President Doofus #5

Welcome to the 5th entry in the "President Doofus" series. A series that concerns george w bush, the 43rd occupant of the White House. A pResident who was, incidentally, also illegitimate like the current one. That, and they're both idiots.

But Donald Trump is even dumber, unfortunately. Something that became apparent during the campaign. Which is why I stopped authoring posts putting down bush as a doofus. Because I'd actually consider taking him back now. If only to get rid of the current oval office resident.

A fact I was reminded of last weekend. Saturday Night Live re-aired an episode that was originally broadcast the day after Donald Trump ascended to the highest office in the land. By cheating, yes, but he is still pResident. Anyway, at the top of the show host Aziz Ansari said something positive about gwb, that YES, I had to admit was true.

Aziz Ansari: I think Trump should make a speech. A real speech, denouncing the lowercase KKK [people Ansari referred to earlier in his monologue as people who, now that Trump is president, no longer need to pretend they aren't racist]. Don't tweet about me being lame, or the show being lame. Write a speech. A real speech. Because these people are out there and it's pissing a lot of people off [that racists support Trump but Trump pretends they don't. WHILE dog whistling to them]. And I think it could make a real difference. Other presidents have done things like this and it has helped. Hate crimes and stuff went down. George W Bush made a speech after 9/11 and it really helped. Things changed. This is what he said in his speech - and I'm paraphrasing slightly - he said, "Islam is peace. The perpetrators of these attacks don't represent Islam. They represent war and violence. Our enemies are not our Muslim brothers and sisters. Our enemies are a network of radical terrorists". And everyone applauded. Republicans, Democrats - it didn't matter. Because it wasn't about politics. It's about basic human decency and remembering why the country was founded in the first place. I'm sitting there, watching that speech, and I'm like - what the hell has happened? I'm sitting here wistfully watching old George W Bush speeches? [Laughter]. Thinking - what a leader he was! 16 years ago I was certain this dude was a dildo, now I'm like - he guided us with his eloquence! [Laughter] (excerpted from Aziz Ansari's monologue, the 1/21/2017 airing of SNL, 6:31 to 7:65 of the 9:03 clip).

Was Aziz Ansari serious about Trump making such a speech, or was that just the set up to his gwb joke? I'm thinking the later, as Trump would never (and will never) make such a speech. I mean, given the fact that he ran on xenophobia (directed at Muslims and Hispanics). It is something his supporters love him for. They no longer have to pretend to not be racist. Racism now being OK according to the Orange Buffoon-in-Chief.

In any case, bush's speech following the attacks was the correct response. That was one instance when he stepped up and did a decent job. Unfortunately it was a calculated act to build goodwill so that the country would unite behind him, allowing him the freedom to first invade Afghanistan and later Iraq. Invading Iraq (a country that had nothing to do with 9/11) being something he dreamed of doing since day one of his presidency. Following the attacks he was likely thinking "Yes! Now I can invade Iraq!".

But he "guided us with his eloquence" with that one speech. Then went back to being a dildo. By demanding the Taliban turn over bin Laden then turning them down when they said yes. Then lying about Iraq having WMD.

The current White House resident "guiding us with his eloquence" to tamp down bigotry? That's something that will never happen. Love did not trump hate (one of HRC's campaign slogans). Instead the people wanted a Rightwing populist. A fact that still astounds me! Which isn't to say that gwb was not a doofus. He absolutely was. The point is that Trump is worse. Although he hasn't started any new wars... yet. He only ordered an illegal missile strike on a Syrian airfield.

But we could end up going to war. Either with North Korea, or Iran. I think it depends on whether or not it looks like he'll be impeached. Then he could wag the dog like crazy (with a full-blown war) in order to occupy the country and distract us all from removing him from office.

the Syrian airstike proving that the stupid American electorate likes it when potus does comander-in-chief stuff. Even though (I thought) people were tired of war. Maybe that was just when a Black guy was in charge. Although lobbing missiles into a country isn't the same as boots on the ground. But that could still happen. You know it's what neocons like Lindsay Graham and John McCain want.

DSB #70