Popularity is as fleeting as the Texas wind

Today Bush gave a commencement address at Texas A&M. They gave him academic robes and everything.


SOME MIGHTY FINE TRADITIONS: “I’ll say this for A&M -- you’ve got some mighty fine traditions. (Applause.) Back in my day, I think I would have enjoyed dunking my ring.” I never want to know what that means. Ever.

“Some days have been happy, some days not so happy -- every day joyous.” This is at least the third time he’s uttered that line, so he must be rather pleased with it.


He had some advice for the graduates: “There will be times when people tell you a different way is more accepted or popular. Remember that popularity is as fleeting as the Texas wind...” Especially if you’re an incompetent moron. Of course the meteorological metaphor suggests that his own plummeting popularity has nothing to do with any intrinsic qualities of his own. “...Character and conscience are as sturdy as the oaks on this campus. If you go home at night, look in the mirror and be satisfied that you have done what is right, you will pass the only test that matters.” Unless your judgment about what is “right” is invariably spectacularly wrong. That’s the thing about Bush: even after everything he’s done has turned to shit, he does indeed look in the mirror and is satisfied that he has done what is right. After all this time, we all know Bush too well to expect any acknowledgment from him that there are one or two things he might have gotten not quite right; what is galling is that for the rest of his days he will feel nothing but smug satisfaction in a job well done.