Regrets, He's Had a Few

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Lyrics sung by Sinatra as a summation of his life:  My Way.  George Bush sings his farewell song on Thursday, if anybody cares to listen.  He did it his way and has few regrets.  The nation has many.  Few tears will roll down cheeks across this nation, only from hard-core loyalists and apologists.

He did it his way and that's for certain.  Hunches rather than wisdom and advice. An adolescent mind-set filled with bravado and ignorance, he played the role of president as if it were an off-Broadway play. The tune of My Way was originally named Comme d'habitude which fittingly was also the musical basis for David Bowie's 1973 single, Life On Mars.  Life on Mars- exactly.

Yet the words of Comme d'habitude [as usual] have this repeated phrase throughout:   On fera semblant, Comme d'habitudee. We will pretend, as usual.

Pretending to be the president seems clear as I look back on this disastrous 8-year nightmare. His first 8-months in office were a collection of jokes, cutting brush on the ranch, and looking bored at the job of president. The dust collected on the PDB which sat on his desk during his month-long vacation at the ranch. The PDB titled, 'bin Laden determined to strike in US.' That one.

The 8-month fantasy blew up in his face on the 11th of September whilst reading My Pet Goat to the children during a photo op, a photo op that is etched in the memories of millions of Americans. A bewildered man, sitting in shock, unable to function, having to be led off by the Secret Service as an old man with dementia.

The rest of the story is even more sad to recall- his adolescent mind flooded with revenge and vengeance for the attacks. A mind easily programmed by the elder advisers of the naive and befuddled man. There names were Rumsfeld and Cheney. Nine-eleven was a stroke of luck, an opportunity to unfurl the secret plan, their long awaited revenge on Saddam Hussein.

Four thousand soldiers and Marines now lie in their graves because George Bush, inexperienced, and a mere apprentice in global affairs, heeded the advice of the sly elder advisers.

He leaves office in 6 days with that war continuing to consume our resources, both in blood and treasure. Tens of thousands of our military men and women are permanently disabled and scarred for life, their future hopes and dreams deferred. Countless others will suffer PTSD, ruining families and jobs. But.

He did it his way. 

He has few regrets and no apologies.

And we are all-the-worse for that 8-year adventure.