Eejit: the 20/20 interview

Well, I was raving about this in Bicyclemark’s Comments, so I suppose I should continue it here.

W. was on Barbara Walters the other night, and it was much as you’d expect from him. But the man do surprise me from time to time.

Par example:

When asked whether the Tsunami was the act of an angry god, Bush replied something that it’s wrong for humans to ascribe actions to God, and that it’s wrong for us to say that God wanted certain things to happen on earth. It’s wrong to put words in God’s mouth.

I was caught completely off-guard by these remarks, since I was under the impression that God had chosen Bush to lead America, and, well, I got that idea from W. himself! Okay, maybe it wasn’t Bush directly. Maybe it was the Observer:

. . . in the lead-up to announcing his candidacy for the presidency, Bush told a Texan evangelist that he had had a premonition of some form of national disaster happening.

Bush said to James Robinson: ‘I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can’t explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me. Something is going to happen… I know it won’t be easy on me or my family, but God wants me to do it.’

Of course, it’s not even the Observer, but the Observer quoting a book. And we all know you can’t rely on those old things.

His supporters were making such statements for sure. See David Frum of the National Review: “For now, let’s say that while the President’s opponents have made much sport of the idea that God called George Bush to the presidency, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to doubt that God wants President Bush re-elected.”

Maybe I never got the impression from Bush but from his zealous supporters. Maybe Bush is being correct and setting the record straight for his disciples. Maybe. How helpful of him to do so after the election.

Obviously Bush realizes that it’s dangerous to associate natural disasters with God’s will:

Ever since 9/11, I’ve been really wary of men telling me God told them to do something, anything.

And why do people think God is telling them to murder people from America, or from Iraq? Why would God tell them to lead the country? Wouldn’t God tell them to get affordable prescriptions and health care for all people, everywhere, to fund public education, to lighten up on the abuse of prisoners, and stop murdering civilians and babies?

Wouldn’t God tell W. to stop lying?