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The Bush Tragedy

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Slate editor-in-chief Jacob Weisberg examines the family, friends, and advisors who have contributed to the troubled presidency of George W. Bush – from his parents to Karl Rove and Condoleezza Rice. His new book is The Bush Tragedy.

Event: Jacob Weisberg will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, January 22 at 7 pm
Upper West Side Barnes & Noble
2289 Broadway (at 82nd Street)

Weigh in: Whom do you hold more accountable: President Bush himself, or his circle of advisors?


Comments

  • [1] tony from nyc January 22, 2008 - 12:11PM

    YAY FALSTAFF!!! George W. Bush as Prince Hal huh? He may be a warrior king now, but he is still running around robbing people...


  • [2] John from Jersey City, NJ January 22, 2008 - 12:14PM

    Does this book offer any insights or information not revealed in Fortunate Son by J. H. Hatfield?


  • [3] Steve from Manhattan January 22, 2008 - 12:19PM

    All are responsible, and that includes the Bush-enablers in the Congress. Hundreds of thousands of people who would otherwise be alive today have been slaughtered because of this man. He's come close to destroying this country too, and he's certainly wrecked the government. A war crimes trial is too good for Bush and Cheney.


  • [4] j from nyc January 22, 2008 - 12:19PM

    the way I like to p**s off W's true-believers is by saying one of 2 things:

    1. "I still think Bush41 was better."

    2. " I just don't think he's smart enough to be a good president."

    a calculated amount of wistfulness is useful.

    The other thing that I think drives this family, is that Barbara Bush married up, and isn't about to let anyone forget it, including her own family. Tragic.


  • [5] megan from Park Slope January 22, 2008 - 12:23PM

    bush is so dumb that he won the presidency twice

    that's how "dumb" he is


  • [6] Sharon from NY January 22, 2008 - 12:26PM

    Megan, he was APPOINTED president the first time.


  • [7] Rick from Connecticut January 22, 2008 - 12:27PM

    Shakespeare is too pretentious, Bush is closer to the loser brother in the movie The Godfather, Freddo


  • [8] Sue from NY January 22, 2008 - 12:28PM

    Most people go into therapy to work out their mommy and daddy issues. W goes into politics. The White House is one giant couch.


  • [9] Daniel from nyc January 22, 2008 - 12:28PM

    How tragic, if this is true, family tension tearing the nation apart. A pity that Bush's impressions were reversed: Rather than completing George Bush Sr's work, W failed time and time again. I'd be so disappointed in my son if I were George Sr.


  • [10] TM from Brooklyn January 22, 2008 - 12:33PM

    1. Weisberg is incorrect in calling Henry V "The most religious of Shakespeare's kings." That distinction clearly goes to V's son Henry VI. His pacifist tendencies ironically plunged the kingdom into the bloodiest phase of the Wars of the Roses.

    2. If George wanted so much to oppose his father, why didn't he become a liberal Democrat? :


  • [11] ab January 22, 2008 - 12:39PM

    They're all criminals who sought to subvert our democracy as far as I'm concerned.


  • [12] XX from New York January 22, 2008 - 01:58PM

    I hold the Republican party leaders in Texas responsible who thrusted him on to the political stage in the first place. They were in the first position to know him best. Texas should be asked to cede from the Union. We would be a lot better off without them and their oil industry!


  • [13] Chris Thorn from Brooklyn January 22, 2008 - 03:19PM

    For the record, Henry V is not a "tragic" figure. The play falls into the somewhat artificial category of "History". It seems that the some of the comparisons are still very apt, but Hal's story does not end tragically. It remains to be seen if the story of George W. Bush will have a happy ending.


  • [14] alexander from nyc January 22, 2008 - 05:21PM

    why limit the question of accountability to bush or his advisors? however limited, i accept that they did what they thought was best. what about the voters who elected bush twice? what is our "tragedy?"


  • [15] Joe B January 24, 2008 - 05:32PM

    I wish Leonard had asked more questions about Bush's response to Katrina.


  • [16] Againcourt June 23, 2008 - 06:44PM

    Weisberg followed many pundits who early in the Bush administration compared the president to Shakespeare's King Henry V:

    http://www.poppolitics.com/archives/2003/05/George-W-as-Henry-V


This thread is closed.


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