Bush Joins Hitler, Stalin and Khomeini as "Person of the Year"

Commentary ~ December 19, 2004: George Bush has been named “Person of the Year” by Time magazine, joining such historical similarities as Ayatollah Khomeini (1979), Adolf Hitler (1938) and Joseph Stalin (1939).

Time magazine doesn't always pick tyrants for its person of the year. More reputable choices have included Bill Clinton (1992 and 1998), Martin Luther King Jr. (1963), John F. Kennedy (1961), and Mahatma Gandhi (1930).

Time's managing editor Jim Kelly said the president was chosen this year for “sharpening the debate until the choices bled, for reframing reality to match his design,” and for “gambling his fortunes - and ours.”

We couldn't have said it better.

As far as bleeding choices, 1,304 Americans have been killed as a result of his war in Iraq ; while 9,844 have been wounded (5,229 so seriously they have been sent home with missing body parts). More than 100,000 innocent Iraqi men, women and children have died. No one is keeping track of how many of them are maimed for life.

Reframing reality to match his design: in other words, forcing his worldview on the rest of us. In the next four years, we can expect much more of his reframing of reality. Adolf Hitler did the same thing after he was named person of the year.

The third reason, gambling his fortunes, and ours, speaks for itself. Compulsive gamblers who wager their families' possessions for imaginary gain need therapy. Heads of state who do the same with entire countries should be impeached. He is gambling the fortune of this country on the advice of a few entrenched corporate interests who care very little about anything other than milking our economy for as much as possible before it all collapses.

Looking forward into the next Bush term, the magazine's editors doubt if Bush will extend an olive branch to his political opponents, despite his assurances that he will reach across the isle. “Whatever spirit of cooperation that survives in his second term may have to be found among his opponents,” the article said, “He has made it clear he's not about to change his mind as he takes on Social Security and the tax code in pursuit of his 'ownership society.'”

The magazine also points out that half of Americans (50%) still think that the country is headed in the wrong direction, not much changed since the pre-election period. Only 40% see the country on the right track.

Bush is quoted in the magazine as saying he does not expect "many short-term historians to write nice things about me.” At last, there is something coming out of his mouth that we actually agree with.

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