by Paul Waldman, Editor-in-Chief
9.13.04
He's strong. He's resolute. He looks evildoers in the eye and doesn't blink. He's our national daddy, standing in the doorway with a righteous six-gun and a steely gaze, striking fear in the hearts of all who would do us harm. By god, George W. Bush is a real man.
Or is he? We certainly know that Bush wants us to believe he's a real man - in fact, there are few things he works harder at. Sometimes it seems as if the entire might of the United States government is being wielded for the purpose of creating photo ops where Bush can look manly. We saw plenty of examples at the Republican convention; the video introducing Bush, narrated with the profound vocal stylings of actor/politician Fred Thompson, begins this way: "How do you tell the story of a presidency? How do you tell the story so far? The story is, in part, but inescapably, the story of a man."
Despite being billed as a "biography," the video told virtually nothing about what Bush has actually done in the last four years, let alone his life to that point; instead, it was mostly about Bush's September 11-related moments of theater. For the umpteenth time, we saw Bush vowing revenge through a bullhorn at Ground Zero; then Bush being photographed visiting soldiers in the hospital. The film ends with an extended retelling of Bush going to Yankee Stadium and throwing out the first ball at a World Series game not long after September 11, presented with swelling music and slow-motion, as though his ability to walk to the mound and throw the ball was some act of extraordinary heroism of which no mere mortal would have been capable.
And in his convention speech, Bush reemphasized his masculinity. "Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger," he said, "which in Texas is called walking." There's certainly a swagger in Bush's walk, but what is most notable about it is how affected it is. It's not about being strong, it's about looking strong.
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More here:
http://gadflyer.com/articles/?ArticleID=205Some examples:
Bush was strong when told about 9/11 and continued to read My Pet Goat.
Bush was strong when he allowed the 9/11 Commission to question him with Dick Cheney holding his hand.
Bush was strong during his (fewer than any modern president) 12 solo press conferences.
Bush was strong at his last press conference when he couldn't admit to making any mistakes.
Bush was strong when he didn't allow undecided voters or Democrats into his campaign events.
Bush was strong when pushing to eliminate the "Town Hall" debate in St. Louis.
Bush was strong when he was a Cheerleader in high school.
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