Finally, a moment of candor

The cable news punditry, or Chris Matthews, at least, is all abuzz today about a new Junior Bush biography due out soon. The book, entitled Dead Certain, is authored by Robert Draper, a journalist in the employ of GQ Magazine.

While I won't be reading the book, indications are that it is not exactly a hagiography like Bob Woodward's Bush at War. The one quotation from the book that seemed to cause the poor simpleton Matthews to sputter all over himself (the man drools when he talks....really!) is this one:

"I can just envision getting in the car, getting bored, going down to the ranch," [Bush] says. He also has big plans for making money. "I'll give some speeches, to replenish the ol' coffers," says Mr Bush, who is already estimated to be worth $20m. "I don't know what my dad gets - it's more than 50-75 [thousand dollars a speech], and "Clinton's making a lot of money".

Matthews can scarcely believe that Bush would say something so shallow and avaricious while American service persons are serving and dying in Iraq. (The irony here is that Matthews was the same guy who used to gush boyishly about Junior's "great neo-conservative mind." Geez, Chris. Your lack of self-respect embarrasses me, and I don't even like you.)

But, what I don't understand is how anyone can find Junior's statement remarkable in any way. When has the man ever hinted at any depth of character? Was it when, in an interview with Tucker Carlson (of all people) in 1999, he mimicked condemned killer Karla Faye Tucker begging for her life? Or was it when he played dress up on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln to declare mission accomplished in Iraq? Or was it when he shared birthday cake with John McCain while New Orleans drowned?

No, Chris. I'm afraid that there's nothing very surprising in the Dead Certain quotation. At least, not to those of us that have seen this charlatan for what he is all along. In fact, I think we were treated to a rare moment of candor. Of course Junior is already thinking about his next big scam! Of course he's already calculating how to pitch his song-and-dance for beaucoups de dollars! What would have shocked me, would have been if Junior had said something like this: "My hope is that, starting today and for the rest of my life, I can work to repair some of the damage that I have caused. That I can somehow atone for the misery I have created."

Well, Junior, when we all kiss you goodbye in 2009, go ahead and sell your snake oil to whatever combination of ignorant evangelicals and patronizing corporatists can still stomach the sight of you. The rest of us will just be glad you're gone.