Also, I think that Bush comes off looking a lot less crazy in this interview than I would have expected. Dumb and inarticulate, but he also has moments of token self-reflection and even (!) a kind of faux intellectual humility. A lot of what he says about religion here are things that, for example, Hillary Clinton is also on record saying.

Compare this to the stark-raving-crazy of Palin, who definitely thinks that the Bible is literally true, that God has chosen her to lead Joel's Army, and who knows what else.

Really, this is one of the most reasonable things I've ever seen out of the guy. How is it that when he's finally leaving he comes back from the deep end?

Are you kidding? No need to pander = less pandering.

The point is that he's probably not a bad guy interpersonally. He's no better or worse a person on that level than your average Peter Principle CEO. He was supposed to just sit on a thriving economy for four years as an empty suit...and then, well...

That's seriously the bigger story here to me. Bush used to be an alcoholic? Holy fuck.

That is pretty well known, I think. It was hashed out during the 2000 elections, at least.

*conversion. dammit.

No, you idiot. That was John the Baptist.

Spoony, these stars are for you.