Thank you. I didn't know Zizek and appreciate the quote. I am a bit sceptical about Bush=quiet American but introducing a Russian analogy makes sense to me. It is because I think Bush is more like V.I.Lenin, who was not benevolent or compassionate but was idealistic and no good at anything constructive.

I also think Bush's influence is not confined within the Republicans. Trying to upstage Bush, the Democratic leadership openly call for "no option off the table for Iran" (Hillary 06) or "enough troops in Iraq" (Obama 04). I never thought I would hear a serious call for nuking somebody because the country is enriching uranium, or for sending troops (which don't exist) to pacify a foreign country (i.e. killing more).

I would submit these outrageous statements would not have been acceptable as a serious political speech, but for Bush. Maybe Bush is a true revolutionary.

I will become a patissier, God willing.