Perhaps Bush should read The Bible and start acting in accordance with its precepts.
Posted by Cookie Monster at August 16, 2006 03:48 AMHe may've read the crib notes.
On the other hand, "made quick work of" may refer to using the book as fire kindling. A far more likely scenario.
Posted by Christopher at August 16, 2006 03:50 AMCamus? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA The next thing Rove will be telling us is that he is reading Sartre's Existialism. As my Grandmother use to say, "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." Translated: you can't make an intellectual out of a idiot.
Posted by Judith at August 16, 2006 04:01 AMA friend gave me a funny bumper sticker. It shows a head shot of Bush on the phone and reads: Bush is Listening, Use Big Words.
Posted by Judith at August 16, 2006 04:36 AMJudith,
Did you happen to catch the oil industry report that claims "fear" is the reason for as much as 25% of high gas prices? I never bought the supply allegation.
At $3 a gallon, that's .75 cents.
No wonder Little Boots keeps fanning the flames of fear -- his old family friends in the Middle East and at Exxon-Mobil are making ca$h hand-over-fist.
Posted by Christopher at August 16, 2006 05:02 AM"In the late 1800s, President Garfield, a former classics professor, knew many languages. He amused friends by putting an English book in front of him and writing tablets to his left and right."
"He would simultaneously translate the English into Greek with his left hand and into Latin with his right hand," said Forrest McDonald, presidential historian at the University of Alabama.
Early in the 20th century, President Wilson was fluent in Latin, Greek and French, and President Hoover translated a Latin manuscript on the history and techniques of mining into English.
February 14, 2001
Copyright © 2001 The Sun-Sentinel. All Rights Reserved.
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I dare say Garfield and his peers would marvel at the intellectual shortcomings of George Bush and certainly puzzle at his becoming President. Truly, as one wit quipped, a man born on third base thinking he's hit a home run in life.
If Bush even read Archie comic books on vacation I'd be surprised. Camus? Extremely doubtful. Maybe Condi read it to him.
Posted by ann at August 16, 2006 05:31 AMIt's amazing that the Bush handlers are still busily pushing this sort of "vaction reading" shit. Who is the "audience" for this "information"? Bush's "base"? Isn't that simply ridiculous?
Or is to be used by the remaining "supporters" as "evidence" to counter the overwhelming public attitude that George is frankly a dummy?
It's not like large numbers of Americans know a single thing about the word "Camoo" (certainly they have never seen it in print). Yet here we have WH employees happily distributing information to an obliging press that George Bush, of all people, read Camus on his summer vacation. Why?
Surreal. A dreamscape.
Posted by euzoius at August 16, 2006 05:50 AMabsolutely euzoius, totally surreal.
who are they putting this out there for?
nobody believes it and nobody cares.
next he'll be re-reading J Derrida and M Foucault to brush up on his post modernist de-construction
theory and philosophy...
who knew?
Posted by John B. at August 16, 2006 05:59 AMI wonder if Jeff Gannon was able to spend the entire 10 days at the pig farm this year?
Posted by Christopher at August 16, 2006 06:03 AMMaureen Dowd has some fun with L'Idiot et L'Etranger today in the Times but it's locked up behind the firewall.
Posted by snark at August 16, 2006 06:17 AMSo glad Bush is finally catching up on his College Freshman required reading.
Posted by firefly at August 16, 2006 06:28 AMMore on our secret intellectual.
From NYT: Bush met with a group of ME academic experts over lunch recently to discuss Iraq. He was "puzzled" and "frustrated" over exactly why thousands of Iraqi shi'ites would attend an anti-American rally over the Israeli-Lebanon War.
Yeah, I wonder why shi'ite Iraqis would be dissatisfied over our support of Israel's attacks on shi'ite Hezbollah and their killing of shi'ite civilians in Lebanon, together with the destruction of all their worldly goods?
Hard to figure. Maybe Camus or Sartre have a chapter on it.
Can't they even explain it to him with color codes?
You know, "We colored the shi'ite areas in the ME in red, Mr. President."
"Hey, they're all over the place!"
"Right, sir."
