13. Perhaps Mr. Bush wanted to sound macho when he taunted Iraqi resistance: "Bring it on!" Would he make such an asinine remark while standing in a Fallujah street?

"Bring it on!" For fifteen-year olds watching sassy, sexy Kirsten Dunst in a cheerleader movie, fine.

"Bring it on!" For WWF theatrics appealing to room-temperature IQ's and the emotional maturity of eighth graders, where the audience screams with visceral delight at scripted and simulated violence, fine. It's all a show, nothing but a show.

"Bring it on!" For the commander of one of the world's most powerful militia, whose troops may at any moment have to duck and dodge bullets and RPG's, or may suddenly face a suicide bomber running at them, Mr. Bush's statement reflects his mentality here: Stupid. Incomprehensibly, inexcusably, profanely stupid.

I can see how thirteen-year olds would go, "YEAH!" when Bush spurted off his little catch phrase. A great sound bite, yes, provided one doesn't stop to actually think about the implications, it may even sound rugged—"That's'a tellin' them stoopid heathen muzlum bastards!" But for adults? And presumably educated adults? I would expect them to understand the consequences, and to refrain from such ignorantly inflammatory vitriol.

Over almost three years now I have seen example after example constantly reminding me: I simply cannot expect such maturity from Mr. Bush.

He can suppress his "crusade" lust only so long. It finds its way to the surface again.

If the men and women who actually face the bullets and bombers want to yell it at their enemies right there in front of them, that's their choice. But for this man whose life has never faced combat to spout off his little taunt, no.

Clint Eastwood: "Make my day." Cool.

Sylvester Stallone: "They drew first blood." Tough.

Robert DeNiro: "You lookin' at me?" Yeeeeaaahh.

All scripted characterizations, all fine for actors. But when Mr. Bush plays to the Hollywood images of testosterone-intoxicated macho, people die. When Clint, Sly, and Robert pull the trigger, it's all special effects. No harm done. You, Mr. Bush, have sent real American men and women—not fictitious characters—overseas supposedly for your WMDs. These brave volunteers are dying for you.

Real bullets.

Real bombs.

Real blood.

Real funerals.

And at high noon George W. Bush swaggers in through the Dodge City barroom doors, clomps his boots on the dusty plywood floor so we hear the chinkachink of his cowboy outfit, and snarls, "Bring it on!"

We could roll our eyes and justifiably laugh at Mr. Bush's melodramatic performance,
were it not for the recent amputees learning to use prosthetics,
were it not for the critical care wards occupied by soliders
         fading in and out of a morphine stupor as they struggle to survive,
were it not for the distant sound of Taps in the background,
were it not for real flags on real caskets containing real corpses,
were it not for officials of a supposedly free nation struggling to censor these images,
were it not for people condemning as "unpatriotic" and "treason" and "irresponsible"
         anyone who confronts and condemns these unpleasant, repugnant facts and failings.

• • •

Any sensible parent who might hear such an inflammatory, immature provocation from her or his children would (or should) immediately pull them aside and apprise them of the punitive consequences for continuing such arrogant trouble-making. I've heard plenty of parents and teachers say they sometimes just about give up wishing their kids would show more common sense, simple decency, basic responsibility. I feel the same frustration about many things my President says and does.

Civilized, sensible, mature people shouldn't make such stupid dares. Leave that foolishness to elementary school children, or adults who've drunk one or two or five too many beers. Because someone may choose to respond. Mr. Bush has in fact seemed to boast of not reading the newspapers; perhaps he doesn't know that they have been "bringing it on."

Do you hear any parents or spouses saying, "Yeah, my husband's/kid's over there. He's been in some action, nearly been killed twice. Y'know what I want? I want those evildoers to bring it on!" Have you heard any seven year olds saying, "My mommy's in Iraq! I hope those evildoers bring it on!"

See how stupid it sounds? How idiotic? How unbelievably irresponsible?

Is Mr. Bush willing to take responsibility for engraving (as of Memorial Day 2004) over 800 soldiers' tombstones so far: "They Brought It On!"?

If you find this discussion insulting or inciting: I have merely articulated the logical extensions of our President's values, ideas, and communication style. Please address your indignation appropriately: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC.

I notice Mr. Bush didn't say, "I'm flying over there for Thanksgiving for photo ops. Our brave soldiers and our equipment can protect me from evildoers. They want to try to get me? Bring it on!"

Why didn't he issue the challenge? Any thinking person knows: such bluster may in fact provoke the enemy. He didn't need that pointless exposure any more than our troops do.

Incredibly, some people who otherwise behave and think intelligently and caringly enough to reject such bombast in any other context do feel some adrenal rush upon hearing this. For some, such a taunt really does strike them as "courageous."

Personally, I think too many of our troops face enough danger, disability, and death already, without President Bush speaking speaking a fourth grader: literally asking for it.

In most settings, mature women and men would dismiss a middle-aged man using such taunts as just pathetically embarrassing, culturally ignorant, grossly immature, a shallow boor, at best socially inept.

In the context of world leaders, I see Mr. Bush's presidency as far more deadly.

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” Theodore Roosevelt “History, we don’t know. We’ll all be dead.” George W. Bush   Intro   Election 2004 Introduction 1   I Yam What I Yam 2a People Die for Mr. Bush's Mistakes. He Laughs It Off 2b Supplement: Mr. Bush Laughs It Off 3a   Mr. Bush's Religious Rhetoric: The Uncaped Crusader 3b   Mr. Bush's Religious Rhetoric: Ripping Off Jesus 4   WMDWMDWMDWMDWMD—Oh, Never Mind, Forget I Ever Said WMD 5   President Bush: Saddam Tried to Kill My Dad 6   President Bush's Real World Patriot Games 7   In Mr. Bush's Own Words: "Major League Asshole" 8a   Responsibilty? Accountability? The Buck Stops Somewhere Else 8b Supplement: Responsibilty and Dodge Ball 9a   Forgive Osama? Love Saddam? You CRAZY, Jesus? 9b   Supplement: Christian Nonresistance 10   Democracy? Not on This Watch. Undo the Presidential Records Act 11   The Arsonist Owns the Fire Truck 12   Environment 13   Mr. Bush's Taunt: "Bring It On!" 14   Conclusions 15   Update 5/5/04     Please sign my Election Site Dreambook (and visit my other sites as well). And read others' comments.