Beating The Bush

Friend O’ Mine sent me a fast email with the CNN story saying Bush had apologized for his response to the hurricane. “WOW!” he said. “This is a first.”

I responded this way: “Smart.... America loves a contrite, apologetic confessional and the person who makes one.”

Then I wrote Friend O’ Mine, “Bet in fuller context he means that he was the person with final responsibility (buck stops here deal) and should have known better despite the layers of otherwise information and advice...etc. etc. Sniff: do you smell the lurking smell of Karl Rove in the ‘bushes?’”

It was supposed to be slightly more clever than it was certain, so I checked out the story. Damn if I wasn’t correct.

Our stand-up President actually said, “…to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."

That’s the kind of apology I used to give to my mother when I was a kid and she caught me doing something bad. I also always immediately promised that I’d never do it again. Until the next time I get caught, I was really thinking.

And Thursday night Bush goes on TV to tell us how much he cares. At least now. Ah, but it’s only the hot breath of Karl Rove breathing down his neck, like my mother used to with me.