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[by Tom McNichol]

George Bush has presided over almost exactly the same growth in government as Lyndon Johnson, according to figures compiled by Congressional Budget Office. But that's only one of the many eerie similarities between Presidents Johnson and Bush, between “36” and “43,” twin sons born under the same lone star.
----------------------------

LBJ: Former Texas Senator
GWB: Former Texas Governor

LBJ: Won disputed 1948 Senate election by 87 votes
GWB: Won disputed 2000 Presidential election by minus 540,000 votes

LBJ: Predecessor in Oval Office was a charismatic ladies man
GWB: Predecessor in Oval Office was a charismatic ladies man, sometimes in Oval Office itself

LBJ: Increase in discretionary spending while President: 48.3 percent
GWB: Increase in discretionary spending while President: 48.5 percent

LBJ: Nominated longtime political crony, uh, legal advisor Abe Fortas to Supreme Court
GWB: Nominated longtime political crony, uh, legal advisor Harriet Miers to Supreme Court

LBJ: EL-BEE-JAY
GWB: GEE-DUB-YA

LBJ: Waged increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam
GWB: Waged increasingly unpopular war in Iraq

LBJ: “Our presence (in Vietnam) has always rested on this basic belief: The main burden of preserving their freedom must be carried out by them -- by the South Vietnamese themselves.” (March 31, 1968)
GWB: “We're training more Iraqi forces to assume increasing
responsibility for their country's security…I'm encouraged by the
increasing size and capability of the Iraqi security forces.”
(Oct 1, 2005)

LBJ: Suffered widening “Credibility Gap” over public statements about the war
GWB: Suffered widening “Credibility Gap” over public statements about the war

LBJ: Two children: daughters Lynda and Luci
GWB: Two children: daughters Jenna and Barbara

LBJ: Deadly enemy: Bobby
GWB: Deadly enemy: Katrina

LBJ: His political associate, Bobby Baker, was indicted for conspiracy and misuse of political contributions
GWB: His political associate, Tom DeLay, was indicted for conspiracy and money-laundering political contributions

LBJ: Created Medicare
GWB: Tried to “fix” Medicare

LBJ: Misspent millions on War on Poverty
GWB: Misspent millions on War on Terrorism

LBJ: Had a wife nicknamed Lady Bird
GWB: Has a secretary nicknamed Rummy

LBJ: Undone by quagmire in Southeast Asia
GWB: Undone by quagmire in Louisiana

LBJ: Retired to his Texas ranch
GWB: Frequently retires to his Texas ranch

LBJ: In his library: more than 40 million books, letters, and
presidential documents
GWB: In his library: unknown; probably not as many books

LBJ: Theme of domestic policy: The Great Society
GWB: Theme of domestic policy: [no theme]

14 October 05


Tom McNichol's work has appeared in New York Times Magazine, Washington Post, Spy, Punch and other publications. May Allah bless his pious soul with 911 virgins carrying 30 million in unmarked bills under their gold-layered burquas.

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