NY Times: Bushes and the Clintons are growing closer

[im10ashus]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 — When the Bushes and Clintons held hands before 15,000 mourners at Coretta Scott King's funeral on Tuesday, it looked like a prayerful moment in the life of the nation. But as almost anyone watching America's two leading political families knew, underneath the tranquil image was a drama of ambition, rivalry, love and alliance that could shape the 2008 presidential election.

The scene, a riveting tableau in the six-hour celebration of Mrs. King's life and the political power of black America, offered complex layers of interconnecting relationships: father and son, husband and wife, president and former president, adversary turned ally and first lady turned senator turned probable presidential candidate.

It was one of the most public manifestations to date of the odd friendship and mutual need of two dynasties that, on the surface at least, have almost nothing in common. But as President Bush put it in an interview with CBS News last month, "Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton." Mr. Bush made the remark in a telling exchange with Bob Schieffer, who said, "Well, you know, if Senator Clinton becomes president."

"There we go," Mr. Bush said.

"Maybe we'll see a day," Mr. Schieffer continued.

http://nytimes.com/2006/02/09/politics/09memo.html?hp&ex=1139547600&en=1355b70eb43e92a2&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Bethany Rockafella]

1. Geeze!

It looks like they are about to kiss in that pic.

[Dhalgren]

2. As long as the corporations are served, it really won't matter...

[orwell]

3. Bingo...n/t

[MADem]

4. The son he never had--one with a brain and an iota of sense re:

foreign policy.

I'm sure ole Poppy thinks to himself, hell, this kid grew up in a trailer, damn near, went to public schools, had an abusive stepfather and a mom who, while loving, liked to tipple a bit, and he is one of the brightest minds on the planet.

Poppy and Bar sent their kids to tony private schools, where they boarded away from home and hearth, at ENORMOUS cost, and they are, each and every one, some of the biggest fuckups on the planet. A lesson in "family values" indeed....

[im10ashus]

6. That's not hard to imagine.

Poppy must be disappointed. Papa Bush, for all his love of supply-side economics, is an old-school, Ivy League, East Coast Episcopalian. They go along to get along, they don't make waves.
Baby Bush is a chip off the old Barbara. She's Texas Royalty through and through.

[MADem]

7. BAR ain't TX royalty

She was born in NEW YORK, went to BOARDING SCHOOL (see the theme, here?) in SOUTH CAROLINA, dropped out of VASSAR, and only moved to TX when Poppy decided he could be an oilman....

[Stephanie]

5. We don't need no stinking DYNASTIES.

[im10ashus]

10. LOL!

Please don't ruin "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" for me. :-)

[Stephanie]

11. Badges!? Badges!?

We don't need no steenking BAD-GES.

[im10ashus]

12. That's so funny!

We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges!

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. Process of Legitimization - rely on hero worship amongst the opposition to

Legitimize the opponent by having rival heirs / leaders embrace. Or, you give him your daughter's hand in marriage in a temporary effort to get opposing tribes to reconcile. Sort of like Tito. Or how they legitimized Andrew Jackson. Go ahead, find a Republican who dislikes Andrew Jackson. You leave it up to your opponent, to maintain the gravitas of the office of presidency, in the face of crooks and mass murderers like Jackson. Each rival ruling class group benefits from this incestuous relationship. In the old days it was merely to prevent civil war between ruling class factions. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, especially when the "anger of the mob" is a potential greater enemy.

[Tsiyu]

9. no doubt

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

Only the bravest can heed this maxim.

[tlsmith1963]

13. This Proves What I Heard

That Bush Sr. has had a falling out with his son. I think he likes the Clintons better. If he does, I don't blame him. His son is a loser. And I am saying that he is a loser personality-wise. So what if he is President. He's a *loser*. If he weren't a member of the rich Bush family, he would be working at Mc Donald's.

Tammy

14. I sometimes wonder if Bill Clinton is sabotaging his wife's chance

for the Presidency. I don't think it serves his wife well, for him to be buddy-buddy with Bush Senior.

[im10ashus]

18. I would love to hear Sr. make some criticisms of Jr.

God knows he has plenty of ammunition. Just because they are father and son doesn't mean there isn't criticism. After all, Jr. has come out and stated that Sr. didn't do the job right in Desert Storm.

[springhill]

15. Big problems with this...........

No wonder he can't criticize Bush Jr. the way he needs to do. How can you be great friends with the dad and then bash the son. Would not go over very well with the dad, now would it? Not a good thing at all. Not to mention Bush Sr. and his history of corruption.

[genie_weenie]

16. Why not? When you can spilt the presidency

Bush41 88-92
Clinton42 92-00
*43 00-08
Hillary44 08-16
Jeb45 16-24
Chelsea 24-32

Damn that's quite a dynasty!

[WI_DEM]

17. Thankfully Jimmy Carter is still blasting away at this corrupt administ.

too bad our other former president would rather be adopted by Poppy and Babs rather than stand up to the policies of their son.