George W. Bush Can't Paint His Way Out of Hell

[douglas9]

I am not an art critic, but I don’t think George W. Bush’s new portraits are very good. They inspire nothing but malaise and communicate a dilettante energy. Painting is to Bush what politics used to be: a hobby for a wealthy man. Yet there is something revelatory about them, though this may be unintentional on the part of the artist. For his new book, Out of Many, One, Bush has selected immigrants for his subjects. Most are well-known, wealthy or established in some way, as if the American dream requires an M.B.A. One is Henry Kissinger, whom Bush describes as a “good friend.” Kissinger is by rights a war criminal, responsible for an American bombing campaign that murdered tens of thousands of Cambodian civilians. Here Bush’s hand slips, just a little. Amnesia is as beneficial to Bush as it is to Kissinger. Bush’s body count may even exceed that of his friend were they ever to compare notes.

The reality of the Bush legacy is at painful odds with his post-presidential reputation. That discrepancy isn’t news. Here is what we know about Bush. Ever so eager to establish himself as the avatar of something he calls “compassionate conservatism,” he is responsible for torture and death on a mass scale. Because these abuses did not occur on American shores, did not target American citizens, the political class has decided to pretend the death does not matter. Bush has assumed the role of elder statesman, a sensible voice in a Republican party gone mad. His complicity is fading out of view.


https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/04/george-w-bush-cant-paint-his-way-out-of-hell.html

[hlthe2b]

1. I can't imagine anyone thinks they are great art, but good for a novice amateur.

I'll never deny Bush* considerable damage and atrocities committed on our constitution, but it is impossible not to realize how much worse Trump has been, even if Bush* started us down that path.

Still, if you asked me who of the following should face their karma first and most severely, of Trump, Bush*, Cheney... Well, I suspect you know who would be #1 and #2. Bush would get a bit more time to explore his artistic side.

[Polybius]

3. I don't think Trump was worse

Trump the person was, but not Trump the President. He didn't start two wars that we're still involved in to this day like Shrub did. Millions died because of him, and his ignoring the warning signs cost us my beloved Twin Towers.

[hlthe2b]

4. As we approach the very underestimated 600K dead from COVID, not to mention the lasting damage

throughout our Federal Government (the extent to which we may not know for decades) and our international trust and relationships, I'd not discount Trump readily becoming WORSE. COVID deaths are likely underestimated by at least 30% given the continuing trend in excess deaths.

All told, between 480,000 and 507,000 people have been killed in the United States' post-9/11 wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

At least 800,000 civilian people have been killed by direct war violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan, though most not from the direct impact of US forces.

https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/2018/Human%20Costs%2C%20Nov%208%202018%20CoW.pdf

All, horrible, but if you think Trump may well not surpass that from COVID and his own military involvements, including those who have put Kurdish and other civilian populations directly in the cross-hairs, I'd suggest you will likely (and sadly) be proven wrong.

[Polybius]

6. I don't blame Trump for all 600k deaths

While he royally botched it, he certainly didn't start it. Unlike Bush who started two wars that he didn't have to. We have no way to tell how many Covid deaths would have happened under Hillary. The US is a huge melting pot (especially NY), we may have had 200,000 anyway.

[hlthe2b]

7. Trump undermined nearly all PUBLIC HEALTH efforts for early recognition &response. He is absolutely

as culpable as Bush* was in Iraq. I don't defend either, but damn, don't underestimate the damage directly attributable to Trump. We haven't even brought up the dead at the border, either with his genocidal policies. At least Bush* didn't emulate Hitler.

[BGBD]

17. You think

We could have gone through 911 and not gone to war? Iraq sure, but every president past and future would have invaded Afghanistan.

[cinematicdiversions]

18. Yeah we should have left Afghanistan after a few years but going in was the right call. NT

[BGBD]

19. Yeah it's been too long with no clear objective

[oldsoftie]

21. "Millions" have not died.

But Iraq was still a totally unneeded war

[Carlitos Brigante]

2. It's people like him who almost make me wish there was a hell..... nt

[sop]

5. In the immortal words of Bob Ross:

"We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.” And "We want happy paintings. Happy paintings. If you want sad things, watch the news.” Or my favorite, "That’s a crooked tree. We’ll send him to Washingron."

[Hortensis]

10. :) I watched him now and then but never heard your favorite.

Thanks for sharing. I can just see him saying it.

[MarcA]

8. Bush is part of the national/global cult of wealth privilege.

Humanity can not evolve to something better until this pyramid scam is gone.

[Hortensis]

9. I liked some I saw in the background. He's really into it.

Real horrific crimes and betrayals of duty juxtaposed against the cheerful liveliness of his art. Interesting, not impossible to comprehend or accept. We all contain multitudes, in our own ways.

[SarcasticSatyr]

11. Yes, Bush is a good painter ..

.. and this country would have been a lot better off if he had made that his career instead of politics.

[Hortensis]

13. For sure and if only! I saw this below and was reminded of his saying

he looked into Putin's eyes and was able to get a sense of his soul. But this suggests he didn't see one at all:

?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip

[Blue Owl]

16. It is indeed a disturbing portrait...

[abqtommy]

12. Thanks for this reminder that will help quite a bit to make sure W's legacy doesn't

fade away.

[Kaleva]

14. He gets along well with the Clintons, Obamas and Bidens. Not so well with the Trumps.

I think it's telling that Biden talked to Bush about his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan before the public was informed.

[Blue Owl]

15. I still can't believe...

I still can't believe how, during the Bush administration, I thought we had sunk to the lowest possible level of stupidity in Republican politics...

But then, after 8 wonderful years of Obama, along comes Donald Fucking T***p...

[japple]

22. We have got to work just as hard in 2022 & 2024 to get out the vote. We cannot ever allow

another tRUMP or Bush (or Cheney) in the White House.

[Boomerproud]

20. K&R

Well-written piece.

[JohnnyRingo]

23. The point of art is originality.

Exploring new techniques and style. The subject matter is irrelevant.
I'd know a Banksy in a second, and Peter Max is instantly recognized. The Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd could release a new song tomorrow and I'd know who it was in 4 bars.

GW is no Pink Floyd or Warhol, he's not even a Garry Trudeau, but he isn't a Milli Vanilli either. His work is unique and recognizable as his own hand. Whether he's ahead of his time or an art student drop out will be decided long after he's gone. Just ask Jim Carey.

[Martin Eden]

24. Here's what I want to say to GW Bush:

I'd tell you to go fuck yourself
But that is much to kind
If you could perform that feat
You'd take pleasure in your behind

I'd like to say eat shit and die
But you deserve much more
You should suffer all the grief and pain
Of your misbegotten war

Though I can never make you think
Or feel, or understand
I'll take solace when you hear your name
Cursed throughout the land

From inside a lonely prison cell
Dark and bare and cold
Where every day you pay for your crimes
Until your sick, heartbroken, and old

When you finally leave the earth
You fucked over oh so well
If there is a God and afterlife
You're going straight to hell

[LetMyPeopleVote]

25. bush was a horrible POTUS who got us into two wars