- 07 Dec 2018 02:28
#14969912
Something I noticed while listening to the eulogies during President Bush Sr funeral was, in addition to the affection and admiration each individual held for him was, while listing his accomplishments, how stark the contrasts were to President Trump.
Author Jon Meacham described GHW Bush as "George Herbert Walker Bush was America's last great soldier-statesman, a 20th century founding father. He governed with virtues that most closely resemble those of Washington and of Adams, of TR and of FDR, of Truman and of Eisenhower, of men who believed in causes larger than themselves. Six-foot-two, handsome, dominant in person, President Bush spoke with those big strong hands, making fists to underscore points." Ouch.
He went on to say "Tell the truth. Don't blame people. Be strong. Do your best. Try hard. Forgive. Stay the course" was George H.W. Bush's "life code," Meacham said, adding it's the "most American of creeds." I think even Trump heard the unspoken "Class, compare, contrast, and discuss"
(Former) Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said "President Bush was also responsible for the North American Free Trade Agreement – recently modernized and improved by new administrations – which created the largest and richest free trade area in the history of the world, while also signing into law the Americans With Disabilities Act which transformed the lives of millions of Americans forever." No apparent digs at DJT here, if we overlook the many superlatives to President Bush'Sr valour in battle, because Pres Trump suffered that agonizing Disability, heel spurs, but Mulroney goes on to say:
"President Bush's decision to go forward with strong environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act that resulted in an Acid Rain Accord with Canada, is a splendid gift to future generations of Americans and Canadians to savour in the air they breathe, the water they drink, the forests they enjoy, and the lakes, rivers, and streams they cherish." As i'm sure you're aware, dumping the Paris Agreement and trashing the government's website on the environment is a bit of a thorn in my side. And I think with all the reference to honour, valour, decency, and acts of kindness I wondered if President Trump realised all his mocking of gold star parents, of a disabled reporter, tearing children away from their mothers etc all represented his hoisting of himself on his on own petard. This is the man who wants to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral.
“There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true" - Winston Churchill