the good v. evil meme made many Christians stand-up and say "finally someone GETS IT" ...

"All in Christ" and the belief that we are simply "vessels" and that we need to stop interfering with the will of god ... well, it's easy to understand Bush's no-brakes approach.

It's interesting when powerful and ambition people claim a faith of such humility and then use it "move mountains" (or invade countries, topple sovereign governments, and declare "regieme change" as if it were grossly simple, sterile, and desirable as surgically having a growth removed).

But the Catch-22 for Bush and others is that --- not only does admitting mistakes or doubts suggest personal fallibility -- it also demonstrates imperfect faith, at least to those one has convinced of one's righteousness -- the "faithful"

The faith of AA, as far as I can tell, is the antidote to the white knuckling obsessive thinking that accompanies early sobriety and too often leads to "bargaining" and lapses -- Kubler-Ross's 5 stages also apply to accepting that one is an actual alcoholic, beyond having "a drinking problem", and that sobriety must be a lifelong endeavor. Denial being, of course, the first step.

I don't understand it and it is NOT remotely confined to Christians or evangelicals or even "the religious"

It is not, as far as I can tell, genuine "I couldn't help myself" giving into "temptation" -- since the pitfalls of power and the notorious transgressions of others are there for all to see -- but somehow there seems to be a transformation into entitlement ... which is often condoned and accepted by followers ... it's not what you think of when you hear "abuse of power" because it's often a co-dependent process that occurs with the encouragement and blessing of others, or at least a sort of don't ask don't tell complicity.

It seems to affect people in all walks of life -- from a county treasurer to the girl's volleyball coach to Sunday school teachers to your local auto mechanic ... It seems that people are prone to deciding that they deserve to cross the line and it seems almost compulsive -- beyond "temptation" -- as if the transgressions are just rewards for service -- and then almost always comes "the fall" or the agonies of anticipating discovery.

It is almost as if people rationalize their own destruction. Are they that bored? self-destructive? Are they like tired children who persist until "someone gets hurt"? Do they believe they deserve punishment? It's not the fruits of "hubris" ... but maybe it is ... this compulsive overreaching and accompanying transgressions and eventual disaster.

He has seemed to be very rules-based -- get up, go to bed, hit the gym all -- without variation. I seem to recall that his menus is similarly repetitive and confined to food he likes, regularly, prepared in a certain "right" way ... Similarly their lack of a social life and the notorious vacations and every-weekend-away patterns. Like a child, he has ALWAYS demanded pedestrian personal comforts, regularity and down-time in extraordinary quantity. I no longer sense that he HATES the job as much has he did for most of his first term when he let Cheney run things, as promised, but it's not easy and he does not enjoy it and I suspect he's been counting the days for years now.

I was struck watching Frontline this week by many things (highly recommended) one of which was Bush's apparent absence in decision making processes ... it appeared that teams (minus Bush) came up with plans which were then presented to "upper management" which then either sent them back for "tweaking" or compromise or further development ... but eventually one plan was adopted and, like that war czar, the "project manager" was responsible for it, like a (dangerous and potentially terrible, hands-off, I trust my people) CEO.

He told us he wasn't a detail person. Not only is he not curious, he's lazy and easily bored ... I think this lack of interest in details extends into his religion as well. As far as I can tell, rule based, he believes that there is ONE best answer/solution ... and having selected a path ... a "man" stays the course ...

I have read about these bags several times before and there are several "how to make your own" shopping bag sites (duh???).

I usually get my shopping bags at thrift stores. Lots of people donate promotional bags, some of which are sturdy and big enough to make good shopping bags (I like the big and deep) -- I'd love a couple LLBean canvas bags and some day may treat myself, although I have to admit that cloth shopping bags have an odd way of getting seriously filthy and not washing terriby well (lasting only a year or two) so I think I'm better off with cheapo thrift store bags ....

The amount of coverage I've seen and read about $5000 limited-edition designer handbags makes me think there's some incestuous cognisante payola -- no one who's anyone actually pays real money for this shit -- or do they? Irrelevant to my life, that's for sure.

Girls just want to accessorize ... the perfect bag to go with the "kitty not happy" t-shirt and the cocktail condom, no?

During most of his first term, at least, I referred to Bush as the presidential spokesmodel, since Cheney was so clearly controlling the agenda.

Cheney's still there ... pulling reins and chains ... Condi's star has risen ... then Cheney knocks her down ... most recently this Gitmo fiasco ...

Cheney still trumps EVERYONE as far as I can see. Bush's job is to deliver whatever message he's given and act "presidential" -- he's not very good at either.