Godfather fans: Anyone see similarities with Bush brothers & Corleones?

[robertpaulsen]

I wouldn't compare Poppy Bush with Vito Corleone, but there are very interesting similarities with the Bush brothers and the Corleone sons.

George W. Bush = Sonny Corleone
Both are not the brightest bulbs intellectually. But both distinguish themselves through bully tactics and warmongering as a first option. Flamboyant and cocky leaders, both men have a weakness for not letting the cooler heads in their "department" prevail. For Sonny, this led to an untimely demise. Dubya's fate remains to be seen.

Neil Bush = Fredo Corleone
The total incompetents in both families. Both hapless ne'er do wells set up in lucrative operations that were compromised by shady deals. Both are sex maniacs who let their dicks affect their decision making process.

Jeb Bush = Michael Corleone
The smartest and most cunning of the bunch. Both at first appeared to be the black sheep of the family, Michael with his military enlistment, Jeb with his marriage. But both turned their decisions to the advantage of the Family, Michael's gave him legitimacy for a while outside of criminal associations, while Jeb's gave him legitimacy in the Latino voting bloc on his ascent to the Governor's office. Both I fear are the most ambitious in the family. Jeb's theft of the Presidency for his brother might not compare with Michael's taking out the heads of the five families, but give him time, I'm sure if he's President, the scope of his military maneuvers will make Dubya's pale in comparison.

I'm not sure where Tom Hagen, the adopted brother who served as consigliere, would fit into this family comparison. But I'm sure some of you have your own ideas about who that may be, or where other family members may fit into this comparison.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. No, Sonny was much more dynamic than shrub. He's more like

if Fredo inherited the Family boss mantle by default, and was being secretly run by Johnny Ola (sp?), Hyman Roth and other interests.

[robertpaulsen]

17. Upon reflection...

Dumbya is kind of a weird cross between Sonny and Fredo. He's definitely dumber than Sonny, but unlike Fredo he's actually run his business in a forceful and decisive manner, however shortsighted, thickheaded and ultimately idiotic his decisions have been. I just picked Neil for Fredo because, as far as the Bush brothers rank, he's definitely at the bottom of the totem pole.

Johnny Ola and Hyman Roth are like the Saudis, of course.

[theivoryqueen]

2. weird hairlines?

a sort of cro-magnon jut to the jaw...

[Kod478]

8. george w., the multiple personality disorder corleone

George W. has evolved from being fredo to sonny
to michael corleone. He was somewhat of a rebel during
college and during his drunken stupor days afterward
with failing businesses and driving into bushes (agricultural).
I think these were his fredo days. He has moments
of being sonny when he displays a quick temper and
appears to show strong, decisive leadership. (I think
Sonny was the most idealistic and dignified of the Corleones
but not the brightest). George W. has spent most of his
time as michael, deflecting accountability, having others
do his dirty work for him and scheming behind
the scenes with a machiavellian belief that if you appear
to be doing good then people will buy it (photo-ops, staged
media interviews, etc). Much like Michael, I don't think
he has much respect for the majority of human life, only those
that serve him and conform to his views.

[robertpaulsen]

21. Good summary...

of the psychotic mess that is George W. Bush.

And welcome to DU Kod478!

[CulturalNomad]

3. At least Sonny had some mojo

My vote would be W as Fredo - incompetent, easily led, holding grudges and generally beholden to intellects greater than himself.....

[charlie]

5. Definitely Fredo

I can handle things! I'm smaaaart, not like everybody says, like, dumb! I'm smart, and I want respect!

[NewJeffCT]

4. Hagen would be...

Either Prince Bandar or Jim Baker.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. Rove = Tessio or Clemenza. Should be Hagen, but these other

characters fit better.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. Actually, Rove would be Genco Abbandando

And I agree with the other posters, W is no Sonny - Sonny had a temper but he WAS intelligent.

[robertpaulsen]

18. Good choice!

I think Rove is Clemenza and Tessio is Cheney. Both are loyal caporegimes who have served the BFEE loyally for some time. But if any of them had to cross the BFEE, I would put my money on Cheney.

[lanparty]

27. Saddam Hussein ==

Saddam Hussein == Hyman Roth

Manuel Noriega == Johnny Ola

I'd have to say that Rummy is like Clemenza.

Nixon == The Black Hand

[robertpaulsen]

28. Love it!

Especially the Nixon choice. And Rummy is definitely a caporegime in the Bush Family Evil Empire.

[Turbineguy]

7. Come to think of it

I like the Corleones better. They're a better sort of people.

[NewJeffCT]

11. they at least had some sense of honor

The Bush family has none.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. More honest--pretty clear what their "olive oil" business was all about.

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

[MallRat]

10. Jon Stewart likened Dubya to Fredo back in 2000.

I've gotta find that quote... he said it on the Today show and a couple other places.

-MR

[tom_paine]

12. Jim Baker is Tom Hagen

[CulturalNomad]

13. Inhofe = Luca Brasi ??

what do you think....

