by David Wiggins

I recently received an email from a reliable administration source.  This highly reputable source tells me that between campaign fundraisers, watching Major League baseball games, and vacationing at his Texas ranch, his top advisors told President Bush of the Sadr Offensive and the deteriorating situation in Iraq via conference call. On being informed that many poor US foot soldiers were dying or dead, he listened on in silence. Mr. President, what will we do?" he was asked.  According to this official, President Bush hesitated for a second, then smirked, "Let them eat lead." 
 

Legend has it, that Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, on being informed that many poor French country people were dying for bread, replied, 'Then let them eat cake."

But the similarities between George W Bush and Marie Antoinette do not end there. Marie Antoinette was born a princess, the daughter of Maria Teresa, Empress of Austria. Making use of her family connections, she eventually became Queen of France. George W Bush the son of President George Bush Sr. was also born into a politically powerful family. Making use of his family connections, he eventually became President of the United States. 

In her younger days, Marie Antoinette loved the French nightlife. She partook in a life of pleasure and carelessness, going to masked balls in Paris, gambling, and attending theatrical productions. In his younger days, George W Bush, an admitted drunk, was convicted for DUI, and was a . He also loved the nightlife. During the Vietnam War, George W Bush joined the National Guard, but was mostly absent from duty. He partook in a life of pleasure and carelessness, bragging about how much he drank, dancing at the Whitley Hotel in Montgomery, Alabama, and helping with "Red" Blount's campaign for the U.S. Senate, while other, less privileged men died in Vietnam. President Bush's public appearances have often been described as theatrical productions. 
 

As a political figure, Marie Antoinette was renowned for being thoughtless and out of touch with her subjects.  President George W Bush has also been accused of being thoughtless and out of touch. Responding to attacks on US soldiers in Iraq, Bush said, "There are some who feel that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring 'em on." 

Marie Antoinette was accused of having tried to foment both wars with foreign nations and civil war. President George W Bush has been accused of fomenting both war and civil war with the nation of Iraq.  So called "weapons of mass destruction" were a convenient lie, but, "From the very beginning, there was a conviction, that Saddam Hussein needed to go," said Paul O'Neill, former Secretary of the Treasury. He added that, "going after Saddam was topic "A" 10 days after the inauguration - eight months before Sept. 11." There have been over 10,000 civilian deaths and over 600 US military deaths and well over these numbers in seriously wounded since the US invaded Iraq under false pretenses.  At the annual dinner of the Radio and Television News Correspondents Association, President Bush provided amusing descriptions of photographs.  Some showed the president in awkward poses as he looked behind furniture in the Oval Office. For those photos, Bush told the audience, "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere ... nope, no weapons over there ... maybe under here?"

Marie Antoinette's small acts of kindness to help impoverished families were over shadowed by her other behavior. On April 6th, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President George W. Bush is mourning the life of each of the U.S. troops killed in Iraq." But President Bush has not attended the funeral of a single soldier killed in Iraq since the beginning of the war over a year ago. During the first week of April, US citizens were burned to death and dragged through the streets of Fallujah. Their charred corpses were mutilated and hung from the Euphrates River Bridge to rot. Shiite Muslims rioted in southern Iraq. Fighting erupted in every major city, and US casualties climbed dramatically. "The U.S. won't turn and run," Bush vowed, "So we've got tough action in Iraq, but we will stay the course." Meanwhile the President has retreated to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, for a vacation through the Easter holiday.
 

The striking similarities between Marie Antoinette and George Bush go on and on. Marie Antoinette had a rustic Viennese retreat that she used to entertain her very fashionable and haughty friends. George Bush has a rustic Crawford, Texas ranch that he uses to entertain his very fashionable and haughty friends.

Each year, Marie Antoinette overspent her budget buying expensive gowns, headdresses and jewelry. During her reign, France emptied its treasury to support foreign wars. "Madame Deficit" became one of the names that Marie acquired.  Each year as President, George Bush has overspent his budget buying items such as expensive missile defense systems that don't work.  During his presidency, the USA emptied its treasury to support foreign wars. This year, President Bush's spending is creating a deficit that could exceed a record $500 billion and might earn him the title "President Deficit."

Eventually, the people of France voted to get rid of the Monarchy.  George W Bush is up for re-election in November 2004. 

On October 14, 1793, Marie Antoinette was awoken at night; tried and found guilty of treason, and soon after, was beheaded.
 

 

David Wiggins is a West Point (United States Military Academy) distinguished graduate and an honors graduate of New York Medical College. He left the Army as a Conscientious Objector, resigning his commission as an Army Captain on the Iraqi front lines during Operation Desert Storm. He is currently an Emergency Physician.  You can contact him at dwiggmd@yahoo.com
 
Visit his website at http://davidwiggins.net

© David Wiggins