Bush's Legacy
All presidents have a legacy for which they will be remembered. Historians will probably argue for a long time over which major disasters of Bush’s two terms is most notable as his. We’ve got an embarrassment of riches in that department.
There’s lying to take the country into an unjust and unprovoked war. Or promulgating a policy of torture. Or untargeted spying on our own innocent citizens. Or bungling the Katrina relief effort while America watched the horrors unfolding on our television screens. Or stonewalling investigation after investigation into the blatant misconduct of his office. Or driving the economy into the ground. And those are just the highlights, to say nothing of his education policy, his energy policy, and his utter disregard for the health and well-being of veterans.
But his greatest achievement, in my opinion, is a societal attitude shift. It didn’t start with him, but he sure picked up the mantle of the conservative talk show hosts and ran with it.
George Bush’s legacy is “The Fuck You Society.”
Just because you’re of my neighborhood or my nationality or my species, don’t expect any sort of innate kindness or respect. If you don’t agree with me, fuck you. If you have a different experience than me, fuck you. If you don’t look like me, act like me, or share my values, fuck you. If you think I’m wrong, fuck you. If you think I’m lying, fuck you.
This legacy is permeating our workplaces, our local governments, and our schools. It’s becoming a part of our daily lives. Agree with me or you are innately worthless, except so far as I can mock you. We all participate to some degree and it is a sad development in the evolution of our culture. It’s made compromise nearly impossible, and significantly undervalued, because if anyone different is worthless, why on earth would we waste our time attempting to find common ground?
It’s clear to me from John McCain’s behavior that he is a charter member of The Fuck You Society. He seems to revel in discounting the opinions and values of others.
Barack Obama doesn’t. My favorite passage in The Audacity of Hope comes from chapter 2. Obama writes:
Like most of my values, I learned about empathy from my mother. She disdained any kind of cruelty or thoughtlessness or abuse of power ....Whenever she saw even a hint of such behavior in me she would look me square in the eyes and ask, "How do you think that would make you feel?" ... I find myself returning again and again to my mother's simple principle -- "How would that make you feel?" -- as a guidepost for my politics. ... It's not a question we ask ourselves enough, I think; as a country, we seem to be suffering from an empathy deficit."
I like Obama and I trust him. I’m aligned with him ideologically on most issues. He spent a couple years at my alma mater. We adopted the same city. He’s intellectually curious. His wife is the bomb.
But more than any of that, why I will vote for Obama is because he asks himself “How would that make me feel?” He talks of being president of everyone in America and he actively seeks common ground. These qualities are hard to find in The Fuck You Society.
I take comfort in the fact that a president’s lasting impact is truly permanent only in the way that future generations will view that president. I will take even greater comfort when Barack Obama wins, and begins to dismantle George Bush's legacy.
This an amazing piece Orlando that highlights why January 20, 2009 will be one of the happiest days of my life. One of my favorite things about Obama is his talk of political empathy and I identify with it strongly. But as I've said before, I judge the efficiency of Gandhi by his own actions and that of his followers. You didn't see Gandhi & Gandhi-ites burning crap down in the streets, and if you did it might make you question their commitment to the change he was trying to lead.
When I think back to GWB running as a "compassionate conservative whether Obama's championing of empathy is just more of the same election year rhetoric or if it is real. I've never seen democrats as disrespectful to other democrats as in this election. As someone on the other side of the primary, I sure sensed an empathy deficit and for some it has not ended (not saying it was or is all one sided). I still see it now with those so focused on low-blow attacks on McCain & Palin. The need to demonize and attack personally rather than to oppose on policy or substance doesn't speak to me of a new politics.
I'm an I'll believe it when I see it kind of girl. So while I agree with your goals of political empathy, I have less trust in Obama's ability to deliver since I have not yet seen proof of it in action. That said, I know Obama won't be as bad as GWB with us or agin us mindset and that's an improvement I am eagerly awaiting.
PS Eff You Indianan! (Got to vent my asshattishness now while we are still under the reign of GWB).
