Bush, Babes and Berryman?

America's dishonest and dangerous national leader, President George "WMD" Bush, spent all of three hours on the ground in Minneapolis on Saturday demonstrating to the nation that, even though he's not running for reelection, he can still do a photo-op!

Unfortunately, America's renegade regime leader is not the most articulate president we've had. In fact, he's the least articulate of my lifetime, making Ronald Reagan appear borderline brilliant. Said George our Liar-in-Chief:

On behalf of the citizens of America, I bring prayers from the American people to those who suffered loss of life as a result of the collapse of the 35W bridge here in the Twin Cities. I bring the prayers of those who wonder about whether they'll ever see a loved one again.

So now the man who presided over the deceitful and dishonest scheme to start a war he can neither win nor end has dubbed himself a prayer-carrier?

Bush told the cameras he had met with the police chief and sheriff and, "people who represent men and women who are working as hard as they possibly can to save life and to find life; to go under these murky waters to find the facts."

Facts?  Facts?  Everybody knows after five years of an illegal war in Iraq that facts are this bloody tyrant's #1 enemy, ferchrissakes.

The Minnesota trip was to cover his PR butt after blowing it on Hurricane Katrina. Those Cable TV News Babes really do count, right Mr. Rove?

His remarks, all 500 words, lasted four minutes. Our president did not take any questions from the press.

He doesn't have to, does he?

Way to go Mr. President!

Meanwhile his visit, picked up live on the cable news channels, took me back to the next vehicle-span downriver on the Mighty Mississippi - the Washington Avenue Bridge. It's a two-decker, pedestrians on top (with a heated, enclosed inner section for winter), and motor vehicles on the bottom. It cuts right through the middle of the University of Minnesota campus, the largest in the country at that time. A little memory lane here.

Autumn 1971. A quiet, early-in-the-week kind of night. The bar was called Caesar's. I was 22. She was 27. He was some old wasted academic-type on a stool in the dark corner.  She'd been talking to the old fart, then apparently had her fill and asked the young guy - me - if I wanted to shoot a little pool.

You never say "no," right?  Not at 22, anyway. After three games we went back to her place. The old drunk, 57,  was in the same spot the next few times I dropped in. Usually quite hammered. Someone said he was a famous poet. Never got much of a conversation going, he was usually pretty sloshed.

A few months later in January he waved to whoever was nearby and jumped off the Washington Avenue Bridge. Death by suicide.

It was UM Professor/Poet John Berryman, winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize.

From Berryman's 77 Dream Songs:

I'm too alone. I see no end. If we could all
run, even that would be better. I am hungry.
The sun is not hot.
It's not a good position I am in.
If I had to do the whole thing over again
I wouldn't.

John Berryman

Comments

[sandy ward]

Ah, the power of prayer from Jesus 'Bush' Christ himself to the peoples of MN. Quick, everyone on their knees, the holy one is about to speak.

I wonder if it's the same 'God' Congress is praying to raise to their approval rating?

Things will improve when those in Washington DC bow before the people they serve and understand the full intent of seperation of church and state.

Stop looking to 'God' to fix your problems, justify your wars and tread on me. Do the right thing, take that make believe crap out of our government.

[vermonter]

we agree on something.

[sandy ward]

Really? Justify your war against marijuana.

[GWTW]

A local connection for you, Peter. John Berryman taught at Breadloaf School of English at least one summer when my father was there.

And great news about your recent health developments. Welcome to the club.

Gordon

[vermonter]

Apprently you're high again. As usual. If you'd lay off the weed for a couple of days, things might clear up and you could think straight. I said we agree on something. I was referring to the subject of your posting immediately above mine: getting "God" out of government.

You changed the subject to marijuana. Not surprising. I do not have a "war" against marijuana. You're so paranoid you can't think.

[bigbadbrad]

I can't even listen to dubya speak anymore, it is just too depressing. Even the text of his words piss me off. What a dimwit!

[sandy ward]

That's not a justification for war, Vermonter. It's a clarification that you think marijuana should be legal...two things we agree on, eh?

[vermonter]

Can anyone please translate Sandy's incoherent ravings? If that's possible?

[manoman]

"I can't even listen to dubya speak anymore, it is just too depressing. Even the text of his words piss me off. What a dimwit!"

Couldn't stand him in the very beginning. Dislike him even more now. In addition to him being him, I really dislike how politics is controlled by groups and families in such a manner to make one think about mafia and controlling families. How does a son of a president become a governor or president in today's world? How does the wife of a president become a senator? Do primaries mean anything anymore?

Unfortunately, I don't think things will improve irregardless of who wins the next election. Too much money in politics. Too much political back slapping. Not enough independent media and not enough participation in unstaged events.

Moderates get ousted in primaries and we get left with the worst candidates out of all the candidates running.

Voting is no longer a vote for a person, but rather a vote against the other candidate. Truely a lesser of two evils vote. And then due to this extremism, we end up casting votes to attempt to maintain a moderate stance by selecting for the balance of power between executive and legislative. Which produces stalemate.

We're screwed and the mob knows it.

[Ivan Jacobs]

Yes manoman, it certainly does appear that way, and perception has a way of becoming reality.

DEMOCRACY: USE IT OR LOSE IT.

Look around: On the local level democracy still lives... At least when people show up.

What other states have Town Meeting Day?

Go to your local Selectboard or City Council meeting and you'll see the power that the public can wield... these reps are our neighbors; they HAVE TO LISTEN. If they don't listen all you must do is print a few flyers, write a few letters, and knock on a few doors to take their seat.

As far as Montpelier goes we'll need true campaign finance reform and proportional representation to make it that easy but with our common-sense electorate and grassroots non-profits like VPIRG working on organizing we could get there soon enough.

SO GET LOCAL!
"“we must be the change we wish to see in the world." - Ghandi