I saw pieces of
CNN Presents this evening, which featured GHWBush returning to the site of a WWII bombing raid in which he had to bail out of his plane and the two airmen with him died.
Once again I was struck by what, for me, is a genuine mystery: how could Papa Bush first assist his son in not only skimming but eventually going AWOL from military service -- and then support his rise to power when he demonstrated no genuine commitment to public service?
In tonight's program, GHWB talked about how his war experiences made him a man. After the bombing run in which he was nearly captured, he spent time on a sub and then, when it returned to port, he was given leave to go home. He refused and returned to his unit and flew more bombing raids.
His son did the easiest service possible, did a piss-poor job at it and eventually went AWOL.
GHWB spent years in government service and, especially at the CIA, knew with immediacy the dangers many faced in gathering intelligence. He talked during the CNN program about how difficult it was to go to war in Iraq.
His son headed failed businesses, owned a baseball team, and was governor of a state where the legislature usually meets only every 2 years. Then he ran for President. His administration broke the very law his father shepherded, a law to protect the identities of operatives. The son has shown little awareness of the gravity of going to war, what with his "Fuck, Saddam, we're taking him out," and "Bring 'em on!" And the obscenity of his carrier landing stunt is only magnified when you look at his father's accomplishments and sacrifice.
Now, it does seem that Papa Bush is about to administer a spanking to W, in the form of the award he's chosen to present to Ted Kennedy (I may have to take the day off work that day to gawk at that one). But where was this discipline earlier? Surely he could have sabotaged Jr's plans earlier, had he really not felt The Shrub was qualified or deserving.
So I wonder more and more about Barbara. Yes, I've heard the stories about her "power behind the throne" over the years -- but tonight I really began to think that perhaps GHWB has been letting her cajole, needle and nag him into helping Jr. over the years, "for the family," or some such thing. And maybe now Dad has had enough. Or something.