Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Choreography by the Scriptures for a struts-and-bull presidency

For President Bush every appearance, every word, every joke, every strut, every backdrop is staged for iconic effect by an army of ghostwriters and television producers. But symbolism designed to have the force of a papal bull can just as easily be full of a different kind of bull. Bush's address to the nation from New Orleans last Thursday night was especially rancid. The city's stink was not to blame. The fishiness was Bush's alone. To appreciate its bouquet, a brief retrospective in Bush choreography is helpful. Hold your nose.