A conversation (part two)

Amid tightened security George W. Bush was the final speaker. Looking older, greyer and somewhat disheveled the former President came across as a larger-than-life caricature of his public persona. He clutched the microphone and vented his spleen. He had a lot to get off his chest in the potentially hostile New York environment where liberal commentators might be lurking in dark corners. When it came to controversial subjects – like water-boarding – he boomed into the microphone protesting that it was legal and that it was his job – his mission as President – to protect his citizens from evil-doers (but wisely he did not use that expression) – while at the same time studiously avoiding criticism of the current incumbent of the white house - though the implication and implied distinction was clear. His off-the-record and frank profanity- and slang-laden portrayal of his years as commander-in-chief - were fascinating as it provided a clearer glimpse into his inner psyche. His defense mechanism appears to be to act the clown and he had the audience of finance professionals in fits of laughter. We were laughing at his quips; we were laughing at his vernacular (laden with bar-room slang – “Ben Bernanke is this surreal world kinda dude”); we were laughing with him; but sadly, we were mainly laughing at him. Beneath the defiant exterior bravado he cut a sad and dejected figure, who perhaps really didn’t believe what he was saying, or was perhaps confused by it;  or perhaps we was just coming to terms with the implications of many of his profound misjudgments as president. He didn’t miss the limelight – only the perks and the power as ‘commander in chief’ - but he was only really out there to flog his book, to re-write history as he saw it, or as he pretended to see it, but perhaps he really didn’t believe it. As if he realized that he was really just the puppet of the radical neo-cons all along.  But otherwise his instincts would appear to be to crawl under a rock and hide there forever in the hope that history doesn’t judge him too harshly. Only time will tell. He spent much time talking about foreign policy issues across the globe from China, Japan, Korea, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the rest of the Middle East, the other Americas, Africa, Putin’s Russia  even his mate prime minister John Howard of Australia, Chirac of France and Merkel of Germany.   Conspicuous by its absence was any mention of the so-called ‘special relationship’ with the UK and Tony (‘the poodle’) Blair – all that investment for nothing then. Now for his legacy: he and Laura are setting up a foundation, among other things to promote “freedom and democracy in the Middle East.” Is he fucking serious?