George H.W. Bush turned 88 on Tuesday. So you’d think that “41,” the documentary about him that airs on HBO on Thursday, would have been scheduled that night to honor the occasion. Actually, that would have been a mistake. “41” isn’t a birthday present. It’s a valentine, doilies not included.
The title refers to Bush’s status as 41st president — a designation that took on added significance when his son George W. Bush became 43d. Forty-one is a funny sort of number, and “41” is a funny sort of documentary. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, since Bush was a funny sort of president. He was the fairly incongruous caboose on Ronald Reagan’s train — and stalled on the tracks when Bill Clinton came along. Other than the end of the Cold War and Gulf War, “41” has little to offer on his presidency. That makes sense, seeing how not all that much happened during it.
Comments
It sounds like Mr. Feeney's definition of a great president is someone who is entertaining. Well, now we know why he is the TV reviewer.
Not a compelling individual? Really? Perhaps the issue is with the production approach of the documentary rather than with the subject.
Another snooty Globie trying to be appealing to the hoi polloi in Carlisle and along Brattle Street... This Feeney snot opines about Barbara Bush's decorating taste as seen in the family's "cottage" at Walker Point, Maine... Like Feeney thinks Barbara ought to spend lots of her time at Bernie & Phyl's choosing new couches and tables every other year or so, so the self-approving "critics" would write nice things about her taste... One has to wonder if Feeney ever met the Bush family 41... Nice, down to earth, do you need a cup of tea to the oddball hack shown up to look at the Cigarette...
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