mark nottingham

Krugman on Bush

Saturday, 14 February 2004

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]