Hey, You! Mr. M.B.A. President!

What happened, Dude?

You who prided yourself so much on being the first M.B.A. president!

If the stock price of the U.S. were valued at, say, $100 when you began your term in 2001, how would you peg it today? What about linking the price to your popularity rating of 27%? Too high. A value of $20 is more realistic meaning a loss of 80% of value which, when inflation is added, is more than 80%.

The fall in value of 401Ks could be another measure.

A Washington Post story on the front page January 12, 2009 says you realized the lowest percentage of job growth over a two year presidential term in 70 years! And the lowest annualized job growth since Truman! Good night, man!

Goal setting is an important part of what they teach you in B-school.

In early 2007 James Pfiffner writing in Public Administration Review praised you for many of your policy security goal “achievements,” (!) namely:

1. The war in Iraq (?),
2. The war against terrorism (??)
3. The treatment of detainees (!!!!).
4. The use of intelligence leading up to war (I kid you not; this is all in the abstract), however (whoa, buster, there really is an “however”):

Bush’s deficiencies as an administrator have undermined his policy successes.

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(Mr. Phiffner, a teacher at George Mason University, must be a undercover comedian, kind of a reverse Al Franken.)

On the other hand Warren Hellman , a Harvard M.B.A. graduate like you, writing for Salon.com at the same time (February, 2007) said a superlative Board of Directors (ahem) would likely fry you real fast.

A characteristic of many failing CEOs when losses are mounting is to hide or obfuscate the real deficits. This president, in addition to incurring massive deficits, has managed to hide the magnitude of the losses by special (otherwise known as "off balance sheet") allocations of billions of dollars that do not appear in the annual budget.

The most important strategic decision made by CEO Bush was to minimize the importance of stabilizing Afghanistan, while at the same time choosing to invade Iraq. …Bush also had no business plan for his new endeavor, failing to take into account what the war would cost in lives and treasure …ready to reject any evidence that did not support the decision to invade

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Dude! You did not even execute your own decisions, Hellman says, with inadequate troops, insufficient equipment and dissatisfactory research.
Why would a Board of Directors keep somebody like you?

Hellman continues (my paraphrasing):

Rather than replacing wornout, stale employees with fresh insights and new directions offered by a different crew, you kept the “yessiree, boss” people who only reinforced your old, tired programs and ideas.

Because you mismanaged revenues and spent it on strategic mistakes (Iraq), there is nothing left for R+D which is critical to the future success of any company.

The Board of Directors (the Congress) should have fired you to satisfy the shareholders (we, the people), but they neglected their fiduciary responsibilities to us and let you ride out into the tumbleweeds.

Methinks the Board of Directors needs to be wiped out, and we need a new one!

One of your classmates at Harvard’s Business School, Thomas Lifson writing in the American Thinker which he edits, vigorously defended you in an article in February 2004, and “the small handful of major goals” you defined for your presidency:

1. Winning the war on terrorism
2. Building Republican dominance in government
3. Keeping the economy growing “at a healthy pace”

How do you think you did, Mr. M.B.A. President?

From Harvard’s B-school comes a reply to a question posed by Business Week in its Nov. 5, 2003 edition: What did you learn in B-school and when did you learn it?

The school's focus is on general managers who can see the big strategic picture, establish priorities, and make the most of the functional expertise of those who work with them to make decisions and take action

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The same article observes you went for “win-lose” results rather than “win-win” which is what Stanford teaches, according to Justin Wolfers, then at Stanford, now at Wharton. “My way or the highway” has always been your mantra!

Hey, Dude, you’re almost off of our cloud! Thanks to Time, and not the weak-willed, ineffective Board of Directors we have, you are almost done. And so are we.

Shoes for Bush in Washington, D.C.

As I approached the scene 20 minutes past the 11 o'clock hour in front of the White House Wednesday, the atmosphere of the Code Pink rally to memorialize Sunday's shoe throwing incident at George Bush was almost that of a garden party on pavement. The press vastly outnumbered the few activists who showed up, and together they stood around laughing, smiling, talking on a cloudy, cool day.

Some of the 20 activists threw shoes at the weaving, unsteady "George Bush" life-sized bobblehead dressed in mask and prison garb and holding "dollar bills" which he periodically offered to those nearby. An abundant but permissive, polite police force stood back, under worked by the small crowd.

Attending were Dana Milbank with photographer in tow, and David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.org who graciously consented to yet another interview when approached by an Arabic cameraman and a reporter. A girl, about 8, dressed in pink, explained her presence at the rally to a television crew.

Was the Christmas message affecting everyone?

I added my old shoes to a small pile in front of "Bush" and sadly took note of the rows of shoes with widows' and orphans' names attached, like headstones at a cemetery.

A likely Code Pink representative "rescued" Bush when a senior citizen with a long grey beard beat the bobblehead with several shoes which were scattered hither and yon on the street, much like the bodies of the the injured and the dead from a bombing in Baghdad today.

The Book: What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception by Scott McClellan

We read so you don't have to but you'll want to

The critics fuss about the lack of “new stuff,” but for political junkies like me it’s loaded.