If he weren't such a brutal, divisive, egomaniacal ass, you'd almost feel sorry for him.
Posted by euzoius at August 16, 2006 06:31 AMeuzoius, Bush is a mass murderer, a sociopath on a grand scale. Pity isn't an entirely inappropriate feeling towards him. It is tragic when any human turns out to be such a monster.
Posted by steve duncan at August 16, 2006 06:55 AMHey, Steve, it is factually true that he is a war criminal and mass murderer, but sociopath seems a little harsh. I think he is more delusional than sociopathic.
Posted by Angel at August 16, 2006 07:45 AMPerhaps they found the Classic Comics version...still, I'd LOVE to hear the book review...delivered out loud, of course! Quickly before he has more time to practice what one of his "helpers" puts together.
Posted by at August 16, 2006 07:47 AMI agree, sociopath doesn't fit. He has a conscience he's just been told by everyone around him that it doesn't apply to present circumstances.
Posted by snark at August 16, 2006 08:00 AMI think Georgie shares a good-ol' A-rab killin' commonality with Meursault, but on a more global scale. I'm glad to see the Bushmaster making use of previously unknown brain cells, but I kind of think he should spend more time undeciding what he decided earlier. It's poor social etiquette to start a few wars, and then go on vacation. Gets them terra-types really mad.
And did you notice the British terra-rists held off until The Great Protector went on vacation? They obviously live in great fear of the House of the Holy outside Crawford.
Posted by tempus at August 16, 2006 08:20 AMAsocial: not social as (a) rejecting or lacking the capacity for social interaction; (b) antisocial. - Webster's New Collegiate Dict. '76 ed.
Well, considering the bubble that Bushmeat keeps himself in, allowing NO dissent or uncomfortable truths, I'd say yeah our pResident fits the definition of antisocial. He lacks the capacity to behave with even minimal diplomacy in the face of opposition, even in social situations. Shoulder rub, anyone? heh heh (:>
Posted by Donald Cormac at August 16, 2006 08:23 AMApparently a female passanger managed to board a flight from Heathrow to Dulles this morning with a screwdriver, a tub of Vaseline and a book of matches.
Developing....
Posted by snark at August 16, 2006 08:23 AM"....a screwdriver, a tub of Vaseline and a book of matches."
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Gee snark, in my youth if a date showed up without those three items I'd send her home.
Best keep that to yourself Steve.
Posted by snark at August 16, 2006 08:35 AMYes sociopath is a little harsh. A true sociopath would delight in the suffering of others (such as mocking death row inmates about to be executed), would lie incessantly and without shred of remorse to further his agenda of the day, and would consider himself to be truly justified in all his actions, even if they manifestly ignored reality and caused the death and suffering of others.
Way too harsh.
Posted by baked potato at August 16, 2006 08:42 AMNever mind on the woman with a screwdriver , a tub of Vaseline, a book of matches and an al Queda note. Seems she was just a bit claustrophobic and got into a bit of a tiff with the flight crew.
And now back to our regularly scheduled program....
Posted by snark at August 16, 2006 08:49 AMI think we're talking Narcissism more than Sociopathy:
At least five of the following are necessary for a diagnosis:
1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3)believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by other special or high-status people (or institutions, eg: Harvard and other Ivy League institutions)
4) requires excessive admiration
5) has a strong sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
6) takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
7) lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
is often envious or believes others are envious of him or her
8) has arrogant affect, haughty behaviors or attitudes
thanks, wiki
Posted by ann at August 16, 2006 08:54 AMAnd everyone is afraid to tell him it is not pronounced "Cam-us".
A true sociopath would delight in the suffering of others
Yeah. Like putting fireworks in frogs mouths, requiring people to run three miles in Texas heat to get a T-shirt, feeling no remorse for the death and destruction he caused. That boy has antisocial personality disorder (sociopath).
Posted by phidipides at August 16, 2006 08:59 AMquick work of the Algerian-born writer's 1946 novel -- in English."
When did George learn English?
