(no subject)
From Matt Taibbi's "interview" with G.W. Bush in Rolling Stone.
~~~
GWB: We were in bed one night, watching TV, and we saw this thing on the news about some poll in the Middle East showing that I was the most hated man in the Arab world, getting three times as many votes as the second-place guy, who was Ariel Sharon. And I said to [Laura], "Jeez, what the fuck did I do to deserve that?"
And she said?
She didn't say anything. She just kind of gave me this look. Like she was sad. My dad does it too, sometimes. Like there's something they want to say to me, but won't.
I think there are a lot of people who feel that way.
Really? What do they want to say?
Do you really want to know?
Sure.
OK, here it is. You're the child of two emotionally absent aristocrats who denied you any kind of love and affection from an early age. You grew up resentful and lacking completely in natural gifts or curiosity and by early adulthood found yourself desperate to fulfill the expectations by then mostly had for your much more competent brother, Jeb. You failed every test you ever faced as a young man and were unable to hold any job at all until the age of 45 or so, at which time you decided to try to win some self-respect by going into the family business. You were aided in this quest by a bunch of narrow-minded lackeys and holdovers from your father's administration who every step of the way manipulated your obvious Oedipal resentments to their advantage, enriching themselves and their friends. All you wanted was a pat on the back and a few accomplishments of your own to hand your hat on, but instead you're about to spend the rest of eternity pondering your now-official legacy as the worst and most pigheaded leader in the history of Western democracy, a man who almost single-handedly sank the mightiest nation on Earth by turning the presidency into a $50 trillion therapy session that ended in two disastrous wars, a financial crisis that threatens the entire system of international capitalism, and a legacy of corruption on a scale not seen since the Borgias or maybe Nero.
That, Mr. President, is what they're thinking and not saying to you.
Jeez, I thought you guys were a music magazine.
We are. You have any album recommendations?
Sure, I thought you might ask that. I like-
Just kidding. Time's up. Sorry.
No, really, I do have one more thing to say.
What's that?
I'm sorry?
You're sorry? For what?
[Sighs] I, uh...you know, I remember back in 1989, I was thinking about buying a couple of Sizzler franchises in Lubock.
You should have done it.
And I told my dad what I was thinking, and you know what he said?
No. What?
He said, "Good idea, son. It's hard to fuck up steak."
We get it. Your father was a dick. So what? Buy a puppy or something. That's what everyone else does.
Yeah [A single tear rolls down his cheek] I guess I fucked up, huh?
Big-time. Can we have the world back now?
Sure, I guess. I really am sorry.
Gotta run. Later.
[Whimpering] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
~~~
GWB: We were in bed one night, watching TV, and we saw this thing on the news about some poll in the Middle East showing that I was the most hated man in the Arab world, getting three times as many votes as the second-place guy, who was Ariel Sharon. And I said to [Laura], "Jeez, what the fuck did I do to deserve that?"
And she said?
She didn't say anything. She just kind of gave me this look. Like she was sad. My dad does it too, sometimes. Like there's something they want to say to me, but won't.
I think there are a lot of people who feel that way.
Really? What do they want to say?
Do you really want to know?
Sure.
OK, here it is. You're the child of two emotionally absent aristocrats who denied you any kind of love and affection from an early age. You grew up resentful and lacking completely in natural gifts or curiosity and by early adulthood found yourself desperate to fulfill the expectations by then mostly had for your much more competent brother, Jeb. You failed every test you ever faced as a young man and were unable to hold any job at all until the age of 45 or so, at which time you decided to try to win some self-respect by going into the family business. You were aided in this quest by a bunch of narrow-minded lackeys and holdovers from your father's administration who every step of the way manipulated your obvious Oedipal resentments to their advantage, enriching themselves and their friends. All you wanted was a pat on the back and a few accomplishments of your own to hand your hat on, but instead you're about to spend the rest of eternity pondering your now-official legacy as the worst and most pigheaded leader in the history of Western democracy, a man who almost single-handedly sank the mightiest nation on Earth by turning the presidency into a $50 trillion therapy session that ended in two disastrous wars, a financial crisis that threatens the entire system of international capitalism, and a legacy of corruption on a scale not seen since the Borgias or maybe Nero.
That, Mr. President, is what they're thinking and not saying to you.
Jeez, I thought you guys were a music magazine.
We are. You have any album recommendations?
Sure, I thought you might ask that. I like-
Just kidding. Time's up. Sorry.
No, really, I do have one more thing to say.
What's that?
I'm sorry?
You're sorry? For what?
[Sighs] I, uh...you know, I remember back in 1989, I was thinking about buying a couple of Sizzler franchises in Lubock.
You should have done it.
And I told my dad what I was thinking, and you know what he said?
No. What?
He said, "Good idea, son. It's hard to fuck up steak."
We get it. Your father was a dick. So what? Buy a puppy or something. That's what everyone else does.
Yeah [A single tear rolls down his cheek] I guess I fucked up, huh?
Big-time. Can we have the world back now?
Sure, I guess. I really am sorry.
Gotta run. Later.
[Whimpering] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.