Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
July 31, 2006
WB: Life Imitates Insanity
Comments

Insanity or inanity?

Posted by: Rowan | Jul 31 2006 6:16 utc | 1

Well, it IS more fun than fiddling — or piano playing. Now if only he could dress up as a pilot, or maybe even a cowboy, again

Posted by: Malooga | Jul 31 2006 6:20 utc | 2

Welcome To Schizoia
A book review from Swan’s Commentary:

Of the many failures that mark Bush’s life, perhaps the most significant is his failure to become a man. Ordinarily, the developmental stage of “phallic narcissism” gives way around age six. Not so for W. In his crucial early years, his frequently absent father couldn’t help him develop autonomy by separating from his overbearing mother and her “beautiful mind.” He can fool himself and a few others with his erect posture, bulging biceps and “bring em on” bravado, but the rest of the world sees a scared little boy hopelessly dependent on his substitute president, Cheney, and his substitute mom, Laura. While most phallic narcissists have to settle for a well-equipped Jeep Commander, Bush “has the entire US military to function as his penis, and he swings it around with fierce power.”

snip

If there’s a flaw to Bush on the Couch, it’s that Frank’s explanations of policy decisions tend to be psychologically reductive. There’s obviously more to the invasion of Iraq than Bush’s need to one-up his dad. But Frank ably demonstrates the usefulness of psychological inquiry as a complement to geopolitical considerations. The neocons who put this true-believer in power to provide cover for their sinister projects may not have realized what they were getting themselves into. As the Republican Party fragments and the Middle East ignites, the puppet president “engages the nation both as agent and victim in a perilous psychodrama that rages far beyond his control.”

Posted by: beq | Jul 31 2006 18:13 utc | 3

Thank beq…

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jul 31 2006 18:56 utc | 4

–at the bar–
the birthday girl tilts her head
her hair slow and low…one hand flicks
the chocolate cake rich, the candles staight
and burning
plunked down with a whoosh
Enjoy
the waiter said
Quiet now
She blows
then cheers, clapping, laughter, shuffling feet
—-
a drift of smoke, a knife, the portions cut,
the plates passed round, the forks poised up,
the spotlight on, she bends her head,
too much attention – the music spreads,
cracks and whines, silences all.
champagne a plenty, the bubbles burst,
John Elton next.
((on fait ce qu’on peut))

Posted by: Noirette | Jul 31 2006 19:44 utc | 5

This week UK satirical rag Private Eye, lately home to the late lamented Paul Foot, has done one of its occasional Old Testament treatments of current events. It’s peppered with references to the “Hamas-ites” and the “Hizbollah-ites”, and includes the immortal line And Ehud waxeth exceeding wroth, like unto a hornet when a man hath swatted at him with his flip-flop.
Which made me laugh, in a very, very bad week.

Posted by: Dismal Science | Jul 31 2006 23:24 utc | 6