As the magnitude of the tragedy in the Indian Ocean countries has unfolded, a unique opportunity has also developed for George Bush to show true leadership and statesmanship. Which is precisely why the opportunity will never be realized.
The opportunity? Cancel or scale back inauguration festivities. It's simply not the time for a Queer Eye for the Straight Guy gala. Never mind that the big money boys and girls will be partying in the wake of 200,000-plus dead and/or missing souls in the tsunami affected areas. And, based on the administration's own predictions, U.S. soldiers will be at the apex of risk in a pre-election Iraq. Lastly, without question, Washington DC itself will be ripe for anti-administration induced chaos.
Nope, it's not a good time for a coronation, but the show must go on.
What a real leader would do is conduct a quiet swearing in ceremony, and within minutes get back to the business of state. But then, it's already been established that benevolent leadership and global statesmanship is not high on BushCo's priority list.
Don't expect anyone associated with the party planning to have second thoughts about how the grandiose coronation ceremonies will play in the rest of the world. The Bush administration has never much cared about what the rest of the world thinks, anyway -- unless a U.N. representative criticizes something done (or not done) by Bush or one of "his people".
Perhaps sometime during the coronation festivities, Maximum Leader could bestow himself with the Royal Order of Marie Antoinette award (double clusters, of course, for the second term).
We are so screwed.
Update 8:30PM - here's a few bizarro coronation links you might like:
Hat for Bush's inauguration to feature solid gold 'W' buckle
Atheist Sues to Thwart Inauguration Prayer
Leader of AIDS group helps coordinate Bush inauguration (not what you think...)
Forget Iraq and South Asia, It's Party Time
