Merry Christmas: The Bernard Kerik Story Is Funny

We have few thrills these days. There was nothing but despair for us immediately following the depressing election. Woe is us. I wrote before about how at least the rest of the world seems to hold Bush responsible for his actions. We can work ourselves into a tizzy over a blow job, but can’t seem to trouble ourselves too much over corporate empire-building and the untold deaths that it costs. So I find it funny, one, that many have hopped off the Bush train. A soldier may be facing trial for wearing a shirt claiming “Like a cabinet member, I resign.” God bless the soldiers who resist when their consciences so convict. The hawks (or chicken hawks) would shame them for not following orders. But it’s about time someone stopped to question—and it almost looks like more soldiers are doing so than those who magnetize their support of the soldiers on their bumpers. Maybe those signs instead should read, “Support the status quo.”
Rudolph Guiliani might have thought that by touting Bernard Kerik, he was aligning himself for future positions. But Kerik himself had the sense to say, “I might not be the guy for this job.” And, boy, are there a lot of reasons he is not the guy for the job—possible mob ties, illegal hiring, affairs. I have a tinge of respect for those in the Bush camp who have the honesty to step down when, seemingly, they realize that they couldn’t fulfill their jobs without some moral conflict. I would like to take just one more opportunity to plead with Donald Rumsfeld to step down as well. Bush may tell you that he believes in you, but it looks like there may be a whole lot of soldiers who don’t. Why the rest of us aren’t collectively calling this guy an asshole and demanding his resignation, I don’t know.

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