Tina Brown highlights a growing phenomenon that may be prompted by one too many AA meetings: the tendency to act "as if" nothing's wrong, both collectively and individually. (Recovering alcoholics are told to act "as if" they are "punctual or committed or hardworking or polite people.") In Tina's view, we're all acting "as if" the economy isn't going to get worse, President Bush will continue to act "as if" he's playing the hero's role in a badly-scripted western, and we'll all continue to act "as if," metaphorically speaking, wearing a Superman costume would allow us to fly. In the meantime, I'll act "as if" Tina's political commentary is as interesting as her sociological observations, if only to keep myself from falling asleep.
Bush is at the helm of one of the few businesses that still works: the US military [Times]