Don't know if these thoughts have been debated ad naseum here or not since I'm new to the site, so if they have, please forgive. And yes, I think the Vikings will win the Superbowl this year. Skol! Vikings!
George W. Bush: Dry Drunk
First of all, kudos to President Bush for stopping the active part of his addiction. We all have had a friend or loved one caught in the throes of active addiction and know the trauma and heartache it brings. However, after the actual using has stopped, the hard part of recovery begins. If a program of recovery is not consistent, it can lead to a return to using, or sometimes just as devastating, a prolonged period of a return to denial and chemically dependent behavior without the substance called a "dry drunk".
Simply stopping the chemical is not enough. An active program of recovery needs to be in place. The Twelve Steps are not just used to get rid for the active addiction, they are a new way of life for those who choose to follow them. Obviously, other than stopping the active alcoholism and believing in a Power Greater than himself, (and no, I'm not talking about Dick Cheney), President Bush has squandered the other eleven steps.
Presumably, taking another's inventory is not acceptable when one is working the program. But when their behavior becomes dangerous to themselves or others, a proper intervention needs to take place. President Bush's behavior has endangered many Americans and has distanced the United States from longtime allies. He has built walls in international relationships where none existed before, thereby isolating himself and America from help and guidance from the international community.
President Bush has the First Step down, "Admitted that we were powerless over alcohol and our lives had become unmanageable." He quit drinking to keep his family together and move forward with his life. Step Two is where he begins having problems. "Came to believe that a Power Greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." To fully follow this step, first one must believe that the addictive behaviors are insane. The requires humility and an ability to see past failures clearly, two ideas he is obviously oblivious to.
His wall of denial was erected shortly after September 11, 2001 when he declared, "You are either with us or with the terrorists". Yes, there should be a stop to state-sponsored terrorism. No argument there. What he refuses to consider is a legitimate criticism of policies and actions. He has left no room to correct errors or ideas without "being with the terrorists". This all or nothing attitude can be seen in the group therapy sessions of every recovery center in America. Alcoholics/addicts insist that others must behave as they think they should or no change in themselves can take place. Getting the addict to focus only on his/her shortcomings is a primary cornerstone of recovery. (Step Four)
His inability to even remotely consider that the decision to invade Iraq might be misguided and his steadfast refusal to admit any errors in judgment contradicts the most basic tenants of any recovery program. (Step Five: Admitted to God, ourselves and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.) Surrounding himself with only those who agree with him is no different than alcoholics having only friends who use. The sickness is perpetuated by all involved to protect the addiction so the using behavior can continue uninterrupted.
Steps Six through Ten require the action of making amends and asking for forgiveness from those who were hurt by the addictive behaviors and continuing to do this on a daily basis. To ask for forgiveness, first you must have made a mistake. We know that President Bush made no errors in judgment because he thought about it long and hard at that press conference and couldn't come up with EVEN ONE example of something he would've changed. Most people can name ten things off the top of their heads...but not our fearless leader. God hasn't told him he's made any mistakes.
Step Eleven: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood him, (and evidently only Republicans are capable of having a conscious contact with God) praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out. How is God's will for the President being carried out today? Seems more like the Old Testament, smiting, bush burning (no pun intended) God that he believes in, not the God of love and forgiveness of the New Testament.
Step Twelve: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics (others who suffer), and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The suffering of others, whether they be addicts, homeless, poor people, mental health patients, small businesses trying to survive or anyone else not part of the Ken Lay Good-ol-Boy network, doesn't seem to exist in a tangible form for President Bush. His idea of the suffering of others is for big business having to pay too much of their profits in taxes. Those without health care are merely people who can't budget wisely enough to purchase their own, overpriced, under-covered health insurance. Homeless people are derelicts who should learn to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Minorities aren't discriminated against...they are not integrating into society at an appropriate rate. What spiritual awakening has Bush had that involves love, kindness, and generosity of spirit? Where is the compassionate conservatism we were promised?
We've all heard the phrase "drunk on power". We are literally seeing it daily in the Bush administration. Being the leader of the free world isn't a good enough buzz for George W. He wants to be the dominator of thought, actions and beliefs. We must think like the right, behave as they wish us to, and surrender our principles on the altar of conservatism. We must goose-step in time with the President or we are "with the terrorists".
The time for intervention is now