Posted by Repack Rider at August 16, 2006 09:28 AMHare's PCL-R 20-item checklist is based on Cleckley's 16-item checklist, and the following is a discussion of the concepts in the PCL-R:
1. GLIB and SUPERFICIAL CHARM -- the tendency to be smooth, engaging, charming, slick, and verbally facile. Psychopathic charm is not in the least shy, self-conscious, or afraid to say anything. A psychopath never gets tongue-tied. They have freed themselves from the social conventions about taking turns in talking, for example.
2. GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.
3. NEED FOR STIMULATION or PRONENESS TO BOREDOM -- an excessive need for novel, thrilling, and exciting stimulation; taking chances and doing things that are risky. Psychopaths often have a low self-discipline in carrying tasks through to completion because they get bored easily. They fail to work at the same job for any length of time, for example, or to finish tasks that they consider dull or routine.
4. PATHOLOGICAL LYING -- can be moderate or high; in moderate form, they will be shrewd, crafty, cunning, sly, and clever; in extreme form, they will be deceptive, deceitful, underhanded, unscrupulous, manipulative, and dishonest.
5. CONNING AND MANIPULATIVENESS- the use of deceit and deception to cheat, con, or defraud others for personal gain; distinguished from Item #4 in the degree to which exploitation and callous ruthlessness is present, as reflected in a lack of concern for the feelings and suffering of one's victims.
6. LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT -- a lack of feelings or concern for the losses, pain, and suffering of victims; a tendency to be unconcerned, dispassionate, coldhearted, and unempathic. This item is usually demonstrated by a disdain for one's victims.
7. SHALLOW AFFECT -- emotional poverty or a limited range or depth of feelings; interpersonal coldness in spite of signs of open gregariousness.
8. CALLOUSNESS and LACK OF EMPATHY -- a lack of feelings toward people in general; cold, contemptuous, inconsiderate, and tactless.
9. PARASITIC LIFESTYLE -- an intentional, manipulative, selfish, and exploitative financial dependence on others as reflected in a lack of motivation, low self-discipline, and inability to begin or complete responsibilities.
10. POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS -- expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper; acting hastily.
11. PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR -- a variety of brief, superficial relations, numerous affairs, and an indiscriminate selection of sexual partners; the maintenance of several relationships at the same time; a history of attempts to sexually coerce others into sexual activity or taking great pride at discussing sexual exploits or conquests.
12. EARLY BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS -- a variety of behaviors prior to age 13, including lying, theft, cheating, vandalism, bullying, sexual activity, fire-setting, glue-sniffing, alcohol use, and running away from home.
13. LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS -- an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals; a nomadic existence, aimless, lacking direction in life.
14. IMPULSIVITY -- the occurrence of behaviors that are unpremeditated and lack reflection or planning; inability to resist temptation, frustrations, and urges; a lack of deliberation without considering the consequences; foolhardy, rash, unpredictable, erratic, and reckless.
15. IRRESPONSIBILITY -- repeated failure to fulfill or honor obligations and commitments; such as not paying bills, defaulting on loans, performing sloppy work, being absent or late to work, failing to honor contractual agreements.
16. FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS -- a failure to accept responsibility for one's actions reflected in low conscientiousness, an absence of dutifulness, antagonistic manipulation, denial of responsibility, and an effort to manipulate others through this denial.
17. MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS -- a lack of commitment to a long-term relationship reflected in inconsistent, undependable, and unreliable commitments in life, including marital.
18. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY -- behavior problems between the ages of 13-18; mostly behaviors that are crimes or clearly involve aspects of antagonism, exploitation, aggression, manipulation, or a callous, ruthless tough-mindedness.
19. REVOCATION OF CONDITION RELEASE -- a revocation of probation or other conditional release due to technical violations, such as carelessness, low deliberation, or failing to appear.
20. CRIMINAL VERSATILITY -- a diversity of types of criminal offenses, regardless if the person has been arrested or convicted for them; taking great pride at getting away with crimes.
Cleckley, Hervey (1903-1984). The Mask of Sanity, Fifth Edition, 1988. Previous editions copyrighted 1941, 1950, 1955, 1964, 1976 by St. Louis: Mosby Co.
