Death Of A President

A couple of days ago, I got hold of a copy of a film — Death Of A President — a British-made faux documentary.

First, I think that whatever uproar this film's concept might (have) cause(d) — an assassination of a currently sitting President — it's not so controversial in its rendering.

In fact, anyone who might have anticipated it to be a left-wing antidote to Path To 9/11 would likely be happy to know that it shines a rather heavenly light on Bush, since most of the eye witness accounts of the murder are told indeed by housemaidens, as Palamedes aptly described them. That is wherein I have problems with the film.

As an example, Bush's speechwriter speaks of his grace under fire when protesters manage to break through security barriers and, without further incident, come in contact with the presidential motorcade in downtown Chicago. ("...and he says, 'You know, Ellie, I don't mind them having their opinions, I just wish they could demonstrate peacefully.' ") Fuh!

After his death, the newly sworn-in President Cheney (if that thought isn't enough to dissuade a potential assassination of Bush, I don't know what is!) eulogizes Bush as if he were stationed somewhere between St. Peter and John the Baptist in heaven's heirarchy.

My stomach turned as I saw the funeral caisson being prepared for its trip down Pennsylvania Avenue, the riderless horse with the boots turned backwards in the stirrups, the Air Force flyover minus a plane in the formation — all this for someone who, in my estimation, has done nothing to serve his country.

There is also a bit of a nod of approval of the Patriot Act (as voiced by one of the law enforcement characters) and, as mentioned in the film's postscript, Patriot Act III becomes permanent law.

Chilling.

Perhaps, however, that's one of the points of the film — that an assassin's bullet is apt to raise Bush's status as a leader and (Jesus help me!) visionary, as well as throw us deeper into the throes of paranoia.

Or perhaps it's what we should expect (regardless of how historians actually see his tenure in office) in years hence when The History Channel does its version of the Bush administration — a pussyfooting around the facts so that ultimately, Bush appears presidential.