Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Calder, W.

During George W. Bush’s final years in the White House he was the punch line to every joke. George W. Bush quotes floated around as the subject of calendars and chain e-mails with classics such as “They misunderestimated me” and “Is our children learning?” When he was not being made fun of some built him up as an oil-thirsty dictator who tore up the constitution to spy on his people and torture his enemies. While the incompetent, bumbling president may be in line with the W. that Oliver Stone portrays; the malevolent leader does not fit. Stone works hard in W. to humanize Bush, showing him to be a man who means no harm to anyone, but tries desperately to be liked by everyone. The scene in the kitchen with Dick Cheney I believe illustrates him well as a person. Others easily manipulate him with their own agenda. However, he has the countries best interests at heart. As he says: “Remember America does not torture.” I think this speculative scene may not necessarily depict Cheney’s character as it is in real life, but helps us to the character of Bush. Another scene that explains his actions well is the scene in which he and his advisors are in the “war room.” Here he tries to assert his dominance over his advisors constantly, reminding him that he is the president. He tries to assert his dominance by reminding them that he is “the decider,” a quote taken from a public speech he gave in real life. In the end he is still easily manipulated and persuaded by his pernicious advisors.

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