October 1, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
D--
As relates to Obama, I think he's a principled incrementalist. In other words, he'll bend and flex a bit from what he defines as optimal behavior if he thinks the country, or a specific situation, isn't ready for it yet, but the ultimate goal is how he measures success. So in this case, the ultimate goal is a more open-minded, inclusive, substance-driven political discourse, but we're not going to see it happen overnight.
(As a side note, I expect we'll see the same approach to policy positions once he's actually in office, and I think that'll end up being a disappointment to progressive idealogues -- but Obama will judge the success of his policies on whether progress is being made, not on whether he implements a complete solution.)
At any rate, I think Obama's political empathy will help him make better decisions in office. Whether he can convince the rest of us asshats to think along the same lines and how that may or may not influence how he presents his positions I don't know. Mostly that's a question for us. If we, as a society, reward f-you-ishness, intransigence, and big dramatic personal and idealogy wars, we're going to get at least some of that from our leaders. But I think O is right that Obama will do everything he can to shift the momentum -- to "begin to dismantle [Bush's] legacy."
Oh yeah, eff you both!
October 1, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
dijamo:
I truly regret that I feel compelled to write the following comments. I had wanted to write a calm, non-pissed-off response to your comment, for we are all sick-and-tired of the prospect of re-fighting the Clinton primary wars everyday, right up to the election. However, the more I thought about what you wrote, the more incensed I became. You sound much like John McCain, calling for burying the hatchet in one sentence while hacking away with it in the next.
I quote:
I've never seen democrats as disrespectful to other democrats as in this election. As someone on the other side of the primary, I sure sensed an empathy deficit and for some it has not ended (not saying it was or is all one sided). I still see it now with those so focused on low-blow attacks on McCain & Palin.
So, your not saying the primary battle animosities were one-sided? How magnanimous you must feel. It does, however, appear that you have no problem in suggesting such IS the case for the general election - in favor of McCain/Palin!
You're clearly imply it's, at least mostly, Democrats who are delivering the low-blows in the general. That the significant majority are coming form Democrats - it would be stupid for you to attempt any claim that simply omitting Republican low-blows isn't the same as denying them, and I know you not to be stupid, but neither am I.
Continuing to project your apparent feelings of victimization over Obama beating Clinton in the primaries is not constructive for the Democrats or Hillary Clinton. Has your misplaced Obama resentment finally carried you to so extreme a place?
October 2, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Correction: So, your not saying the primary battle animosities were NOT one-sided?
October 2, 2008 12:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Double correction: The orginal form was correct after all .... aw, forget it.
October 2, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dija has zero problem speaking for herself, but just in case she's having a busy day, I'd like to respond to your comment.
She's not playing the victim and she's certainly not suggesting that republicans aren't major asshats. I think her point is that it's easy to say that you can see the other side, but she's withholding her final judgment until she sees it in action.
She's firmly in the Obama camp now, but that doesn't mean that she's forgotten how she felt six months ago. Just as I haven't forgotten how I felt either. But it's a hell of a lot easier to swallow animosity when your side wins, so why don't you back off a little bit and give her the benefit of the doubt. She's a committed feminist and a true progressive. She believes in Hillary like I believe in Barack.
But she's voting for Barack and she's working for Barack. So why don't you give her the space to express her opinion?
We were all suffering from an empathy deficit in the primary season, and that's kind of my point.
October 2, 2008 1:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Political empathy in action. You rock O!
And a hearty eff you to you and all Hoosiers :)
October 2, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's not playing the victim and she's certainly not suggesting that republicans aren't major asshats.
That point was anticipated in my response. What does it say when a Democrat accuses other Democrats of making "low-blow" attacks on the Republican ticket (which may or may not be a valid observation) BUT then omits any such plentiful observations of the Republicans. What point was she attempting to make, exactly? This is clearly an effort to settle old scores on a new battle field.
She believes in Hillary...
Of that, I am clear. Look, Hillary was not martyred, she lost an election and that's all. Stop it!
So why don't you give her the space to express her opinion?
Space to express an opinion is not the same as space to take a cheap shot, and that's what dijamo's comment was, a (admittedly) small, but none-the-less, cheap shot.
