--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Will this long presidency of George W…" description: "\"“Will this long presidency of George W. Bush ever be over? Living through it is starting to seem like some ghastly, upsetting novel in which the hero i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/christopher-durang-22423_bush_will-this-long-presidency-of-george-w-bu_2956520.png" --- # Will this long presidency of George W. Bush ever be over?… ![“Will this long presidency of George W. Bush ever be over? Living through it is starting to seem like some ghastly, upsetting novel in which the hero is the country, and the president is this disturbing, pig-headed, oblivious villain who makes things worse and worse and worse.” quote by Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/christopher-durang-22423_bush_will-this-long-presidency-of-george-w-bu_2956520.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/christopher-durang-22423_bush_will-this-long-presidency-of-george-w-bu_2956520.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/christopher-durang-22423_bush_will-this-long-presidency-of-george-w-bu_2956520.png) > ““Will this long presidency of George W. Bush ever be over? Living through it is starting to seem like some ghastly, upsetting novel in which the hero is the country, and the president is this disturbing, pig-headed, oblivious villain who makes things worse and worse and worse.”” [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sat the current presidency as a distressing story where the nation suffers under a foolish leader. **In simple terms:** A bad leader makes the country suffer. Key Takeaway Recognize and critique poor leadership. Themes politics leadership criticism Mood frustrated critical Type satirical political When to use this quote - national discourse - media analysis - public opinion - civic engagement Key Concepts authorocracy satire Questions to Reflect On - How does satire influence political awareness? - What responsibilities do citizens have in such times? A Different Perspective The critique may overlook any positive actions taken by the administration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) ## Related quotes > [With nearly two years remaining in his presidency, George W. Bush is alone. In half a century, I have not seen a president so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-novak/with-nearly-two-years-remaining-in-his-presidency-george-w-bush-is/) [Robert Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-novak/) > [“An outgoing president nearly always defines the next elections, Axelrod wrote, and people almost never seek a replica - certainly not after the presidency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-balz-and-haynes-johnson/an-outgoing-president-nearly-always-defines-the-next-elections/) Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson > [“Of course, many highly intelligent people like Dan find a place to feel comfortable in adulthood, when there is a bit less stigma to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-prinstein/of-course-many-highly-intelligent-people-like-dan-find-a-place-to/) [Mitch Prinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-prinstein/) > [When the pangs shoot through our body, and ghastly death appears in view, people see the patience of the dying Christian. Our infirmities become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/when-the-pangs-shoot-through-our-body-and-ghastly-death-appears-in/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Look not too long in the face of the fire, O man! Never dream with thy hand on the helm! Turn not thy back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/look-not-too-long-in-the-face-of-the-fire-o-man-never-dream-with-thy/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [ A lot of the buildings \[in Toronto\] around Yonge and Bloor is the architectural equivalent of Kipper Ties and 8" collar points. It's ghastly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/a-lot-of-the-buildings-in-toronto-around-yonge-and-bloor-is-the/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [If I were to believe in a god l would believe in gods. I think monotheism is the really ghastly thing. That is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/if-i-were-to-believe-in-a-god-l-would-believe-in-gods-i-think/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [One of the pleasures of the original 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' is how incredibly ghastly they are. The ugly sisters have their eyes pecked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gatiss/one-of-the-pleasures-of-the-original-grimm-s-fairy-tales-is-how/) [Mark Gatiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gatiss/) > [The search for happiness ... always ends in the ghastly sense of the bottomless nothingness into which you will inevitably fall if you strain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/the-search-for-happiness-always-ends-in-the-ghastly-sense-of-the/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [I like film books at the bottom of the barrel and art books at the top. 'The Ghastly One,' by Jimmy McDonough, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-like-film-books-at-the-bottom-of-the-barrel-and-art-books-at-the/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [What is it in absinthe that makes it a separate cult? The effects of its abuse are totally distinct from those of other stimulants.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/what-is-it-in-absinthe-that-makes-it-a-separate-cult-the-effects-of/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [To live when you do not want to is dreadful, but it would be even more terrible to be immortal when you did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/to-live-when-you-do-not-want-to-is-dreadful-but-it-would-be-even-more/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Actually, who hasn't been through the ghastly experience of sitting in front of a blank page, with its toothless mouth grinning at you: Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/actually-who-hasn-t-been-through-the-ghastly-experience-of-sitting-in/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) ## More by Christopher Durang > [It was before Vatican II and the liberalization of church doctrine. You weren't meant to eat meat on Friday in deference to Christ, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/it-was-before-vatican-ii-and-the-liberalization-of-church-doctrine/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [Here is the key to existence. Are you listening? Here is the key to existence; when I tell you this you will know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/here-is-the-key-to-existence-are-you-listening-here-is-the-key-to/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [In my 20s, I was more cynical/despairing (even though I still wrote comically), but I often sent audiences home with rather dark last