I hope someday to do a post on "being responsible." There is a growing chorus of pundits who insist that we should withdraw from Iraq—oh, yes, yes, yes! But not now—it wouldn't be "responsible."

Before getting around to that broader matter, I thought it would be well to consider whether George Bush is "responsible."

Answer.com gives 8 meanings for "responsible"—

1. Liable to be required to give account, as of one's actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust.
2. Involving personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or superior authority: a responsible position within the firm.
3. Being a source or cause.
4. Able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior.
5. Able to be trusted or depended upon; reliable.
6. Based on or characterized by good judgment or sound thinking: responsible journalism.
7. Having the means to pay debts or fulfill obligations.
8. Required to render account; answerable: The cabinet is responsible to the parliament.

Now let's see if any of these attributes might apply to the President.

1. Liable to be required to give account, as of one's actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust.

Since Bush may not be re-elected, he is liable to be required to give account only to the extent that impeachment is a possibility. Since impeachment is highly unlikely we may say that Bush in this sense is probably not responsible.

2. Involving personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or superior authority.

Are you kidding? Bush can't piss without wetting Rove or Cheney.1

3. Being a source or cause.

George Bush was the source or cause of a great deal of grief to his parents earlier in life. But his father was able to secure a post for him that has effectively put him out of harm's way. At the same time, care had to be taken that George would not be the source or cause of any significant government decisions (see 2 above). There is still some concern over his insistence on riding bicycles, where he remains a danger to himself and others.

4. Able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior.

If George were competent to make moral or rational decisions, his dad wouldn't have needed to secure him a position as President. And George—Christian that he is—wouldn't have accepted it after having considered Mark 8:36.

5. Able to be trusted or depended upon; reliable

Surely you jest.

6. Based on or characterized by good judgment or sound thinking

If Bush had applied himself, he might have had the wit and wisdom of Mr. Potato Head, that "crafty, resourceful potato who has a weakness for gambling, drink, female vegetables and a penchant for exploring!" But alas, he didn't.

7. Having the means to pay debts or fulfill obligations

It'll take generations to pay off the bills he's run up.

8. Required to render account; answerable

The members of Congress, to whom he normally would be answerable, have decided it's best just to let him romp about the countryside. If George knows anything at all about what's going on, they'd rather not found out.

As you can see, the term "responsible" fits George Bush like a condom on a small penis—only loosely at best.

Please bear that in mind as you hear the pundits pontificate on the "responsible" position vis-à-vis the withdrawal from Iraq—or anything else, for that matter.

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George Bush: Cheerleader-in-Chief of Social Security "reform" (2/14/05)