For me, logical analysis is all about the narrative. The narrative provides the definition of the situation and the schema for making sense of seemingly disparate puzzle pieces. It is akin to an experienced tour guide taking you to the key attractions and dispensing the essential nuggets required to truly soak in a great destination.
So how does one make sense of the Bush presidency, a horror film already in progress, seemingly approaching the end credits but very much still subject to a shocking, grisly ending?
James Wolcott writes a searing indictment of the Bush Presidency in the February issue of Vanity Fair (it’s the one with the new Indiana Jones movie on the cover). “How Bush Stacks Up” is a provocative, compelling read and the perfect excuse for picking up a copy of Vanity Fair if you have never read this great magazine.
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If you have been following the presidential primaries, there are a couple of different articles worth reading on Republican candidate, Rudy Giuliani, and Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, respectively.
In “Can Hillary Cry Her Way Back to the White House?” Maureen Dowd contemplates Mrs. Clinton’s surprise primary victory in New Hampshire, which some say was sparked by her human (or staged) display of emotional behavior shortly before the primary.
Here is an excerpt, but read the full article:
There was a poignancy about the moment, seeing Hillary crack with exhaustion from decades of yearning to be the principal rather than the plus-one. But there was a whiff of Nixonian self-pity about her choking up. What was moving her so deeply was her recognition that the country was failing to grasp how much it needs her. In a weirdly narcissistic way, she was crying for us. But it was grimly typical of her that what finally made her break down was the prospect of losing.
On the Rudy front, in “A Tale of Two Giuliani’s,” Michael Shnayerson documents in excellent detail the disparities between public Rudy – New York savior and 9/11 hero – and private Rudy.
As someone who was once pre-disposed to vote for the man, I must say that article after article chronicle someone whose less visible private reality is deeply at odds with his public persona, and unfortunately (for him), Rudy is riding the wrong coattails (Bush legacy) at exactly the wrong time.
Here is an excerpt from that article:
On the back of 9/11, Rudy Giuliani refashioned himself as a national hero, a top presidential candidate—and, through his consulting firm, Giuliani Partners, became a very wealthy man. But the questionable backgrounds of some of the firm’s clients make one wonder what Rudy wouldn’t do to make a buck. As Giuliani’s former crony Bernard Kerik faces trial, the author uncovers troubling signs of greed, poor judgment, and conflict of interest.
Some elections matter more than others. This one is a biggie, so get educated, build your own internal narrative. And vote.