We were all suffering from an empathy deficit in the primary season, and that's kind of my point.
Can one really expect empathy from those whose eyes one continues to poke? Please, let's stop playing this game. I know that I'm tired of it. There is simply too much else to do, and too much else at stake.
October 2, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, one can and should expect empathy from someone whose eyes one continues to poke (although I reject the premise that that is what D is doing).
Empathy is a one-sided exercise that begins with an individual. Haven't you ever forgiven a stranger's really rude behavior because you thought they might been having a really bad day? They don't know it. Your forgiveness doesn't even impact them directly. But you know it. And that's where it starts.
Again, I reject the premise that D is being anything but genuine and good-hearted here. But if you really, truly believe that her intent is to continue poking you in the eye, how about trying a little empathy and not caring whether she returns it. If you do it, karma, or the universe or whatever, will send it back to you some day when you find yourself on the needing end.
Listen to what's underneath instead of reacting to what's on top. On the grand scale, that's one way to get our country back on track.
October 2, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing more productive to add here. You have the last word.
October 3, 2008 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
O's post made me think back to say October 2007 when I strongly preferred Hillary but would have been almost as happy with Obama. Why? Because I do believe in political empathy and having an understanding of the other side's point of view rather than us v. them mentality. It doesn't mean I'll compromise or agree because some things are worth fighting for. But at a minimum, I'd like to try to understand rather than demonize. My response was not about rehashing the primary battles, but rather an explanation of why I am not as hopeful as I was back then that Obama can deliver on that new politics.
Am I saying Republicans & McCain/Palin don’t do low blow attacks? Of course not. But the Republican schtick is to demonize democrats on social issues so that they can encourage enough Americans to vote against their own economic interests and put them in power. Division is the name of their game because it’s the only way they can win. The Republicans went after Bill Clinton's character savagely. Bill, his campaign, and his supporters went negative against his opponents on policy, never on character. I expect more of the democrats, especially one promising a new kind of politics and political empathy. I haven’t seen it in action yet from the Obama campaign.
I respect Orlando’s views and don’t doubt for a minute that she truly believes that Obama can bring this political empathy to the table. Do I think she’s foolish for thinking so? Of course not – we’ve just had very different experiences in this election. But, like O surmised above showing her own political empathy, given my perspective of this election I’ll believe it when I see it.
October 2, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
D- I wanted to work in an "ass" here and there, but I think I reached my vulgarity limit.
Paige, I agree that Obama is willing to take small steps toward a goal, rather than adopting and all-or-nothing attitude. That's part of finding common ground. It's why he's willing to meet with foreign leaders or Iran or North Korea without preconditions.
And, of course, eff you both.
October 1, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, ef you too, O, for not liking the ef-in' video I just posted. And ef you, too, O, for writing yet another EXCELLENT post only to see it get buried by Palin-bashing posts!
There! I feel so much ef-in' better now.
Ef-in' REC'D!!
October 1, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
WTF?
Rec'd
October 1, 2008 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was a member of the Fuck You Society in college, but they kicked me out for "behavior unbecoming a Fuck Youer"
October 1, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
What did you do, open the door for an old lady?
October 1, 2008 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fucked himself.
(Oh c'mon..... the joke was there, I took it. No wait. Fuck off.)
By the way, I'm not sure I've seen any post use the "Fuck" word quite so often. As someone who can't get speak without using Fuck in a new & interesting position (work with me people), and who regularly gets called out for it, I just have to say:
Thank you, Orlando. From now on, I have someone with a far fouler mouth to point to.
F+
October 1, 2008 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck you, Quinn.
October 1, 2008 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
To me, the word empathy is the most important one in your post.
Our political and intellectual culture under the misrule of Bush, including but not only our attitude toward the rest of the world, has been deeply corrosive of the value of empathy.
It is one the deepest explanations for the success of Obama, and the vigor with which some of us are working to turn the page.
Your post makes that point powerfully. Thanks for the post, and like your entire body of work, uber-rec'd.
October 1, 2008 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're right about that being a big reason why people respond to Obama. We're tired of being such assholes to one another. It's exhausting.
