Nixonesque

This is scary and sad:

(h/t to Atrios) In the second half of this video, Bush attempts to answer a question about comparisons between Iraq and Vietnam.  He paces around, shoulders hunched all Nixonesque, painfully searching for something to say.  One thing I'm sure of now: Bush knows.  He knows he screwed up.  He knows his policies are incoherent and contradictory.  He knows he's painted himself into a very ugly corner.  He knows he's in way over his head.

There were fears in the final days of the Nixon administration that the stress and strain the President was under then might cause him to crack, to do something crazy:

On August 2, 1974, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger admitted that General Haig had informed him that Nixon was considering the idea of surrounding the White House with troops. In an August 27, 1974 article in the Washington Post titled "Military Coup Fears Denied," the fact was revealed that:

"Defense Secretary James Schlesinger requested a tight watch in the military chain of command to ensure that no extraordinary orders went out from the White House during the period of uncertainty (and) that no commanders of any forces should carry out orders which came from the White House, or elsewhere, outside the normal military channels.

Tantamount to a military coup, and contrary to the Constitution, the Joint Chiefs of Staff sent a secret communique to all Commanders of the U.S. military forces around the world: "Upon receipt of this message you will no longer carry out any orders from the White House. Acknowledge receipt."

I can only hope that some modern-day Schlesinger is watching Bush and is prepared to issue a similar order. 

Comments

[Bruce]

We're all in trouble if Bush decides to take up the violin ala Nero.