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May 16, 2006
The speech: Andrew Sullivan approves, or "President Bush jumps the shark"
Andrew Sullivan seems pleased: "The Bush we saw tonight was more like the Bush we thought we were getting in 2000. Which is why, perhaps, his increasingly extreme and angry party will only turn on him some more." Which is something like saying conservatives won't be pleased with the speech, because it was a cynical show and not genuine leadership.
Call me "extremist," I guess. We've known for a while that Karl Rove's 20-year plan demands GOP acquiescence in pro-Latino policy, and Bush's policy-in-absentia, before last night, was steeped in the naked vote-getting by a man who views himself as a GOP visionary. Last night's speech, try as it did to take a seemingly hard-line - Bring in the National Guard! - isn't about to fool the base. We know Clintonian leadership when we see it.
Heading into the speech last night, I'd hoped it'd sound something like his August 2001 address discussing stem cell funding and announced a sensible, principled compromise. But last night was nothing of the sort; Bush's opening remarks that border security is the "first responsibility" of a sovereign nation. Why, then, ignore the issue for over 5 years? How will we enforce the "must return home" part of the guest worker program, given Bush's position that deporation is all but impossible? And why the rhetorical end-around on what is and isn't "amnesty"?
Wikipedia defines "jumping the shark" as the "tipping point at which a TV series is deemed to have passed its peak...fans sense a noticeable decline in quality or feel the show has undergone too many changes to retain its original charm." The metaphor goes beyond television - it can be applied to anything from sports dynasties to careers to relationships, and even politicians. And folks, I think we're there.
Posted by bill at May 16, 2006 09:13 AM
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