[robertpaulsen]

29. I could go for that. Or...

Lt. Gen. William Boykin as Luca Brasi!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

15. Speaking of the Godfather, did anyone else feel like Gen. Taguba

had a "Frankie Pentangeli" moment in his testimony before congress? The tone and emphasis of what he had to say was VERY different from his report. Seemed to emphasize limiting the responsibility to a very low level, and no outside influence from MG Miller and Rumsco.

It was posted by others that his "accompaniment" (Hambone and the Air Force 3 star) were "added in" at the last minute.

[SharonAnn]

16. What about Marvin Bush? James Baker is Tom Hagen

What about Marvin Bush? He's the fourth brother.
From InformationClearingHouse

"Who is Marvin P. Bush?
The public rarely sees Marvin P. Bush, brother of President Bush II.

Marvin P. Bush is the founder (1993) and Managing Partner of Winston Partners Group of Vienna, Virginia. It's a private investment company. He is also the Managing General Partner of Winston Growth Fund, LLP; Winston International Growth Fund, LP; Winston Small Cap Growth Fund, LP; all related companies.

Before this, he spent 12 years in the investment business with the firms of Mosley, Hallgarten, Estabrook and Weeden, Shearson Lehman Brothers, and John Stewart Darrel & Company.

In January, 1998, Marvin Bush was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Fresh Del Monte Produce company, the giant fruit company (major product bananas) that makes the canned goods we buy in our markets. Del Monte is owned by a very wealthy family from Kuwait, the Abu-Ghazaleh family. Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh is the CEO and he has several family members on the Board alongside Marvin Bush. Another member of the Fresh Del Monte Board of Directors is Stephen Way, who is a major Bush fundraiser. Way is the head of the Houston-based HCC Insurance Holdings Company. In early 2000, Stephen Way acquired the appointment of Marvin Bush to the Board of Directors of HCC. In that transaction, Bush not only landed a very large salary, but a sweet stock option deal. He purchased about $130,000 worth of HCC stock which is now valued at close to $600,000, not even one year later.

Marvin Bush is also on the Board of Directors of something called the Kerrco Company.

Marvin also was named to the Board of Directors of the Stratesec Company, another large publicly-traded firm. This company is very secretive and you can find virtually nothing about it. Their website does not allow entry to several links unless one has a password. Virginia-based Stratesec is a provider of high-tech security systems. Two of the major customers for which they provide security are the Dulles International Airport at Washington, D.C. and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Stratesec's revenues recently went up by 60%, due to what the company describes as "new customers" Prominent people at Stratesec also include former Reagan operatives including Barry McDaniel and Air Force General James A. Abrahamson (who was involved in the Reagan "Star Wars" project). Stratesec is a company is heavily inter-related with the Kuwam Corporation ("Kuw" = Kuwait; "am" = America). Kuwam is a major Kuwaiti Company into many, many activities including the aircraft business. Stratesec's Chief Executive is also the Managing Director of Kuwam Corporation and Kuwam's Chairman Mishal Yousef Saud Al Sabah sits on Stratesec's Board of Directors. Stratesec is providing the primary security for one of the most sensitive airports in the world. Dulles in D.C., has a heavy middle eastern airline connection.

Winston Partners, Sybase, Choicepoint, H.R. 3162, called "The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act" (or USA Patriot)

Another can of worms. Actually, I’m getting fed up with the Bush clan. It’s like the only life they have is screwing up everybody else’s! Sybase software is part of the Choicepoint system which is part of the Patriot Act which part of the whole damn system for keeping track of everybody and everything we do, read, visit, buy, and no doubt think about."

[seemslikeadream]

19. Here's a nice photo of the boys

[robertpaulsen]

20. Murderer's Row

"Paulie? Oh, you won't see him no more".

Reminds me, anyone heard from Paul O'Neill lately?

[CatWoman]

24. AAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

MY EYES!!!

MY EYES!!!

[robertpaulsen]

22. I've got another one: Osama bin Laden is Sollozzo!

Or is Hyman Roth the better choice?

[robbedvoter]

23. Randi thinks W is Fredo - and I agree. Think his casino job

[mitchum]

25. I've been calling * Fredo for years...

and James Baker is certainly Tom Hagen

[lanparty]

26. BINGO!!!!

Randi compares Bush to Fredo. But he's really more like Sonny. A marginal amount of brains and a LOT of machismo. He gets into fights he shouldn't and sheds blood of soldiers when he should be carefully killing select generals.

Jeb is definitely the smartest of the three.

[robertpaulsen]

30. Bored, just felt like flaming myself. n/t

[doni_georgia]

31. Nah - Dubya is Fredo!

[smirkymonkey]

32. Babs would be Vito Corleone...

she gives the kiss of death to anyone who would cross "The Family".

Oh, except Vito Corleone was more attractive and much nicer. :evilgrin: