The Fall of the House of Bush

1. Bush 43's Presidency: A Reversal of His Father's Legacy

Which was exactly what was happening—with his son playing the starring role.

Polar opposites. George H.W. Bush (Bush 41) and George W. Bush (Bush 43) were fundamentally different in their beliefs and approaches to governance. Bush 41, an old-line Episcopalian, embraced pragmatism and realism in foreign policy, while Bush 43, a born-again Christian, pursued a radical vision of American exceptionalism.

Reversal of policies. Bush 43 actively dismantled his father's legacy, particularly regarding Iraq. Bush 41 had refrained from invading Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War, fearing the consequences of a prolonged occupation. Bush 43, however, reversed this decision, leading the U.S. into a costly and destabilizing war.

A strained relationship. The ideological differences between father and son created a deep rift, with limited direct communication and reliance on surrogates to express their views. Bush 41 was especially proud of his accomplishments during the 1991 Gulf War, none more so than his decision, after defeating Saddam in Kuwait, to refrain from marching on Baghdad to overthrow the brutal Iraqi dictator.

2. The Christian Right's Apocalyptic Vision and Political Power

And so, Christ, sickle in hand, gathers “the vine of the earth.”

End Times theology. The Christian Right's political power is fueled by a literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation and a belief in the imminent End Times. This apocalyptic vision includes the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the Battle of Armageddon.

America's role. This vision casts America as a "Redeemer Nation" with a special role in God's plan. This belief has historically justified various forms of American expansionism and interventionism, from Manifest Destiny to the Iraq War.

Political mobilization. Evangelical churches and organizations actively mobilize their members to vote as a hard-right Republican bloc. This bloc has become a crucial component of the Republican Party's electoral success.

3. Neoconservatives: From Trotskyism to American Exceptionalism

Their goal in life seemed to be to dismantle his legacy.

From left to right. Neoconservatives, many of whom were formerly left-leaning Democrats or even Trotskyists, shifted to the right in response to the antiwar movement and the rise of the New Left in the 1960s. They came of age as part of a rarefied circle peopled with liberal New York thinkers, internationally known novelists, Beat poets, playwrights, political theorists, academics, and literary critics.

American exceptionalism. They embraced a secular version of American exceptionalism, believing that American values and principles were both virtuous and universal, and that America had a moral duty to spread democracy throughout the world.

Influence of Albert Wohlstetter. Albert Wohlstetter, a RAND Corporation analyst, served as an intellectual mentor to many neoconservatives, teaching them how to turn their ideas into political action. His methodology, applications of game theory and systems analysis to national security issues, became especially crucial to Senator Jackson, who used them as key elements in his hawkish Cold War policies.

4. Team B: Politicizing Intelligence for a Hard-Line Agenda

This was the beginning of a thirty-year fight against the national security apparatus in which the neocons mastered the art of manipulating intelligence in order to implement hard-line, militarist policies.

Challenging the CIA. Team B, a group of neoconservative outsiders, was formed to challenge the CIA's intelligence assessments of the Soviet Union. They accused the Agency of underestimating the Soviet threat and promoted a more hawkish view of the Cold War.

Politicization of intelligence. Team B's efforts marked the beginning of a long-term strategy to politicize intelligence in order to justify hard-line, militarist policies. This strategy would be used again in the lead-up to the Iraq War.

Distorting the facts. Team B's analysis often relied on flawed methodology and exaggerated claims. They prioritized ideology over factual accuracy, creating a report that supported their predetermined conclusions.

5. The Moral Majority: Falwell, LaHaye, and the Rise of the Religious Right

I just knew we had to try.

Reaction to secularism. The Moral Majority emerged in response to the perceived decline of traditional moral values in American society. They opposed abortion, gay rights, and other social changes associated with the secular left.

Francis Schaeffer's influence. Francis Schaeffer, a prominent evangelical theologian, played a key role in mobilizing the Christian Right by framing the conflict between modernism and fundamentalism as a battle for the soul of America.

Political organization. Jerry Falwell and Tim LaHaye founded the Moral Majority to organize conservative Christians and influence elections. They successfully mobilized millions of voters and helped elect Ronald Reagan in 1980.

6. Bush's Conversion: Faith as a Political Vehicle

There is a higher father that I appeal to.

A manufactured narrative. George W. Bush's conversion experience, often attributed to Billy Graham, may have been exaggerated or even fabricated for political purposes. The story served to enhance his appeal to evangelical voters.