He has lots of detail and background on scenes, like what the White House was doing exactly where and when Katrina struck, the setup and disagreement over The Famous Silhouette Shot of George Bush from the plane overlooking New Orleans.

Like what went on behind the scenes on September 11, 2001.

I've always heard it's a sign of good writing when you can write like you speak. You can hear Scott McClellan's voice echo every single word. He speaks from the heart, thoroughly disillusioned and honest.

He was floored by the discovery Karl Rove had lied to him, and so did Bush resulting in McClellan's realization that McClellan had misrepresented truth to the media.

As much as I loathe him, George Bush does come off as more of a person with perhaps a smidgen of feelings for those he has caused to die and wound. He visits Walter Reed sometimes, and is upset by the mayhem and destruction he encounters, surprisingly.

He is still hardhearted George, unable to accept or hear any opinion which may be different from his which led to his downfall. He is driven to establish democracy in the Middle East. (Why? In his simplistic way, did he think he was playing little boys games, that it would be easy to crash and burn a land, kill residents, set up a new way to govern and think citizens would like you? Why is his way "the best way"? Who appointed George Bush, God? But I digress.)

Like the Emperor With No Clothes, Bush has his circle filled with "yes people" who came to believe in the mission and never questioned it. (Or if they did, they kept mum.) (Hello, President-Elect Obama: Reminder!)

McClellan faults the "perpetual campaign" begun by Clinton aides for creating the monster Washington has become: Always spinning. Always vying for the goal for the team at the cost of cohesive victory. The selling of the Iraq War is described. Colin Powell was the only one of the leadership team who tried to slow down the attack on Iraq. (Only 4,207 American soldiers now dead, 30,832 wounded "officially," more than 100,000 "unofficially," and 1,288,426 Iraqis have died as a result of Bush's invasion, but this is not in the book.)

As it dozes with the bailouts, the press fell asleep at the wheel before the Iraq War began, accepting in a baby spoon whatever the Bush administration fed it, McClellan says.

On pages 157-158 he sings the praises of the "liberal media" (or what's left of it), that it works for the common good of the minority, seeking to represent it unlike the centrist, conservatives presidents and congresses who, beginning more or less with Gerald Ford, have presided with their pro-business and narrow minded methods and legislation.

Karl Rove is portrayed as the Machiavellian monster that we abhor and admire. Cheney is his secretive self, sometimes "off message." Only all good things said about Andy Card.

A highly recommended book. Where is Scott McClellan now? I know he makes a mother proud.

Bailout cartoon idea

(This one has likely been used already, but anyway, for what it's worth):

Scene: The sinking of the Titanic (labeled "The Economy"). Huge waves are filled with Chinese sharks.

A gigantic iceberg named "Sub-Prime Loans" stands nearby.

The "Economy" has already hit the iceberg and is sinking almost at a right angle to the ocean just like you remember from artists' renderings.

On deck at the front of the ship which is tipping: Henry Paulson, Ben Bernanke, George Bush, and white men all dressed alike in suits and ties jumping into lifeboats while Paulson, dressed as Captain Hook, waves his hook around which has a dollar bill punctured by the hook that flaps in the wind.

Capt. Hook shouts: "Jump for your lives, men. We don't have much time!"

Left standing aimlessly on deck, yep, you guessed it: Men, women, and children, shabbily dressed who are, indeed, "The American Taxpayers."

The Book: "White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters" by Robert Schlesinger

Here is another title for political aficionados, and although it's not well written, much of the information is new and well researched.

It is astounding how many "fly by the seat of your pants" speeches are written at one time or another for most presidents. The public personas of the men are, strangely to me, the private personas.

The title is terribly wrong for a reader who might spot it on the shelves or on the table at a book store, and likely consider it another in the innumerable books about
"ghosts in the White House." The cover is a jumbled mess.

When was the last time you read a non-fiction book which gave you cold chills? It happens in the section on JFK. His Berlin speech. Truly, incredible.

Another speech he delivered on civil rights was not ready until seconds before he went live on the air. Robert Kennedy and JFK both believed JFK would have to speak extemporaneously since Ted Sorenson, JFK's speechwriter, was still plowing away at the speech, only having received a few hours' notice that it was scheduled.

Not until late in President Eisenhower's term does the book really take off. (It begins with President Roosevelt.) I never knew quite the bore Eisenhower was. Did you know he had a stroke in office? Truman was a man of his own.

Increasingly, I have come to admire and respect LBJ. This book reinforces my impressions. He demanded speeches which captured headlines, and his speechwriters generally succeeded.

Jimmy Carter was quite the control freak, and his dull speeches reflect it.
Ronald Reagan is the "happy go lucky" guy you know. Bush I is the same guy you always liked, no matter what your political persuasions: One who shuns "I" and is quite emotional.

Bill Clinton was often unprepared but was successful ad-libbing many speeches. On the way to deliver a speech in Annapolis, he spilled coffee on his shirt and took a loaner shirt right off the back of a Secret Service agent. Accidents happen.

