Some years ago, an insider to the Bush administration writing in Vanity Fair described the whole bunch as “Mayberry Machiavellis” because of their crimped worldviews, smalltown smugness and cocksure manipulation of everyone (including each other). Here’s a new wrinkle to enhance the reference: the fact that their world is so small that the White House keeps going back to the same people who have clearly and indisputably shown their incompetence already. Case in point, Newsweek is reporting Paul Wolfowitz is being considered for a spot on the State Department’s International Security Advisory Board, which advises the Sec’y of State on WMDs, arms control, non-proliferation and all those cool things. Now, granted, Wolfowitz does have a lot of experience in arms control, but it’s obvious experience doesn’t always translate into knowledge. Ask the late Evel Knievel about that.
I just have pictures of Pat Butram in my head, reaching into his truck and saying, “Yer lookin’ for a security advis’r? Then today is yer lucky day. B’cuz today, in addition to being Jestice of the Peace f’r this county, an’ a bona feeday tango instructor, Ah’m also a registrar’d Int’rnashunal Arms Cornsultant, available immediately f’r hire. Five dollars, please.”
And we are all expected to be Eddie Albert, with a slow burn.
(I know I’m combining the Andy Griffith monde with Green Acres-Petticoat Junction-Beverly Hillbillies, but hey, the point is still valid. Plus, it gave me the excuse to find a pic of Pat Butram online.)