The Divine Calm of George W. Bush: Iraq's a mess, half the country hates you - just keep praying!

Village Voice ^ | May 3rd, 2004 9:30 AM | Rick Perlstein

[dead]

I received a freepmail from Rick Perlstein yesterday, alerting me that this would be appearing today. He said this article was inspired partially by Free Republic's recent President Bush News Conference Live Thread.

He's looking forward to a lively response from Freepers. Enjoy!

[Vigilantcitizen]

I thought it a fair piece.

Mr. Perlstein; regarding the President's calm demeanor, he's a devout poker player too.

[Sockdologer]

I'm still behind the president 100% and I'm getting tired of conservatives bashing him on petty issues. If you've got a legitimate gripe, fine. But please don't be like Laura Ingraham was this morning.

Bush, in his speech, said people neededed to understand that people of every skin color desired freedom. Well he said nothing untrue. But apparently it rubbed her the wrong way and was worth stirring people up over.

[MHGinTN]

Uh, I wouldn't say half the country hates Bush--though the pollsters who increase their capital by purveying such a machination would have you believe that. More likely is, the pollsters know to whom they can go for polling results in order to fashion such a notion with specious statistics.

[dawn53]

I think part of the President's calm also comes from a certain contentment.

I've always had the feeling, even during the 2000 election recount debacle, that if Bush didn't win, he'd go back to his ranch in Crawford and be happy.

Same about reelection. He wants to be re-elected, but it's not about a lust for power or a need to have an identity.

If he's not re-elected (I don't even like to think about that), but if he's not, he'll go back to Crawford and be content.

Just MHO.

[dead]

I thought it was a fair piece as well. Wrong factually on certain points (“his cover story of several years' standing as to why he couldn’t have known Bin Laden was determined to strike in the U.S”), but not a hit piece by any means.

Plus, it also the kind of article that will actually scare the living crap out of the typical Village Voice reader, which is always funny to contemplate.

I am not religious in the least, but I still find the idea that Bush feels he is answering to a higher power comforting. It insures that Bush will do what he believes to be right thing for the greatest good, which is a pretty solid guideline for any individual who isn’t a sociopath.

It sure beats the hell out somebody like Clinton, who answered only to money, his libido and his lust for more power.

[Prov1322]

It just drives the fish wrap writers of the Village Voice (and NYT) absolutely crazy that GWB is a man of principle AND Faith.

[Vigilantcitizen]

I am not religious in the least, but I still find the idea that Bush feels he is answering to a higher power comforting. It insures that Bush will do what he believes to be right thing for the greatest good, which is a pretty solid guideline for any individual who isn’t a sociopath.

Another comforting facet of the President's religious beliefs is the fact he doesn't constantly remind the public of them, while still letting everyone know where he stands.

[Blzbba]

"It just drives the fish wrap writers of the Village Voice (and NYT) absolutely crazy that GWB is a man of principle AND Faith."


There's nothing in this article that indicates any craziness on the part of the author, but rather (it seems) the author seems to be observing and commenting on Bush's faith and what it's meant to his presidency. There are bad VV columns but this doesn't appear to be one of them.

[vandykelastone]

When you have Jesus on your side, there is a deep, settled peace in your soul. Real, committed Christians who are secure in their faith do not panic every time the world tries to dish it to them. They do not change course with every breeze that blows past them.

[vandykelastone]

When you have Jesus on your side, there is a deep, settled peace in your soul. Real, committed Christians who are secure in their faith do not panic every time the world tries to dish it to them. They do not change course with every breeze that blows past them.

[joesnuffy]

Air America radio shows..."Glowing Success" bwahahahaha demonstrates that the left is full of it on every issue...especially the one that claims half the nation hates President Bush

[fr_freak]

...that the left is full of it on every issue...especially the one that claims half the nation hates President Bush

The funny part is that even if it were true that half the nation hates Bush (and it isn't true), he still would have a better following than the last idiot we had for president.

[ohioWfan]

Agree that it's not entirely accurate, but definitely trying to be fair.

PING for an interesting article about the depth and calm of our President's faith.....

[Brad’s Gramma]

BTTT for Jesus!
BTTT for prayer!
BTTT for GWB!

:-)

[Spotsy]

Bush's inner strength drives his opponents nuts.

His leadership style is old school: disciplined, steady, reliable - with a much needed twist of genuine cheer.

Attempts to diminish Bush's personal fortitude by snickering at his faith or his background have only made him stronger.

Bush is comfortable with himself and doesn't look to others for validation.

[Perlstein]

OK. Perlstein here. Let's discuss. Everyone seems to agree that it's a fair piece, that it reports a fact that people are comfortable with: that Bush sees no reason to question his policies, because he believes them to be in concert with his faith.

My question: let's just assume, for the sake of argument, that George W. Bush did something you didn't like, that you thought was disastrous. Even in the face of bad results, he kept at it. You get frustrated, and hope he will hew back to a course you do agree with. But then you realize he will never change, because Bush thinks his course is divinely ordained.

Assuming that
1) Bush is human, and will make mistakes;
2) That when you make a mistake, the best course often is to CHANGE course;
3) The depth of Bush's faith makes him so imperturbable that it's unlikely he will ever change course because he never admits to making a mistake;

then isn't this an abuse of faith, not a way of honoring God?

[Sender]

I find it incredibly hypocritical that the left almost universally thinks that any reference to one's faith or God's will in a conservative Christian is a sign of lunacy or dementia, yet the rabid, obsessive devotion to one's faith, even to extremes of death, in Muslims is seen to be a sign of character and sincerity.

What the left would really like to see is a President that openly states that there is no God and there will no longer be any restrictions whatsoever on sexual behavior so bugger away, boys, and that the USA will now be run entirely by the United Nations and promises never, ever to intervene in any foreign country ever again.

[TheDon]

Speaking of President Lincoln, half the country hated him, actually, likely more, and the US was in a civil war. He seemed rather peaceful too. He was reelected in those circumstances. The author probably prefers people who are hand wringers, rather than a confident person who knows the value of hand wringing.

[Sender]

Perlstein, as in the actual excretor of the above article?