Was there an editor? It is doubtful that any editor had much time with this book since it is rushed and crammed. "Forth Worth" (p. 163), "he had been snuck" (p. 352), "upon which he had campaign" (p. 405).

The book opens closed doors and provides good background information on "modern-day" presidents, their staffs, their skills and resources. It gives a reader appreciation for the many talents employed in speech writing. Some readers will be surprised to learn that not all presidential speeches are thought out. Some must be "vetted" up to 20 times by agencies, eyes, and departments, input which often damages the finished product.

The book peters out towards the end with the advent and reign of Bush II, and it seems to close too quickly, as if Mr. Schlesinger was hurried, but, after all, the final subject is unattractive and chilling, and who wants to dwell on the devil?

The speeches prepared for reasons and justification to attack Iraq are sickening, but who in the Bush administration is counting deaths and injuries? Present official numbers are 4,146 American soldiers who have died, and 30,561 American soldiers, wounded. Estimated are 100,000 American soldiers wounded but only 1,252,595 Iraqi civilians killed as the result of our attack on Iraq. Who reads books in the Bush administration anyway?

Buzh Bully Buzh

Is it not ironic that the World's Biggest Bully accuses another country of the same? Is this not a laughable offense?

Bear with me and insert different words where the Biggest Bully has directed verbiage at Russia:

Quoting from the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune, August 15, 2008 with editorial changes:

Buzh (Putin) , reminding Russia (the U.S.) that "the Cold War is over,'' called on Russian leaders (Buzh; no reason to cite "other leaders" in the U.S. since there are none in Congress) today to withdraw military forces from Georgia (Iraq).

Russia (the U.S.) has "damaged its credibility,'' Buzh (Putin) said, accusing the Russians (the U.S.) of "bullying'' their neighbors (countries which have oil).

"Unfortunately Russia has tended to view (my) spread of freedom and democracy as opposed to its interests.'' (Reader, can you imagine not supporting the practices of a bully? The audacity!)

Warning that Russia (the U.S.) stands to isolate itself from the modern world if it cannot respect the autonomy of free neighbors, Buzh (Putin) contends that the Russians (the U.S.) will face consequences for the invasion of Georgia (Iraq).

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, attempting to secure the framework of a cease fire. Rice will join Buzh at his ranch outside Crawford, Texas, on Saturday, to play the piano and lull Buzh to sleep for his afternoon nap after he has been thrashing about all day in the brush at his Texas ranch where he fled to recover from the hazardous duty of watching the Olympics for 15 days straight, frolicking with bikini-clad women on Beijing's sandy shores, among other responsibilities.

"She will bring me up to date on what she has seen and heard, in Georgia as well as Paris,'' said Buzh. "I mean France, she did not go to Paris." (Actual quote.)

Bullying: A Handbook for Educators and Parents by Ian Rivers, Neil Duncan, and Valerie Besaq was published last year by Praeger.

The bully learns it is possible to gain emotional, social or monetary benefit from the bullying , so their (sic) modus operandi may become habitual. They learn they can use dominance for their own purposes...(p. 29).

A lot of bullying...contains an element of fun and entertainment for the attackers. The public humiliation of their victim adds to their attacks... Boys who bully are often school leaders begging the question, why do they do it? "They are bullying, autocratic leaders rather than benign democratic ones." They lead and bully for their own purposes rather than for those of the group. (pp. 16-18).

Perpetrators of bullying are more likely to have been convicted of crimes in adulthood compared to peers and have a 1 in 4 chance of having a criminal record before age 30 (p. 136). Perpetrators often have parents who push them to excel beyond what is normal at the expense of others, if necessary (p. 19).

Characteristics of whom?

Cong. James Moran On Fire at Virginia's 8th Congressional District Convention

"Un-American!" That's what he called the Republicans last Saturday to the welcoming audience of 400 Democrats who spent the day at an Alexandria school to debate resolutions and pick delegates to go to the national convention in Denver in August.

"Less than half of a percent of Americans have fought in Iraq while the rest of us are told to go out and spend," Cong. Moran thundered.

"We're being used as chumps! There should be no more torture! Close Guantanamo!"
The crowd roared.

The Republicans are "selfish, mean-spirited; an intolerant party!" he exclaimed to the choir. "They are arrogant bullies abroad...who have showed us eight years of ideological incompetence!"

Bush has "rewarded polluters...His appointees...have diminished our values. Now it's our time!" he sang. "We've lost our moral authority throughout the world. We can restore hope and belief in America!" The adorers leaped to their feet, loudly applauding.

Did you know the richest one percent of Americans receive 45 percent of the tax breaks? Cong. Moran said it is so on Saturday and all the other days that we endure this monstrosity of an administration.

George Buzh is Like a Cherry Blossom

Tilting and lilting, falling slowly to the ground, tossed by the wind, aimless and directionless with nary a care in the world: "All is well!" He shouts to the wind which carries his robotic, repetitive words inside a swirl of torment and chaos that engulf the outer reaches of cherry blossoms gently floating, silently, down.