26, which so far has killed over 77,000 people, Bush did not offer up a public statement of support to those countries.  Sure, we offered up millions in economic aid, but not a word from the mouth of George W. Bush, compassionate conservative.  I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that many of the countries hit by the tsunami had large populations of Muslims.

But hey, when you’re on vacation, you’re on vacation! Why let a huge natural disaster interfere with quality time spent with your dogs?  I’m sure there were other, more pressing issues at hand, such as clearing up brush, or maybe raking leaves.  Barney the dog probably was up to his usual armadillo rooting, which probably requires some supervision.  “One of the interesting things to do is drink coffee and watch Barney chase armadillos. The armadillos are out, and they love to root in our flower bed. It's good that Barney routs them out of their rooting,” Bush said on August 21, 2001, while on vacation.

So, it’s entirely possible that George W. Bush and Barney were caught up in an armadillo hunt when the news hit that so many lives had been lost in countries like Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.  And I just know that Mr. Bush was ready to head to the phone and arrange to have members of the press present to offer up his condolences to the families of those killed in the tsunami and reiterate that the United States would be providing financial aid.  And at that moment, possibly, a barking Barney diverted Bush’s gaze as the Scottish Terrier routed another armadillo from its routing in the Bush flower garden.

Bush eventually held a press conference on December 29, promising more aid to the tragedy.  A press conference four days after the tsunami struck. 

At least Barney the dog gets Bush’s full attention.  The rest of the world can wait.
 

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