I watched Bush's "State of the Union" address Monday night, first while getting some exercise at the gym, and then listening in the car on the way home. And I found the whole thing somewhat disturbing and pathetic. Not just the man, or his message, but the process on the whole.
I did a bit of research on the protocol and practices of this process. It has an interesting history, including being discontinued by Thomas Jefferson who regarded it as being to monarchial, submitted in writing instead through the early 20th century, before being returned to a speech and evolving into what we have today, and I observed Monday, with a good deal of disdain.
I have to assume that, in the beginning, this was intended to be an opportunity to deliver a message to Congress as to the progress, issues and objectives of the office of the Presidency and the workings of the political system under which these bodies operated.
But now it seems like a media event, a show being put on, and a platform for pushing agendas and policies.
As far as I've seen, Bush has a very low approval rating and is widely considered to be the worst president ever. I think most people see him as an embarrassment and a failure. It's also reasonable to say that we've been lied to, misled and deceived in numerous ways.
So what's with the applause and adoration?
The whole event seemed like a complete production, with Bush's entrance being a long drawn out saunter down an aisle lined with back-patting, hand shaking and ass kissing a-plenty. All the while, for several minutes, to the ongoing applause of the attendees. The hypocrisy of this was unbearable. Sure, based on what I understand to be 'the process' of the event, the applause is supposed to be for the office of the presidency and not the person, but when the office has been so misguided and abused, can one really justify the act of applause when the occupant is responsible for it's relative downfall. I mean, the reception greeting his arrival was on par with that of Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem..... come to think of it, Bush should have been on a Donkey, as it'd have been an interesting and symbolic twist.
I just wish there were some straight shooters and not this political machine grinding it's creaking gears. I would greatly respect it if our congressional representation would refusing to just play along, and refuse to participate in the hypocrisy of this tired ritual. I'd like to have seen people such as Obama or Clinton being genuine, refusing to stand and go thorough the motions when there's absolutely no doubt whatsoever that neither of them respect or approve of the man or the job that's been done. Yet they both went along for the ride, doing their duty, adhering to the protocol, and coming across as blatant tools, and just more cogs in the political process playing their political cards in a political game.
Then, throughout the course of his ghost-written, strategically prepared and rehearsed speach, his statements were met with rounds and rounds of further applause, as if they were somehow based on any merit, weight or intent. I mean, come on, peple. The man's been a lame duck for 7 years; do you really expect the last year to be a pivotal one?
I don't know about you, but I take everything he says as a grain of salt in an open wound.