Political Baraka

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

I already told this story in a conversation on TPN a month ago but...

I once met George W Bush, (now former) president of the United States.

It was at the close of my 2008 deployment, my detatchment was at an airport in Maine waiting to catch the conecting flight that would carry us on the last leg of our trip home. I was hungry, severely jet-lagged, and trying to take a nap when Papi (my Assistant squad leader) shook me awake to tell me that a bunch of cops had just shown up and had blocked the terminal's exits. He also mentioned that there were a couple of "Shady looking guys in suits" talking to our Detatchment OIC (Officer In Charge).

So I get up to go find our Chief and figure out what exactly is going on when I hear someone say "Holy-shit is that the president?!?".

Mr. Bush and the First Lady went around greeting us individually while aides distributed coffee and dounuts. When he got to me he asked me how my leg was feeling and if I had kept in touch with a friend who had been wounded (and subsequently evacuated) early in the deployment. He seemed to have a similar personalised touch for almost every other guy in the Det' asking about wives, kids, and future plans/ambitions.

This was in 08 so re-election was out of question but had there been a detailer in the terminal he probably could of talked us all into volunteering for another tour right then and there. To me this incident illustrated something that is often ignored on political discussion.

"Baraka"

Baraka is an old Suffi word that doesn't really translate well into english. Literally it means "a blessing" or "god's grace" but the way it is used colloquially implies a combination of charisma, guts, and luck. It could also be interpereted as "those qualities that make someone prosperous or an effective leader".

Now President Bush didn't know me (or anyone else in the Detatchment) from Adam. Those personal touches that seemed so important probably came from talking to our OIC, or perusing unit records before he came in. But you know what? That didn't matter. He still had everyone in the Det', from the die-hard GI Joe types, to our resident grouch (who's oft stated dream was to someday "head-butt a head of state so hard it kills both of us"), eating out of his hand.

...and in politics that is the only thing that really matters.

A Head of State doesn't need to be particularly smart, nor do they need to be a brilliant economist, diplomat, or warrior (It may help but really that's what advisors/cabinet-members are for). What they really need is Baraka. There is something in the deepest depths of our inner monkey that senses this an wants to emulate/follow it. A chieftan who doesn't have it isn't worth following.

Vladimir Putin may be a bastard but he has Baraka by the bucket-load and thus people love him.

Love him, hate him, mis-underestimate him, Bush had it too.

Ironically Barack, who's very name was derived from this quality, does not. He started strong but allowed a blubbering-baby and the wicked witch of the west coast to play him for a fool.

It may be completely irrational but this is politics, what else is new?

Comments

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

It's an issue of perception so I don't really expect people to agree with me.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

I believe that Obama still has the power to mobilize lots of people due to his charisma.

That's not charisma, it's hypnotic language.
http://www.pennypresslv.com/Obama%27s_Use_of_Hidden_Hypnosis_techniques_in_His_Speeches.pdf

Sincerely sad Under L succintly states:

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

So were Hitler and Stalin also sincere. That doesn't make either of them any less what they were. Sincerity is not a free pass.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

I submit that this quality is necessary, yes, but not sufficient.

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

Yes, Bush II had that power, moreso than No. 1. Clinton had it as well, in spades more than Gore.

Both Rooseveldts were masters, I've read. Sterling Hayden met the president (Franklin) as an actor, years after he had given up on his seafaring career. When he shook FDR's hand, he gave his greetings from a captain both of them knew, one who had barely lost a yacht race (owned by the mutual acquaintance and captained by Hayden) a decade prior.

FDR immediately remembered someone he had met only briefly ten years prior and, as if that weren't enough, said what a pity is was that his yacht — the name of which he also remembered — had lost. (Source: Wanderer, Sterling Hayden.)

This is monkey society memory. We are all monkeys.

The scary part of this lesson is how many psycho- and sociopaths learn early in life the importance of this skill as a path to manipulation. Ted Bundy (who grew up around here) was as affable and charming as just about anyone can be. Every now and again, W. (usually in a press conference where he could not focus on a single person and the Jedi skills you mention) would show a damned scary chink in the facade. The 2006 post-election conference comes to mind.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

The scary part of this lesson is how many psycho- and sociopaths learn early in life the importance of this skill as a path to manipulation.

