RIP, George Herbert Walker Bush

We're looking back at George Herbert Walker Bush with fondness. He exemplified an older, kinder American elite that rose to global prominence in the years following WWII. In his long career, he bridged the culture divide that existed in the Republican Party between the Eastern aristocratic class founded on principles of compassionate capitalism and voluntarism, (remember the thousand points of light? Trump's ridicule of it was widely shared at the time by many, who saw a call for volunteer organizations to step in and solve the nation's pressing problems of inner city poverty and inequality as an antiquated cop out of an approach. But Bush truly saw it as the American way, where rich people set aside time and money in a trickle down of aid for the left behind),  and the new world of Texas oil money and bare-knuckled Midwestern populism. His stellar career of service was only marred by the political choices he made, such as picking Dan Quayle to be his running mate in 1988. Quayle's populist, unintellectual style was a precursor of the faux folksiness that was perfected by the younger Bush and then a generation of just plain stupid folks such as Sarah Palin, Rick Perry, etc., that seem to have entirely taken over the GOP. Which is why we're looking back so nostalgically at a man that represented bygone ideals of compassion and service, but that also at least paid lip service to reason and high-mindedness. Speaking of lips, remember when he asked us to read his? Another misguided moment in his political life, since he basically didn't have any. But at least he had the guts to raise taxes when he knew there was no other choice for the country's good. That was our 41st president in a nutshell. He could take one for the team when he had to. Can you see Trump doing that? He doesn't believe in a thousand points of light, because for him it's a winner take all world. He doesn't believe in anything but the con game that has been his career.

Rest in Peace, George Bush.