Robert Scheer: "Nothing Prepared Me For Bush"

[Hissyspit]

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/35568/

'Nothing Prepared Me for Bush'
By Onnesha Roychoudhuri, AlterNet
Posted on April 28, 2006, Printed on April 28, 2006

(Editor's Note: Be sure to read an excerpt from "Playing President," posted today on AlterNet.)

With over 65 percent of Americans disapproving of our current president, why can't we get some credible opposition in Washington? As we head towards midterm elections, and look ahead to those of 2008, it's a question that is weighing heavily on millions of American minds.

Two longtime observers of our increasingly corrupt political system, Robert Scheer and Joe Klein have written books documenting the causes and the consequences. After 30 years covering politics, Scheer and Klein have some startling insights.

- snip -

Robert Scheer spent over 30 years interviewing American presidents and candidates since Nixon, but it was only in retrospect that he discovered a disturbing pattern. Scheer's new book Playing President: My Close Encounters with Nixon, Carter, Bush I, Reagan and Clinton -- and How They Did Not Prepare Me for George W. Bush explores the crippling effects the campaign process had on every candidate he interviewed -- and how our presidents have become increasingly out of touch with American voters.

As one of the last print journalists to spend extended periods of time with candidates, Scheer's close examination of our political process, and how the media covers it, points to the flaws that led to the election of George W. Bush. AlterNet spoke with Scheer about what we got right, what we got wrong, and why in the face of such an unpopular president, we still find ourselves "drowning in lesser evildom."

- snip -

Even with the best of intentions, even when they're very smart and knowledgeable -- as opposed to George W., who is neither -- it doesn't seem to matter. All they are proving is their ability to manipulate, to think superficially, and to exploit national security issues rather than deal with them.

MORE

[bklyncowgirl]

1. A very good interview--long but worth reading. nt

[izzie]

2. Good read and would love to read his book but

I plan to fill my gas tank this month. I will hunt it out at library

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[acmejack]

5. I wish I could believe that gave a whit what everybody wants

But I know that they couldn't care less. After all there are fortunes to be made in them thar armament hills and by gosh they are going to extort every last dime out of that cash cow. They have found something that the American taxpayers are willing to sacrifice everything else for, be it national health care, infrastructure, any number of beneficial items for citizenry sacrificed to line the pockets of the elite and their lackeys in the political world.

I feel particularly disillusioned this morning...

[tsuki]

4. Just ...WOW. nt

[Hissyspit]

6. kick

[midnight]

7. George Bush was never elected.

He was selected. Just a thought about this author's opinion.

[rucky]

8. Because the people who need to read articles like this, aren't.

that's why an anti-bush movement isn't gaining traction. it's all on the 'net.

[Nostradammit]

10. So he's only polling in the low 30's on the 'net?

You don't say...

[rucky]

14. Don't kid yourself.

The GOP is split between the camp who wants to do business with brown people, and the camp that wants the brown people to all go away.

The fact we're allied with the xenophobes on the Ports & immigration issues just shows that Repugs can be right about Bush for the wrong reasons.

[Nostradammit]

19. You're delusional if you don't think an anti-Bush movement is gaining

traction. And it ain't just happening on the 'net, rucky, it's happening everywhere someone's pulling into a gas station to get a reminder of how ineffective his "jaw-boning" skills are. I live in a town that went for him in '00 and '04 and the Bush stickers are a rarity now. I talk to people I know to have been supporters and they start spitting when I bring him up, so I KNOW it's happening in the real world.

Spread your negativity elsewhere, please.

[rucky]

20. Polls aren't movements.

i'll believe it if we can take back Congress in '06. But here in Shelby County, OH, all I'm seeing are the same viewpoints minus the Bush worship - and a healthy dose of hatred for the Dems to toss around.

don't kill the messenger & I'll try not to kill your buzz. we've both been through too many ups and downs and having the rug pulled from under us. Low Bush numbers are great, but that's all they are - numbers. The sentiment needs to translate into some kind of active movement.

What I want to see is 1) people taking to the streets. 2) serious talk of impeachment (I'll settle for censure, but were miles from that). 3) Democrats regaining Congress.

Getting from not liking Bush to actively working for a Democratic majority is the jump we need to make. I don't see it right now from most of the folks on the right.

[Nostradammit]

21. I'm not about to "kill the messenger"

But I will correct the message if it's wrong! Shelby County, OH may not be changing but based on my observations of this community, and in my discussions with my friends around the country I'm happy to report that there IS an anti-Bush movement that has not only gained traction, it is shifting into fifth gear.

You'll see.

[rucky]

22. I hope you're right.

I will change my sigline to "Nostradammit is right." Hold me to it.

[pnorman]

9. Alternet is one of the many features that downloads into my PDA

whenever I "synch" it to my computer. Salon is another, although I'm a paid subscriber there. They, and so many others, come in through AvantGo (http://avantgo.com/frontdoor/index.html).

Check it out if you make much use of PDAs.

pnorman

[hanginthere]

11. LA times should never have canceled him out of the Editorial page

[Hissyspit]

13. True. Welcome to DU!

:patriot:

:toast:

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. True - he's a great writer, as well as honest

If they felt he came off as 'left wing' ("Mr. Scheer, why do you always write about Republicans?" "Because that's where the corruption is"), then they should have found a decent right wing writer to 'balance' him. It's not his fault if all the lying and incompetence are on the right wing, so there's nothing for a right wing writer to attack.

[Hoping4Change]

18. Rather telling that they did eh?

Welcome handinthere to DU. Glad you're here.:hi:

[IndyOp]

12. B* was NOT elected. BOTH elections were STOLEN!!

57,000,000 Americans were NOT that dumb.

C'mon journalists WAKE THE F* UP!

:kick:

[glitch]

16. Looks like journalists and politicians will be the last to wake up.

Interesting, huh? Perhaps they find something about the theft a threat to their established perceptions.

[Jack Rabbit]

17. Excellent piece

Scheer knows what's missing in modern journalism. It is mechanical and unimaginative, like most of the modern world.

Being president does not require being the sharpest pencil in the box. Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and G. W. Bush were all of the same approximate intellectual ability. FDR was the most successful because, first of all, he knew his limitations; second, he had no strong ideological convictions and just wanted his brain trusters to come up with something that worked. Reagan was also aware of his limitations and at least listened to those around him; he would have done a lot better if he had fewer strong convictions than he had, right or wrong. Bush is worst of all because he is so convinced he is right that he won't listen to anybody, unless that person is telling him what he wants to hear in the first place; he is an absolute fool.

Scheer's approach to interviewing lets us know something about the man as much as his thoughts. Jimmy Carter, who talked about "lust in the heart," was the least likely of these men to get caught up in a sexual scandal. He was simply too aware of his dark side and kept it in check.