Chan Lowe: Bush's memoir
For me, one of the most telling moments of the George W. Bush presidency occurred during a press conference. A newsman asked him if he could name any mistakes he had made, and the question took the President aback.
None that he could think of, he responded after some thought. Some would call this evidence of his resoluteness; others, of his foolhardiness.
In any case, we knew that his decision to invade Iraq was not something that kept him awake at night. What does keep him awake? Evidently, the verdict of history, because he is now seeking to shape it.
I haven’t read his memoir, but one of the mistakes he finally acknowledges⎯according to interviews⎯is allowing the release of the photo that was taken of him looking bemusedly down from Air Force One at New Orleans after Katrina. He hasn’t mentioned the way he bungled the Katrina response as one of his mistakes, but maybe that’s in the book.
It is Bush’s right to put his own gloss on his moment in history. We should take his effort with the same grain of salt that we view all Presidential memoirs. One pundit called it a first “baby step” in his attempt at rehabilitation.
Some would say he doesn’t need rehabilitating, which tells you how controversial a figure he remains, and will continue to remain for some time...memoir or no memoir.
CHAN LOWE has been the Sun Sentinel’s first and only editorial cartoonist for the past twenty-six years. Before that, he worked as cartoonist and writer for the Oklahoma City Times and the Shawnee (OK) News-Star.
Comments
Regarding W Bush memoirs...As you say, we should take his efforts with the same grain of salt that we view all Presidential memoirs...and I do....
I also say--"life is like a jar of jalapenos peppers ---What we do with them, might burn our butt's tomorrow" ......
In my opinion, George W bungled the Katrina response, among other things....
As you say, we should take his effort with the same grain of salt that we view all Presidential memoirs-----And I do....with a grain of salt, plus a slice of lemon,and a shot of tequila....HIC ! !
Posted by: Lorraine Wagner | November 9, 2010 6:11 PM
Your cartoon ran in the Chicago Tribune.
A political "cartoon" conveys an idea without having to provide justificatoin to back it up. It's a way of making people think you are clever, without actually being clever
So, my "cartoon" (in words) would convey the idea to you is that Bush is an honorable, moral man, unlike Barry and Clinton, who are immoral and dishonorable. Remember, at least half of the country feels this way.
Posted by: SalvageValue | November 13, 2010 12:09 PM