Is this Bush's problem?

Question

LBJ once said "It is better to have your enemies in the tent pissing out than to have them outside the tent pissing in." Has Bush so insulated himself by associating only with like minded people that he has lost touch? By alienating everyone who doesn't share his worldview has he made it impossible to keep his enemies outside the tent? Is he drowning in piss?

Answer 1

Interestingly enough, I’ve seen two versions of that quote, one with the word “enemy” in it, one without. The one without is supposedly LBJ referring to his deciding against firing J. Edger Hoover.

But I do agree with the overall point that you are making. Bush’s inner circle is so tight; he can’t get a different view than the one he already has. This would be bad in any White House but it’s particularly bad in this one. This is due to his complete immersion in an ideology. (His is a conservative one of course but that isn’t the point. Such total immersion in any ideology is an unwise thing in my opinion.) Bush talks about going with his “gut”. But he has no “gut”! You get a gut by life experience. His adult life consists of owning the Texas Rangers and being the Governor of Texas for 6 years, a somewhat weak political office. We’d be better off if he had a gut but all he has to guide him is his ideology.