mnot’s Web log

Design depends largely on constraints.” — Charles Eames

Saturday, 14 February 2004

Krugman on Bush

Paul Krugman points out continuing efforts to shore up George Bush, the Myth;

By my count, this year’s budget contains 27 glossy photos of Mr. Bush. We see the president in front of a giant American flag, in front of the Washington Monument, comforting an elderly woman in a wheelchair, helping a small child with his reading assignment, building a trail through the wilderness and, of course, eating turkey with the troops in Iraq[…] It was not ever thus. Bill Clinton’s budgets were illustrated with tables and charts, not with worshipful photos of the president being presidential.

Is it just me, or is this distinctly Hitleresque? Yes, I know I’m brushing up against Godwin’s Law, but the comparison seems quite direct… maybe it’s just that any leader who doesn’t have a true mandate will attempt to bluster their way through criticism and build a cult of personality.

[via Aaron]


Filed under: Politics

discussion of this entry

grumpy said…

I can't imagine how you would get so close to Godwin's Law when talking about President Bush. Perhaps it's the taking of political notes from the New York Times oped page?

Saturday, February 14 2004 at 5:53 PM +10:00

Mark Nottingham said…

Fallacy of guilt by association:

Group G accepts idea I.
Therefore, I must be wrong.

http://www.fallacyfiles.org/guiltbya.html

Sunday, February 15 2004 at 10:39 AM +10:00

gappa said…

The initial poster is in direct violation of Goodwin's law, which holds: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer...".
Hitler was the result of an abysmal economy. Ruh Roh!

Monday, March 1 2004 at 6:40 PM +10:00

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