moments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/in-my-20s-i-was-more-cynical-despairing-even-though-i-still-wrote/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [The first several scenes are about sexual addiction. They're not specifically political at all. . . . I didn't sit down and think, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/the-first-several-scenes-are-about-sexual-addiction-they-re-not/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [Then in college I became obsessed with film, and wanted to be part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/then-in-college-i-became-obsessed-with-film-and-wanted-to-be-part-of/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [“No, I was just thinking about Chernobyl. That's like a scream from the universe warning us, but we're not paying any attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/no-i-was-just-thinking-about-chernobyl-that-s-like-a-scream-from-the/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [Unless you go through all the genuine angers you feel, both justified and unjustified, the feelings of love that you have will not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/unless-you-go-through-all-the-genuine-angers-you-feel-both-justified/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [I write intuitively, and with most of my plays, I don't know what is always going to happen. This means I can sometimes go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/i-write-intuitively-and-with-most-of-my-plays-i-don-t-know-what-is/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [Laughter can bring a new perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/laughter-can-bring-a-new-perspective/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [ “\[The Greeks\] went to the open-air theatre expecting the drama they saw to evoke terror and pity. Nowadays we have enough terror and pity… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/the-greeks-went-to-the-open-air-theatre-expecting-the-drama-they-saw/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [I never graduated to being an atheist. I only graduated to being an agnostic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/i-never-graduated-to-being-an-atheist-i-only-graduated-to-being-an/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [It is a sin to follow your horoscope because only God knows the future and He won't tell us. Also, we can tell horoscopes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/it-is-a-sin-to-follow-your-horoscope-because-only-god-knows-the/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [My parents didn't really know one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/my-parents-didn-t-really-know-one-another/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [I didn't have a teacher like Sister Mary Ignatius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/i-didn-t-have-a-teacher-like-sister-mary-ignatius/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) > [On the one hand, I'm grateful to be hired and thrilled to be paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-durang/on-the-one-hand-i-m-grateful-to-be-hired-and-thrilled-to-be-paid/) [Christopher Durang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) [Explore all 27 Christopher Durang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-durang/) ## More Bush quotes > [President Bush is a friend of mine. He's not a moron at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/president-bush-is-a-friend-of-mine-he-s-not-a-moron-at-all/) [Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [Obama's policies have been approximately the same as Bush's, though there have been some slight differences, but that's not a great surprise. The Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-s-policies-have-been-approximately-the-same-as-bush-s-though/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This country was the moral leader of the world until George Bush became president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/this-country-was-the-moral-leader-of-the-world-until-george-bush/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [We're half an hour from Toronto, which offers everything you could want from a city, and a couple of hours from beautiful vacation country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linwood-barclay/we-re-half-an-hour-from-toronto-which-offers-everything-you-could/) [Linwood Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linwood-barclay/) > [On election night 2000, I had never met then-Governor Bush, though I'd supported him for years. I believed he would be a strong, optimistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/on-election-night-2000-i-had-never-met-then-governor-bush-though-i-d/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [The president of the United States of North America, George W. Bush, the little gentleman of the North, the political cadaver that is visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-president-of-the-united-states-of-north-america-george-w-bush-the/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [Obama and the Democrats were so critical of what Bush did, the interrogations, the secret prisons, Guantanamo and all of that, and even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/obama-and-the-democrats-were-so-critical-of-what-bush-did-the/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [I remember when President Bush, George W. Bush, came into office, he focused on No Child Left Behind, and with - and before very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-remember-when-president-bush-george-w-bush-came-into-office-he/) [Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/) > [ If George Bush \[Jr.\] decided he was going to turn the troops loose on Syria and Iran after that he would last in office… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/if-george-bush-jr-decided-he-was-going-to-turn-the-troops-loose-on/) [Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/) > [I mean, look, no matter how you feel about Bush, watching him speak is difficult. It's like- it's like watching a drunk man cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/i-mean-look-no-matter-how-you-feel-about-bush-watching-him-speak-is/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-m-not-tempted-to-write-a-song-about-george-w-bush-i-couldn-t-figure/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [In the bush, trust no one you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/in-the-bush-trust-no-one-you-don-t-know/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [Leadership is about making decisions with the information you have, not the information people will have 12 years later, i kind of feel sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/leadership-is-about-making-decisions-with-the-information-you-have/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) Browse all 764 Bush quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Will this long presidency of George W. 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