Great article on Bush in Harper's

[alfredo]

You need to read it through to the end


http://harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002237



George W. Bush is famous for his attachment to a painting which he acquired after becoming a “born again Christian.” It’s by W.H.D. Koerner and is entitled “A Charge to Keep.” Bush was so taken by it, that he took the painting’s name for his own official autobiography. And here’s what he says about it:

I thought I would share with you a recent bit of Texas history which epitomizes our mission. When you come into my office, please take a look at the beautiful painting of a horseman determinedly charging up what appears to be a steep and rough trail. This is us. What adds complete life to the painting for me is the message of Charles Wesley that we serve One greater than ourselves.

So in Bush’s view (or perhaps I should say, faith) the key figure, with whom he personally identifies, is a missionary spreading the word of the Methodist Christianity in the American West in the late nineteenth century.

[kurth]

1. "We serve One greater than ourselves"

The ONE on the dollar bill.

[SpiralHawk]

9. "My occult secret: I serve the One Skull & the One Boner. Smirk." - Commander AWOL

"My favorite occult painting is below. Smirk." - George AWOL Bush

[lurky]

2. Ah, the silver-tongued thief.

Well, half-right, anyway... :P

[alfredo]

3. Great replies so far.

[Bozita]

4. "Make-believe" and "Dress-up" are his favorite realities.

I'd bet on there being a Sammy Sosa costume in his super-secret, double-password closet.

[tularetom]

5. This is how Mr Scared of Horses fake cowboy sees himself?

It is to laugh

.:rofl:

[pnorman]

6. Here is the end paragraph:

So Bush’s inspiring, prosyletizing Methodist is in fact a silver-tongued horse thief fleeing from a lynch mob. It seems a fitting marker for the Bush presidency. Bush has consistently exhibited what psychologists call the “Tolstoy syndrome.” That is, he is completely convinced he knows what things are, so he shuts down all avenues of inquiry about them and disregards the information that is offered to him. This is the hallmark of a tragically bad executive. But in this case, it couldn’t be more precious. The president of the United States has identified closely with a man he sees as a mythic, heroic figure. But in fact he’s a wily criminal one step out in front of justice. It perfectly reflects Bush the man. . . and Bush the president.

Thanks for alerting me to that DELICIOUS article! I just posted it on my union's BBS

pnorman

[Solly Mack]

7. kicking the horse thief

and I recommend kicking the horse thief

[chemenger]

8. George is inspired by the painting???

Hell, for all we know, these guys are running from a posse.

"A Charge To Keep" my ass!

[slor]

10. lol...

that was my thought too.

[madokie]

11. most definitely running from justice

[Usrename]

14. Sounds right to me too.

On the lam!

[bklyncowgirl]

12. So Shrub thinks this is a picture of a Methodist missionary--looks like a neck tie party to me!

I guess no one gave him the story which went along with the painting--so what else is new.

"A Charge to Keep"...was "Charge" the name of the horse the guy in the story stole?

They must treat Dubya like some sort of borderline nut case--always walking on a tightrope and meekly accepting his version of reality (at least to his face). Oh well, they make their own reality.

[PA Democrat]

13. Very interesting. George's inspiration comes from a fleeing horse thief.

How apropos. If only George's thievery had a similar end, with him and his accomplice Dick fleeing the country.

[alfredo]

15. Would Paraguay extradite him?