Until about three months ago, he was the most powerful man on Earth for eight long disastrous years. Yes, he was a classless, moronic doofus and is an enduring embarrassment not only to the Republican Party but to the United States.
There have been a litany of questions directed toward the new President, Barack Obama, who took office a bit more than three months ago. Questions about waterboarding torture, rendition, interrogation, Geneva conventions, potential prosecutions, investigations, and so forth.
These questions have come fast and furious for weeks and from all quarters, including here, elsewhere, on the pages of newspapers and on television news networks.
Here’s my question: Where is George W. Bush?
Tonight, the 44th President directly and openly accused the former President of approving the use of torture. Questions continue to be directed at President Obama at an increasingly dizzy rate, as if HE needs to answer for Bush’s deeds. This President has ordered Guantanamo to be closed, has banned torture, has initiated the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and has in 3 months made light years’ of progress in restoring the U.S. image and relationship to the world.
Question: Where is George W. Bush?
As evil as he seems to be, as much of a classic Dickensian villain, the personification of Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, at least former Vice President Dick Cheney has gotten in front of cameras and made his case, however many lies are contained therein. We've heard from Karl Rove, Condi Rice, and the rest of the Bush flunkies and right-wing apologists.
But where is George W. Bush?
President Reagan had the guts to go live on national television and look into the camera and tell the American people that yes, he had approved the trading of arms to Iran for hostages.
All the questions directed at Barack Obama over the past few weeks which have turned into months seem to me to be missing an important target.
So where is George W. Bush?
Tonight the 44th President told the American people, and the world, that the 43rd President signed off on torture.
I think it’s long past time for a media drumbeat to commence, and demand that George W. Bush step forward and respond.
I believe what President Obama did tonight, in how he answered that question, was subtle and flat-out brilliant.
The former President has been as silent as a church mouse, and after tonight that silence becomes deafening. Will it be replaced by the drumbeat: Where is George W. Bush?
C’mon Frat Boy, take the Bud challenge. It’s time to go mano-a-mano. If you dare.