Washington is Known For Its Saints by: Arleen M. Kaptur

Wherever you go nowadays, the talk is usually politics. You have your sides - some think everyone in Washington is a saint and others think another realm is where our lawmakers belong. Whichever side you are on, and wherever you are holding your chats, you must surely have heard about the latest from the Public Relations Department of Washington. They would like George W. Bush to be named a saint.

Now, now, let's just check a few facts and figures here before we cast a vote. He is responsible for wars, money crises, un- precedented rights for his office, killings of thousands, and torture of many. Other countries would want us removed from the face of the earth, and the others would take the money offered for friendship and then remove us from the face of the earth. We are not popular but neither is our leader. He not only lies and exaggerates, but uses executive privilege as others say God Bless You after someone sneezes. He is rude, crude and a totally irresponsible leader.

Katrina left so many homeless and uncared for while on his watch, and he has a past that would make heaven cry. When it comes to executions, his friends live and all others die. Same holds true for prison terms and perks.

His crew or cabinet were chosen because they bowed and applauded his failures, because there were so few successes. He hand-picked only those who could say "yes" but made it a priority to exclude anyone who could utter "no." He demands total loyalty yet treats the voters and citizens as irreplaceable and unimportant. He does what he wants and when he wants and there are no apologies.

Money is never an issue because it is not his that he spends. Facts are usually fiction and well, even pictures that speak volumes somehow miss the mark on truth. He refuses to let his staff testify or speak but when he does, there are so many moments that leave the audience hanging and wondering "what?"

Now we come to the request for sainthood. The President is already building monuments to himself in the form of a multi-million dollar embassy that just happens to be on total schedule in Iraq. The best of everything is used and if push comes to shove it will do as a shrine. While he holds other nations at bay because of threats and his past with pre-emptive war-fare, he wants illegals to cross as they wish - mostly because they speak Spanish and he really doesn't understand that language. He is not sure if they are with him or against him so he opts for with him.

Now for the punch line in most social settings - If Bush is one of the worse Presidents in American history how can he be a saint - compared to Dick Cheney - George W. Bush is a saint. ©Arleen M. Kaptur July, 2007

About the Author

Arleen M. Kaptur has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines. Her latest book will be out in 2008.