http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Sun, 1 Jan 2006 09:39:56 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/12/31/015857.php#comment-298436 "...Most amazing of all is the fact that the problems were all self-inflicted by Bush as he mixed hubris, a disdain for the long hours of hard work reading background papers, and contempt for the process of government all together" IMO these personal failings are very bad, will result in personal failings for GWB, and will cause unnecessary grief to many Americans. I would summarize his personal character failings as: laziness, superficiality, and excess dependence on personal loyalty. IMO they mean that his decisions are superficially achieved, loosely held, and too easily swayed by other people. IMO this is the result of the father always bailing him out so he never had to learn thru hard knocks. When GWBs businesses failed dad would pay it off. GWB never really sharpened his decision-making and people-judging skills the way that a guy who fought his way back from failure would. I've seen this happen among my peers who have spoiled a son, like giving a highschool kid a new BMW, usually accompanied by the lame excuse "I don't want my son to suffer and struggle like I did", truly the most destructive child-rearing notion I've ever heard. I spent an evening chewing out my best friend, M, for this and he hasn't talked to me since. That was 15 years ago, the boy grew up, got drunk, smashed his car and killed his best friend in the passenger seat, spent a few days in jail, and says his life is ruined. And I believe him. But in the intervening years M won't return a call, won't acknowledge me if we chance to meet, and I suppose he considers me the worst person on earth. I don't think M is a bad person, just an insecure guy who had a theory that he could buy his childs love with overindulgence. It doesn't work. Neither does anything else! As a parent, it is not in any way your duty to secure your childs love! In fact, no matter how well you raise them you may not get their love. It isn't in the Job Description for "Parent". What IS in there is something about feeding and housing them and giving them some kind of equipment for operating their own lives. And giving THEM love. It's a oneway contract: all that's sure is that you have to do your part. Doing that may obviate some of the dreamy ideas you had about securing their love. 298436@blogcritics.org Sun, 1 Jan 2006 09:39:56 EST