October 1, 2008 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I said to Orlando in a private conversation earlier tonight, I think that a lot of Republicans WANT to believe they are compassionate as well as conservative.
They want the "everyman" to have the same advantages they have, but they don't really know who the "everyman" is. I mean, if they did, they'd be Democrats.
Life is wonderful in an insulated little bubble of upper-middle-class or better. It truly is. And sure, it's hard to see a beggar on a corner. It's really hard.
But until the upper-middle-class and above realize that the lower-middle-class and below are people too, the fuck you mentality will exist because the uppers don't want the lowers anywhere near them.
"Not on MY lawn!"
"Not on MY street!"
"Not in MY town!"
It's all well and good to be conservative compassionate Christians.....but try living on balogna sandwiches for a week, living in the back of a pickup truck that you park at your office parking lot because you know you can wake up at 5 am and take a shower in the office gym before the coworkers arrive. And then watch the higher-paid officers of the company walk by you without seeing you, without knowing that you slept in their VIP parking space last night.
I know. I've been there once. And I don't ever want to go back.
October 2, 2008 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Fab post. That's one of my fav quotes out of his book. I've seen him during interviews mention that part of his mom's teaching and get kinda soft. I too believe that we are empathy deficit in this country - towards each other more than to disaster relief elsewhere in the world. That's what we need, more people to reach within themselves and practice empathy right here at home, in the US. It takes courage. But it also takes practice.
And oh yeah, ef- the whole lot of you!! Heh. ;)
October 2, 2008 8:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Bush's legacy could also be his willingness to instill fear in American's to get what he wants. He did it with the invasion of Iraq and if congress would admit that they fell for it then it would be better exposed. He did it with the airlines--warning everyone about the evil-doers who might blow up the next plain. Repubs have the audacity to ridicule Germany or France and call them chickens for not supporting the war "more" but fail to realize that they have lived with war in their streets--just as Iraqi's have/are and why would any empathetic human being want to instill death and destruction on innocents...for oil...for money...for an illusion of what he will gain. Look at that DVD that was sent out. McCain is doing the same thing without THINKING about the consequences and the innocent people that will get hurt...the innocent dark-skinned people that are not Islamic terrorist; are not even Muslims; do not even have Middle Eastern blood in their lineage...they simply look like someone they should be afraid of according to the fear-mongerers. It's a horror story.
October 2, 2008 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nicely done. Rec'd.
From my perspective organizations reflect their leaders. Currently, america is a reflection of Bush/Cheney... sad, but true. And currently the country has a choice to become a reflection of Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin. For myself I can only bear to imagine the Obama/Biden option.
Obama is one of the most evolved leaders I can recognize that is alive now. He understands differences in world view/levels of development and he is able to integrate that understanding into his decisions and communication. I am humbled by this and wish I had his level of mastery.
The 'f*#k you society'... I was just thinking based on recent experiences that this can be acted out even by those who think they are tolerant or more advanced... the whole thing is tricky.
Ken Wilber writes about how we can't see from the perspective of a more advanced world view than the one we are at... logical
and we will tend to perceive that those at a higher world view are actually at a lower world view and treat them accordingly
which is kind of an affront
and otherwise persecute them because we are not capable of understanding them.
I believe he refers to this as the pre-trans fallacy...two may appear identical in many ways on different levels of development but one may be acting today from a new more integrated understanding having incorporated all previous integrated learning to arrive at the choice he/she makes today and another may make the choice as it is the only one he/she understands to be possible or relevant. An example of this, I believe, would be senator Obama choosing to vote for the bail out today and senator McCain voting for the bail out. My guess is from two very different perspectives arriving at the same conclusion.
October 2, 2008 9:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
My Friends, I have the expertise and experience in fucking. When I was born, humans were just evolving from Cro-magnons. They had no idea what fucking was.
I fought against asexual procreation. I bucked my own party by selecting a sex object as my running mate. I encourage you to examine the record. Barack Obama simply does not have the judgment to fuck - just look at his running mate.
Fucking Republicans since antiquity,
McCain 1908!
October 2, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink