A New Way Backward

The election is over, the votes have been tallied, and the results are in.  After six years, the vast sacrifice of life and influence, your federal government proudly unveils – our new slogan [1]! 

So while Bush may not like any of the Group's 79 proposals (so impractical and unrealistic), he's ready to adopt its slogan, "New Way Forward." Newsweek says that next week [2] "Bush is expected to announce what he calls 'The New Way Forward,' his latest plan to salvage the mission in Iraq." 

Of course, that's been the problem during this entire fiasco -- the substitution of rhetoric for policy -- the belief, even at this late date, that reality can be changed simply by changing the language used to describe it. Bush makes a big show of his religious faith, but what's truly impressive is his incredible faith in the power of PR, and, accordingly, his lack of faith in the American people. 

Bush is starting to remind me of O’ Brother Where Art Thou’s crotchety old governor, Pappy O’Daniel.  He just got his ass handed to him in the last election’s reform ticket and his sycophant’s got an idea on how to get his groove back: 

PAPPY:   Languishing! Goddamn campaign is languishing! We need a shot inna arm!  Hear me, boys? Inna goddamn ARM!  Election held tomorra, that sonofabitch Stokes would win it in a walk!

JUNIOR: Well he's the reform candidate, Daddy.

PAPPY: (narrows his eyes at him, wondering what he's getting at) ...Yeah?

JUNIOR: Well people like that reform. Maybe we should get us some.

PAPPY: (whips off his hat and slaps at Junior with it)  I'll reform you, you soft-headed sonofabitch! How we gonna run reform when we're the damn incumbent! 

Well Pappy Bush, it’s easy – adopt your opponent’s reform and pretend it was your idea the entire time!  Oh, and being steeped in old-time gospel music couldn't hurt.

[3]