Sunday, August 17, 2008

Are You Kidding Me? Pot Calling Kettle Black...

George W. Bush never ceases to amaze me with his hubris. He actually had the colossal nerve to denounce Russia for being a bully. Here is what he said:

"With its actions in recent days, Russia has damaged its credibility and its relations with the nations of the free world. Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."

Hello? Isn't this what the United States has been doing for years now? The nerve of him to criticize another country when we invaded a sovereign nation and killed thousands, perhaps millions, of its civilians, and left it in a shambles? And he has the audacity to tell Russia what to do? Unbelievable.

In honor of Mr. Bush I will quote below the full lyrics to Phil Och's protest song, "We're the Cops of the World."

Come, get out of the way, boys
Quick, get out of the way
You'd better watch what you say, boys
Better watch what you say
We've rammed in your harbor and tied to your port
And our pistols are hungry and our tempers are short
So bring your daughters around to the port
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World


We pick and choose as we please, boys
Pick and choose as we please
You'd best get down on your knees, boys
Best get down on your knees
We're hairy and horny and ready to shack
And we don't care if you're yellow or black
Just take off your clothes and lay down on your back
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World

Our boots are needing a shine, boys
Boots are needing a shine
But our Coca-Cola is fine, boys
Coca-Cola is fine
We've got to protect all our citizens fair
So we'll send a battalion for everyone there
And maybe we'll leave in a couple of years
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World

And dump the reds in a pile, boys
Dump the reds in a pile
You'd better wipe off that smile, boys
Better wipe off that smile
We'll spit through the streets of the cities we wreck
And we'll find you a leader that you can't elect
Those treaties we signed were a pain in the neck
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World

And clean the johns with a rag, boys
Clean the johns with a rag
If you like you can use your flag, boys
If you like you can use your flag
We've got too much money we're looking for toys
And guns will be guns and boys will be boys
But we'll gladly pay for all we destroy
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World

Please stay off of the grass, boys
Please stay off of the grass
Here's a kick in the ass, boys
Here's a kick in the ass
We'll smash down your doors, we don't bother to knock
We've done it before, so why all the shock
We're the biggest and the toughest kids on the block
And we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World

And when we butchered your sons, boys
When we butchered your sons
Have a stick of our gum, boys
Have a stick of our bubble gum
We own half the world, oh say can you see
And the name for our profits is democracy
So, like it or not, you will have to be free
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World.


And, for good measure, here is Phil himself singing it. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a live video of him singing this particular song.

17 comments:

Snave said...

I guess he wants Russia to know who's "top dog" in the world. What will this lead to? I shudder to think.

We don't need to be telling the Russians what to do, nor do we need to be setting up our missiles in countries so close to theirs. We need to be engaging in dialog and we need to work with them. But I guess that doesn't happen when you have an Armageddonist in office.

D.K. Raed said...

It's always amazing that Bush can make statements like that with a straight face ... I suspect these pronouncements are part of the alternative history to be featured in his presidential library (you know, the one without any books cuz he doesn't read).

And this is eerie ... I was thinking about doing a Phil Ochs post recently using his song, "Here's to Land You've Torn Out the Heart of" (he was referring to Nixon, but it translates well to Bush). I didn't think very many people remember him -- glad that you do!

Fran said...

Great song!

Yes - the hypocrisy of this astounding and infuriating.

McCain said something similar too, what a surprise.

It is disgusting, but then what isn't that Bush and company do every day.

Christopher said...

It's stunning to me that Bush could reach the rip, old age of 62 and lack any self-awareness.

He blathers on and on and on, without realizing he's guilty of the same crimes he accuses others of being guilty of.

Amanda said...

"Bush" and "self-aware" are two words that can rarely be worked into the same sentence... at least not as a direct positive correspondence.

Bless his tiny little heart. Hopefully he'll be able to spend the rest of his years in the pasture at his Crawford ranch...

Anonymous said...

Their missing a sense of irony, I guess.

Dave Dubya said...

It's the old Republican trick of projecting their crimes and sins on others.

Like when silver spoon fed arrogant aristocrats like Bush and McCain suggest Obama is the elitist.

Give me a break.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

You've hit the nail on the head.

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness you said it. I was going to write a post saying essentially the same thing, but didn't feel I could criticize too much because I'm canadian.

