(NEW YORK) (September 11, 2006) The United States is rather quickly descending into a malaise the likes of which we have not experienced since the President Jimmy Carter years. In 1980, the Boston Globe is said to have mistakenly run an editorial caption that stated, "Mush from the Wimp."  Whether it was a mistake or not, the headline became a storied phrase in our politics. The Wall Street Journal later ran an editorial "More Mush From the Wimp."

Tonight's presidential address by George Bush can only be explained as "more mush from the wimp." The speech was not only illogical and contradictory; it was a disgraceful exploitation of the genuine grief felt by Americans for 9/11 victims, all in support of Bush's self-destructive policies in the "Middle East."

Bush thinks of himself as a quintessential "tough guy:" tough talk, tough action. Texas tough. Unfortunately, to use another Texas expression, GWB is "all hat and no cattle." Bush is really a Wizard of Oz-type, who seeks to exude confidence and power, but is really hollow and useless behind the curtain.

First, Afghanistan is not in the Middle East. It is a long way away from there. Bush needs a geography lesson.

Second, Bush revised his reasons for invading Iraq yet again, claiming that 9/11 made him invade Iraq because Saddam Hussein was a "risk." What about all the other risks in the world? Why Saddam? Who pushed him to bomb Baghdad first? In retrospect, the malignant Saddam was really doing America's bidding by keeping the Iranian regime at bay.

Bush invoked Beirut, Lebanon as part of his efforts for "freedom and democracy." Was he thinking of U. S. weapons of mass destruction that he hurriedly delivered to Israel to drop on helpless Lebanese last month? Bush's "freedom" apparently involves his "freedom" to deliver cluster bomb units ("CBU's).

The Palestinians, who voted in free elections, do not see

any fruits of their "democracy." Bush has ordained that the Israeli occupation and expropriation must continue endlessly. The Bush regime is even more retaliatory and regimented than the Chicago Democratic Party political machine.

Bush's claims were idiosyncratic to the point of creepiness. He said that if America left Baghdad, Osama Bin Laden would drive right in. The clear corollary of his argument was that fear of Osama Bin Laden is driving our policy in Iraq. Instead of minimizing Osama, Bush sought to make Bin Laden an overwhelmingly powerful influence on American policy. That doesn’t sound like "Bin Laden is beaten" to me.

Instead of minimizing the criminality of Al Qaeda and Bin Laden, Bush sought to make them a ferocious presence. Why? Because he wants to scare the American people into voting for his policies and his politics.

On and on the speech went. GWB claims to have driven the Taliban from power; apparently they haven't been told. The Taliban seems to be driving back in.

GWB claimed there is a "global network" of militant Islam. The reality is that while the Bush years have managed to manufacture new enemies for the United States, the concept of a "network," implying command, control and real linkage, is nonsense. Lots of people in the world have very real reasons to hate the United States. And they are not all connected in a "network." We may not know why they hate us; but our opponents know all too well by they hate us.

Finally, Bush should not quit his day job. He is a pale and helpless imitation of the Gipper. President Reagan used to lard his speeches with references to names and incidents, trying to connect the viewer to emotive events. But Reagan knew how to deliver a speech, with inflection, gesture, and sincerity, feigned or genuine. Bush's deadpan delivery dilutes the impact of Reaganisms to the point of disappearance. Rather sadly, Bush tried to claim credit for the suffering of his victims, through his photo op connections over the past couple of days.

Bush linked himself to Democrats, dead Democrats. Presidents Roosevelt and Truman were fellow travelers, Bush suggested; they were all in the war-making business together. To make the world free and democratic. Well. As Senator Lloyd Bentsen might have said if he were still alive, "President Bush, I knew President Truman. And you're no Harry Truman."

A few days ago I was reading an old newspaper from last year in my loobrary (don't ask). I often read old newspapers that sit in a pile until I get to them. What struck me was the headline story in last year's newspaper: Bush defending and defining his policies in the Middle East. He keeps trying and, the more he tries, the less we like it.

Maybe it's time to invoke the 25th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution and declare the offices of President and Vice President vacant. I'm not a great fan of my neighbor, Illinois' Denny Hastert, Speaker of the U. S. House, but we couldn't be any worse off with a former wrestling coach in the White House than we are with a wimp who thinks he's a tough guy.

Like Charlie Tuna in the classic Star-Kist commercials, America wants a real leader, not someone who thinks he's a leader. Bush is not a leader any more. He never was one. He is an embarrassment to every American and tonight's performance confirmed that fact. More mush from the wimp.

Yesterday I wrote a column castigating the Wall Street Journal for promoting "World War III." Tonight President Bush credited someone else with promoting the same phrase: Osama Bin Laden.