I hadn't read that before; it does seem out of character for him. The key to Bush's position there, though, is not in the mocking, nor in the (slight) implication by the author that Bush's failure to intervene was retributive. It is in this quote:
'It's tough stuff,' Bush says, suddenly somber, 'but my job is to enforce the law.'
Letting the judicial system operate--trials, appeals, the works--and then stepping in to change a legally-arrived-at outcome is not enforcing the law; it is circumventing or obstructing it. Failing extreme circumstances, Bush felt himself bound to let the system operate, because that was the law. This is what judges have to do, as well, and what people never believe they can--look at the point of law and the broader picture, not their individual positions. The law may or may not be a good law; but it is the current law of the land, and he saw his job to be to enforce that law.
Not a good answer, for those who (a) don't believe in the death penalty and (b) don't like Bush. If it helps--for those of you who hate him--consider him Snape and not Malfoy. Give him, at least, his personal integrity.
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Date: 2004-11-04 05:26 am (UTC)'It's tough stuff,' Bush says, suddenly somber, 'but my job is to enforce the law.'
Letting the judicial system operate--trials, appeals, the works--and then stepping in to change a legally-arrived-at outcome is not enforcing the law; it is circumventing or obstructing it. Failing extreme circumstances, Bush felt himself bound to let the system operate, because that was the law. This is what judges have to do, as well, and what people never believe they can--look at the point of law and the broader picture, not their individual positions. The law may or may not be a good law; but it is the current law of the land, and he saw his job to be to enforce that law.
Not a good answer, for those who (a) don't believe in the death penalty and (b) don't like Bush. If it helps--for those of you who hate him--consider him Snape and not Malfoy. Give him, at least, his personal integrity.
~Amanda