When The President Talks To God

A powerful new protest song by singer and songwriter, Bright Eyes, entitled "When The President Talks To God" was actually performed on NBC's Lay Leno program the other night. This had to be one of the most powerful political protest songs since the days of counter culture stars such as The Doors on the Smothers Brothers Show or other programs in the dark days of late 60's protests against the Vietnam War.

In the tradition of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie or even Country Joe McDonald, this song had a powerful impact on the viewer. It was a heartfelt angry answer to a wide range of problems that Bush seems to be insensitive to.

I honestly believe that Mr. Bush does not intend to be evil. And I believe his faith in God is indeed real and life changing for him. But I also believe his very conservative political philosophy as well as the type of advisors he surrounds himself with creates a form of "groupthink" that becomes a self justifying circle where the faith of Bush seems to backward justify these views of his advisors and friends.

All the cycle of violence in Iraq can be justified because the "evil of Saddam" was ended. Poverty is tolerated because many of these people lack a "work ethic". A huge American prison population is seen as a positive as a means to "get tough on crime". One circular issue after another is selfjustied by Bush's faith and his right wing ideology welded together.

What horrifies many in the progressive religious community and even leaders such as the new Pope would condemned war in his sermon last Sunday, is the acceptance of war and the constant cycle of violence accepted as a reasonable cost to rid the world of dictator Saddam Hussein. During the first Gulf War of 1990-91 was the time for the U.S. to demand the full and unconditional surrender of Saddam and his government, however the first President Bush made a political deal with Saudi Arabia to leave Saddam in power. Further oportunities with the U.N. arms inspections and world court system were also never fully realized as well. Instead the most life destructive and costly way to rid the world of Saddam by resorting to war to profit American arms contractors was followed. And the resulting cycle of daily violence from insurgents that takes more and more innocent lives means no quick exit from Iraq by American soldiers as well as more and more costs to the American public in lost lives of soldiers as well as financial costs to every American family.

And with no aggressive plans to eliminate poverty, it appears the "compassionate conservative" views of Mr. Bush are long forgotten campaign jargon and meaningless statements. The problem of poverty, and the resulting cycle of drugs, crime and prisons is a moral problem that Mr. Bush has not seen fit to address with substantial policy or a prayerful question to God for wise answers to help solve. Instead more and more American prisoners seem to be the one answer to this by Bush and others who think as he does.

Maybe Mr. Bush's prayer life should be more meaningful and ask for more advice much like Lincoln did. Lincoln was probably the greatest president for many reasons, and his faith in God and constructive values made him characteristic of both Moses as well as the long suffering Job. Bush did show some strong character after the 9/11 attack. But nearly everthing after that point has shown neither wisdom or a great deal of character by standing up to selfserving elements who seek to profit during the Bush years with huge military contracting or the oil industry free from White House anger over increased oil prices. On the contrary, 42 members of the Bush Administration are oil company executives or major stockholders. Even Dr. Condoleeza Rice was a former Chevron Board Of Directors member, and had an oil tanker even named for her. 32 members of the Bush Administration are military contractor executives, major stockholders or military contractor paid consultants. Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Bolton are all members of the military contractor funded PNAC(Project For The New American Century). They provided the key arguments for the Iraq War. Bush may have used prayer to reverse engineer their goals to justify war.

The powerful protest song by Bright Eyes raises many questions about a man in the White House who claims to be religious, yet is at odds with the Pope as well as many other geniune religious leaders. The Bright Eyes' song raises some questions that should force some soul searching by Bush, but probably will not. I urge prayer for Mr. Bush regardless. The country only has one president and one domestic and foreign policy at a time and should receive the best possible one.