The trick of course is to recognize what is happening. The part of the reason this stuck in my head was that (aside from meeting the fucking president) was realising just how easily I could be manipulated.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

No, what he had was the ability to dissemble, use personas, and find someone like Dick Cheney to do his dirty work for him assured that Cheney was such an asshole that nobody would ever consider that Cheney might just be doing what Bush told him to do, and people would even consider Cheney the real brains of the outfit. With the added bonus that his whole persona made him easy to underestimate....

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Pretty weak sauce.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

You're weak sauce. :P

[oportet.livejournal.com]

Doesn't sound irrational to me. Big personality defeated no personality in 2008, 2004, 2000, and 96.

[peristaltor.livejournal.com]

Especially 2004.

[squidb0i.livejournal.com]

What a nice story. I'm glad they were nice to you guys on your way back home, you deserved at least as much.


But I'm sorry you felt the need to use it as a jab at the current President.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

It is intended less as a jab at the current president and more as an illustration of a point.

To be a frank I am not and never was a particular fan of Bush II, my personal attitude at the time was along the lines of Paul's "Head-butt the asshole to death" and yet I find myself defending him.

Conversly Obama (in theory) is brilliant and yet has been utterly ineffective.

There must be a conclusion that can be drawn.

[sealwhiskers.livejournal.com]

Even from such a biased POV as your story, the comparison halters, because you haven't met Barack Obama in person (unless I somehow missed some part of your story), and thus already there is a missing link.

If we compare tv appearances and public speeches many many people truly disliked Bush, even many conservatives felt he was sorely inadequate. He was called boring, stiff, uncarismatic and even embarrassing.

I think, in many crowds, and not just the lefties but perhaps in completely different countries, the notion that Bush would be claimed more charismatic than Obama would be met with disbelief and laughter.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

Excellent point.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

you haven't met Barack Obama in person

This is a fair criticism. ^

My impression is based on what I see on TV and what I hear from those who have met him and is by no means reliable.

At the same time I think that this is an issue that many critics of Bush fail to recognize. You can accuse him of many things but "not knowing how to work a crowd" is not one of them.

By comparison Obama routinely picks "the wrong fights" and compromises when he should attack.

[musicpsych.livejournal.com]

I'd be careful not to conflate "leader" with "politician." I think Bush was a horrible leader, but his skills as a politician probably made up for it for enough voters to count. (His "baraka," if you want to call it that, never worked on me.)

I think, too, that "baraka" comes easier to someone in a position like Bush was in when you met him. He was in the ultimate position of authority, and "holy shit," I don't doubt that you all probably approached him with some reverence.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

There's people you wanna have a beer with, and then there's people you want to run the country. If you choose the 'both' option, then you're already drunk.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

It may be completely irrational

Agreed.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

and yet...

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

Great points and nice foreign language lesson. +1

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Obviously, this is getting recommended - and it's all your fault!

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

One man's garbage is another man's gold.
In other words, you and your pals may have been taken in and completely mezmo'd by Bush. Maybe Bush was in the zone having a great game that day. It doesn't mean that would work on everybody. Nor would it even work on you every day.

Somewhere on the web is an account by former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin on his meeting with George W Bush. I yhink it was written in the Globe and Mail, probably in 2005. I can't find it. I recall PM Martin was astonished by Bush being wild eyed, believing he was on a mission from god, doing god's work with instructions from god. PM Martin thought he was nuts and limited their relations after getting that first impression. Oh but there is this... http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/international_politics/clips/16528/

Bush didn't have "It" during most of his Presidency. JFK had "it". Brando had "it" James Dean had "it". Etc, etc

Problem with this analysis is:

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Barack Obama just has to be the lesser evil than the guy running against him....

Re: Problem with this analysis is:

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

What George Bush had was a very different set of political gifts, including the simple but effective concept of the hatchet man being fully understood by him and used very, very well indeed. Bush also exploited that people continually underestimated him and used to great effect the persona of a dumbass to hide someone who was rather more Machiavellian than that. Unfortunately people in the USA fall for personas every damn time.