Bush and Rice look like a pair of squawking wet hens on TV. In fact, Bush has been doing everything he can to stick his thumb in Russia's eye. Missile shield, arming the Georgians to the teeth. It just goes on.

At least the Russians have some legitimate interests in Georgia.

Its too bad it has to go this way, but I think Bush and Co. are the ones that sabotaged hope for a better way of resolving differences when they went into Iraq. Even more than giving up the high ground they destroyed the very concept.

Carlos said...

I thought the same thing when I heard those statements. I've said it once, and I'll say it for the rest of my life: this administration will go down in history as the worst of this century. And yes, I know this is the beginning of the century; I'm just sayin' :-)

Stumbled over from Tom Harper's blog.


Dumbasses In Government

Anonymous said...

Chimpy's got a great pair of big ones, doesn't he MG? When I heard he said this, I was flabbergasted. Oh well, I guess it takes a bully to know one...

Di Mackey said...

Oh ... I so nearly blogged on the hypocrisy of Bush's words but I restrained myself, trying to keep my blog nice.

That man, he drives me crazy and I'm just a New Zealander living in Europe.

Utah Savage said...

Great song. Not since the '60's have I heard such a great anti-war/folk song. I'm not an Ochs fan, but I now see I should listen up.

Nothing Bush says or does surprises me any more. Hell, I expect martial law just before the election.

Tom Harper said...

Great song; very accurate. I've heard of it but I don't think I ever heard it before.

I can't believe the simplified one-sided version of this situation that the "media" is feeding us, or that so many Americans are swallowing it hook line and sinker. Our corporate media is about as informative as Pravda. But unlike Russian citizens 20 years ago, we have the option of going online and visiting "alternative" and foreign news sites. That's about the only way to get any real news these days.

Mauigirl said...

Snave, I agree - and Russia makes such a great target for this nonsense given our history with them during the Cold War. If Obama wins I think we'll have that dialog we need; if not, it will just get worse.

D.K., I know, I wonder sometimes, does he or his minions even hear how this would sound to the rest of the world? I guess not. That's interesting that you were thinking of posting about "Here's to the land" - another great Phil Ochs song that is still so pertinent today. We have several of his albums on vinyl and a two-CD "best of" set as well. I wish he were still here today to fight the good fight.

Fran, yes, it is disgusting but nothing to be surprised at - much like Bush condemning China for its human rights violations when we were (and probably still are) torturing prisoners ourselves.

Christopher, exactly. He has no sense of what his pronouncements sound like to others or how they will be viewed. And no self awareness at all, you're right.

Amanda, well-said. I hear, though, that he may be moving to a less rural location - Laura doesn't want to live out her days in Crawford!

DCup, irony is something lost on the right wingers in general and Bush in particular.

Dave, you're right, this is their modus operandus it seems. Take their own sin and project it on the other side. They did the same thing to Kerry via the Swift Boat accusations - when it was Bush who was a draft-dodger!

Thanks, Ruth - when he said this I just couldn't let it go by!

Glenn, glad I could say it for you! It must be frustrating to live in an actual civilized country so close to ours, and feel as if you shouldn't comment on the craziness that this government is perpetrating. Please feel free any time as far as I'm concerned!

Carlos, welcome! Yes, worst of the century it will be. Unless McCain wins. Then we'll have to see.

Spartacus, good point, sometimes it does take one to know one. Could probably make a big psychological analysis of Bush and why he says the things he does, but it wouldn't be worth the effort.

Di, welcome! I love New Zealand - went there back in the 80s. You have the right ideas there. I often say if the Republicans keep winning elections I'm going to move there!

Utah, glad you liked it - nearly all of his songs are great. He has some really scathing ones about Mississippi, Nixon, and even liberals (phony ones of course). But he also loved America and just didn't like what it was doing. And he still wouldn't if he were here today.

Tom, you're right, we are not getting the full picture of what is going on over there. I don't know what we would do without the Internet - and The Daily Show of course. (There was a NY Times article Sunday about Jon Stewart possibly being the most trusted man in America!).

Mauigirl said...

Welcome Featheradrift! I agree - they are the biggest hypocrites, and they have the nerve to turn around and criticize others! A pox indeed!

libhom said...

Bush's hypocrisy would have undercut his credibility, if Bush had any credibility to start out with. I feel sorry for the Georgians. Being stuck with an ally like Bush is worse than having no allies at all.