DVD Review: Bush's Brain

It seems kind of silly, all things considered, to preface my review of Bush's Brain with the disclaimer that I am a Queer, Liberal Democrat, but for any Log Cabin Republicans (and whoever else) out there who might question my objectivity, I’m coming clean. I am not exceptionally well-versed in politics, but after a lifetime of hearing abuse, ignorance, and intolerance spewed from the mouths of folks who identified themselves as Republicans, it’s hard for me to work up a lot of respect for the "Loyal Opposition."

I understand there are probably many members of this party (apparently including Dick Cheney) who are not misogynist, homophobic, racist, imperialistic, but for some reason, they don’t seem to hold much sway. Honestly, though, the Bush (Junior) administration has taught me many things. You can be wicked and still be stupid; you can be arrogant and still be stupid; you can be commander-in-chief and still be stupid; and you can tell stupid lies and still be believed. What the documentary, Bush's Brain taught me was that just when I thought my opinion of Bush and the Republican Party and the Texas Republican Party couldn’t plummet any further, it did - like the GOP’s moral pulse.

Directed and produced by Joseph Mealey and Michael Paradies Shoob, and based on a book by the same title by journalists James Moore and Wayne Slater, Bush's Brain tells the story of Karl Rove: George W. Bush’s chief strategist, advisor and image consultant, though stuck as much as possible in the wings. Rove spent most of his career spearheading political campaigns for Conservative, Republican clients, even convincing one to switch parties in his bid for success.

Described as a nerd in high school (though a brilliant one), we see how his outsider status only serves to fuel his intense desire to succeed. What begins as a need to prove himself and his sense of self-worth becomes a compulsion to win at all costs, regardless of the price to others. Like killing a cocker spaniel’s fleas with a sledgehammer. Yes, while they’re still on him.

In high school debate, he intimidates opponents with stacks and stacks of index cards, some of which may have been blank. In a political race, a listening device turns up in Rove’s headquarters and he blames it on the opposition, though not in so many words. It is the nature of the beast that much of Rove’s chicanery has been carefully hidden. What’s most persuasive is how many witnesses (columnists, attorneys, campaign managers, colleagues) on both sides of the fence reach the same conclusions.

Article Author: Christopher Soden

Christopher Soden holds Vermont College’s MFA in Poetry. He writes film & literary critique, essay, performance pieces and dramaturgy. Honors and positions: Poetry Editor: Espejo. President Emeritus: The Dallas Poets Community, The Poetry Society of …

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