Arthur Blessitt's role. Bush had already been born again more than a year earlier, in April 1984—thanks to an evangelical preacher named Arthur Blessitt.

Faith and politics. Bush's faith became a central part of his political identity, allowing him to connect with the Christian Right and implement their agenda. This alliance between faith and politics would have profound consequences for American foreign policy.

7. The Neocon-Evangelical Alliance: A Clash of Civilizations?

To truly understand the scope and meaning of the relationship between the neocons and the Christian Right, however, one would have to delve into subjects as varied and seemingly unrelated as theology and espionage, ancient history and the geopolitics of oil, biblical prophecy, political assassinations, and the secret ties between the Pentagon and Israel.

Unlikely allies. Neoconservatives and the Christian Right, despite their differing backgrounds and motivations, formed a powerful alliance based on shared goals, including support for Israel and a belief in American exceptionalism.

Christian Zionism. Christian Zionism, the belief that the return of Jews to the Holy Land is in accordance with biblical prophecy, played a key role in uniting these two groups. Neoconservatives saw Israel as a strategic ally, while evangelicals saw it as a fulfillment of God's plan.

A war against secularism. Both groups viewed secular humanism as a threat to traditional values and sought to restore religion to a central role in American life. This shared worldview fueled their political activism and policy goals.

8. Cheney's Power Grab: The Imperial Presidency

He was the SOB, and on a number of occasions got involved in shouting matches with the vice president.

Ruthless ambition. Dick Cheney, a master of bureaucratic maneuvering, seized control of the executive branch and expanded the powers of the vice presidency. He believed in a strong, centralized executive authority, often at the expense of checks and balances.

Undermining Powell. Cheney strategically appointed loyalists to key positions in the Pentagon and the National Security Council, effectively marginalizing Secretary of State Colin Powell and other moderates.

Secrecy and control. Cheney operated with a high degree of secrecy, limiting access to information and circumventing normal bureaucratic channels. This allowed him to implement his agenda with minimal oversight.

9. The Marketing of Fear: Selling the Iraq War

We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality.

Manufacturing consent. The Bush administration launched a sophisticated media campaign to convince the American public that Saddam Hussein posed a grave threat and that war was necessary. This campaign relied on fear, misinformation, and the suppression of dissenting voices.

Politicization of intelligence. The administration cherry-picked and distorted intelligence to support its predetermined conclusions about Iraq's WMDs and ties to terrorism. Dissenting voices within the intelligence community were marginalized or silenced.

Exploiting 9/11. The administration skillfully linked Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 attacks, even though there was no credible evidence to support this claim. This association fueled public anger and support for war.

10. The Iraq War: A Catastrophic Blunder

Ultimately, it was the greatest foreign policy disaster in American history-one that could result in the end of American global supremacy.

No WMDs. The stated reason for the Iraq War—Saddam Hussein's possession of weapons of mass destruction—proved to be false. No WMDs were ever found in Iraq.

Destabilization of the region. The war destabilized Iraq and the entire Middle East, leading to sectarian violence, the rise of extremist groups, and the empowerment of Iran.

Erosion of American power. The war drained American resources, damaged its reputation, and undermined its global leadership. It also created a breeding ground for terrorism and fueled anti-American sentiment.

11. The 2004 Election: Moral Values and the Re-election of Bush

I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.

Mobilizing the base. Karl Rove, Bush's chief strategist, recognized the importance of mobilizing the Christian Right to win the 2004 election. The campaign focused on "moral values" issues such as abortion and gay marriage to energize evangelical voters.

Dog whistle politics. The Bush campaign used coded language and campaign practices that appealed to evangelicals without alienating moderate voters. This strategy helped Bush win re-election despite the growing unpopularity of the Iraq War.

A divided nation. The 2004 election further polarized American society, with deep divisions between red state and blue state voters. The focus on moral values and the war in Iraq created a climate of fear and intolerance.

12. The Unfolding Legacy: A World Transformed

Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?

A failed presidency. By the end of his second term, George W. Bush's presidency was widely seen as a failure. The Iraq War had become a quagmire, the economy was in crisis, and America's reputation had been tarnished.

The neocon dream shattered. The neoconservative vision of remaking the Middle East had failed to materialize. Instead, the region was more unstable and dangerous than ever before.

A new direction? As the 2008 election approached, Americans yearned for a new direction. The rise of Barack Obama offered the promise of hope and change, signaling a potential end to the Bush era and its disastrous policies.

Last updated: April 10, 2025