George Bush, The Religious Faker

Rabbi Dennis Shulman points out the obvious: George Bush, while he talks a good religious talk, really doesn't walk a very religious walk. The man is a fake when it comes to following traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices like good stewardship of the earth, helping the disadvantaged and not favoring the rich at their expense, and supporting the powerless against the powerful. Bush is no peacemaker, nor is he charitable. He pretends to piety and acts like a moneychanger. He speaks of God and Jesus, while he sits with the high priests of the corporate world in private rooms of cigar-smoke and deal-making. The man is long past due a good bolt of lightning.

Rabbi Shulman, in his piece entitled George, Please Tell Me, Would You Consider Becoming Religious? published by CommonDreams.org, concludes his piece with the following:

Many have argued that President Bush is too religious. On the contrary, I would argue that the President is not religious enough. This president has not yet fully grasped the vast personal and social implications of taking the great wisdom of our ancient religious texts seriously. This president has not yet appreciated his personal and political responsibility to transform the highest ethical values of the Jewish-Christian tradition into a moral society in which all divine images are treated with respect.

George, please, for our sake, for God sake, it is time for you to find religion!

While I agree that George Bush needs to transform his leadership and take responsibility, both personal and political, embracing the highest ethical values, I think we all know, by now, this will never happen. In the face of history's condemnation of his years of lies and subterfuge, of his disastrous Iraq war, of his pillaging of the American taxpayer, of his wrecking of America's jobs, health and environment, can anyone imagine him apologizing? Can anyone imagine him recognizing any of his mistakes? Can anyone imagine his betraying his class interests?