Hare, R. (1999). Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths among us. NY: Guilford Press.
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Above is a commonly agreed upon list of sociopathic traits. Bush possesses most of these. Can someone make the case he doesn't fall into the category of sociopath?
I find it just tooooooooo creepy - L'etranger (The Stranger as the boob supposedly read it) is about the murder of a random Arab. Is this a Rovian message?
Posted by theExile at August 16, 2006 10:03 AMNBC News and news services
Updated: 57 minutes ago
BOSTON
snip.....
The female passenger, 60, aboard United Flight 923 said she was claustrophobic and became very upset and got into some kind of confrontation with the flight crew, said George Naccara, federal security director for the Transportation Security Administration for Massachusetts’ airport.
The disturbance — coming just a week after authorities in London said they foiled a terror plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights — was enough to concern the pilot to issue an alert, which activated two fighter jets to escort the flight into Logan, Naccara said.
Naccara said he did not believe any items she was carrying were the cause of the outburst. An airport spokesman previously said the woman was carrying lotion, a screw driver and matches, but backed off the statement, and Naccara said it wasn’t true.
Searching luggage, interviewing passengers
The flight, with 182 passengers and 12 crew members landed safely, UAL Corp. spokesman Brandon Borrman said.
State Police and federal agencies took control of the plane after it landed.
Passengers were taken off the plane and loaded onto a bus. Naccara said the passengers were being interviewed. He had no information whether passengers had helped to subdue her.
Passenger luggage was removed from the plane and put on the tarmac, where it was rechecked by security officials and trained dogs.
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Can we all agree in the last 5 years Bush and Bin Laden have successfully driven Americans to the point of insanity? Truly the elephant wrecking the circus while running from the mouse.
Steve and Snark, thanks for the laugh out loud. Was she on her way to Crawford?
Christopher, no I did not catch the oil industry report. However, I do believe that fear and greed play a part in the gas prices.
Posted by Judith at August 16, 2006 12:09 PMI heard that the women in question had a panic attack.
Posted by Judith at August 16, 2006 12:18 PMYeah, go figure. Someone getting panicky on a commercial air flight out of London these days. Sheesh!
Posted by snark at August 16, 2006 12:20 PMScarborough: “Is Bush An ‘Idiot’?”
Joe Scarborough started his program tonight asking the question "is Bush an idiot?" (Is that really debatable?). Not only did he do a great run down of clips involving some of the most famous "Bushisms", but he did have an interesting conversation about this question with Lawrence O’Donnell and John Fund. To read more:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/posts/2006/08/15/scarborough-is-bush-an-idiot/
The fact that anyone would be asking if the pResident is an idiot says it all.
Posted by Judith at August 16, 2006 01:01 PMYou know, Judith, only in America would people actually defend a president who is as stupid as Bush. I agree with Bill Maher who said, "The president should be an exceptional human being." Indeed, the president represents all of us, and I'm tired of people thinking most Americans are as stupid as Bush.
Posted by ann at August 16, 2006 01:44 PMAnn, I am beginning to think that many people are comfortable with stupidity. They relate so well to the word.
Posted by Judith at August 16, 2006 04:27 PMMaybe Bush is into speed reading?
Or maybe he just took some speed and thought he read it in a flash?
I believe that it is time to enforce the No Child Left Behind requirements and administer a pop-quiz to the president on national television (hey, if NLCB is good enough for our children, then it should be good enough for the president).
At the least, the president should be required to write an essay on the book he just supposedly read. And no cheating. And no one (like a speechwriter) doing the essay for him. The president should set an example for the children of our country.
Hey, we'll even let him use a pencil with an eraser...just in case he makes a mistake. Oh wait, our Dear Leader, the president, never makes mistakes. So skip the eraser. Obviously, he won't need it.
Posted by The Oracle at August 16, 2006 05:36 PMquick work? I think he means he dropped in the shitter while he was taking a dump.
Posted by j swift at August 16, 2006 06:47 PM"The president should be an exceptional human being."
And indeed he is. He is an exceptional idiot.
Posted by phidipides at August 16, 2006 07:17 PM