Irrelevance and injustice: The sorry state of the Bush presidency

By Michael J.W. Stickings

So it has come to this, almost seven years into the Bush presidency, one of the most pathetic and appalling, one of the most damaging, one of the most profoundly destructive to the country and to the world. At a press conference this morning, Bush said that "one way to ensure" he is "relevant" is to use his veto.

Yes, that's right. Bush has hardly used his veto at all during his presidency, but now, facing irrelevance, he has decided to use it to strike down a bill, a bipartisan bill, to provide health insurance for children.

Once more, we are offered a glimpse into the ugly soul of George W. Bush.

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This exchange was also telling:

Q What's your definition of the word "torture"?

THE PRESIDENT: Of what?

Q The word "torture." What's your definition?

THE PRESIDENT: That's defined in U.S. law, and we don't torture.

Q Can you give me your version of it, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Whatever the law says.

Uh-huh. Sure.

Given Bush's disrespect for the rule of law, not to mention his manipulation of the law, I think we all know what this means.

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On a rather more positive note, Bush expressed admiration for the Dalai Lama and support for religious freedom.

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For more, see:

-- Steve Benen: "Bush was not only trying to defend his relevance, he was arguing that his veto pen alone made him significant in the process. He’s not helping establish an agenda; he’s just the guy at the other end, waiting to say what he doesn’t like."

And Melissa McEwan and Matthew Yglesias.