Fraters Libertas

The Right (and real) Stuff

When President Bush landed on the aircraft carrier yesterday he had an impact on many Americans usually brought about only by rock stars and athletes. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him. Yes, as unlikely as it might sound seeing Bush in a flight suit was enough to cause some women to swoon like school girls. Listening to Laura Ingraham quiver with excitement when describing Bush's appearance or reading
Kathryn Jean Lopez's posts calling Bush a stud brought home the point that there's more than one hottie in this administration. I haven't heard women in the media panting like this for a President since the days of Eleanor Clift getting all hot and bothered every time she uttered Bill Clinton's name.

Apparently though not everyone was impressed with GW's dramatic entrance. Critics have complained that it was nothing more than grandstanding and that the President was using the military to score political points. One writer even opined that if Clinton had tried the same stunt conservatives would be blasting him for it.

And you know what? We would have. Why? Because landing on an aircraft carrier and joshing around with the crew on the flight deck is not the real Bill Clinton. Hobnobbing with Hollywood celebrities? That's Bill Clinton. If Bush tried to pal around with the elite of Hollywood it wouldn't be George W. Bush. It would be phony. It would be an act. But yesterday? That was real. The real George W. Bush. He likes planes. He likes flying. He likes the military. And the military likes him in return.

Perhaps in the mid to late 90's with the country at peace and feeling quite secure people wanted their president to be warmly welcomed in Hollywood. But today we're in the midst of war and Americans prefer a president who is more at home on an aircraft carrier than at a gala movie premier.