Jim Hightower on "Cowboy George, Horse Thief" [VIDEO]

Posted by Jim Hightower, AlterNet at 12:23 PM on February 13, 2008.

We've learned the hard way over the past seven years that George W lives in his own fantasy world-a place in which reality is whatever he wants it to be, facts notwithstanding.

We should have known this from the start of his White House tenure, for he practically painted a picture of it for us. More accurately, he showed his predilection for delusion by hanging his favorite painting in the Oval Office. It's a 1916 cowboy scene by W.H.D. Koerner titled "A Charge to Keep," and, in Bush's own words, it depicts a "a horseman determinedly charging up what appears a steep and rough trail."

In Bush's head, that rider epitomizes his own courageous political journey, dashing ahead against steep odds and naysayers (who are embodied in the art work by two other horsemen following the daring hero). Indeed, many visitors who've been shown the painting by Bush have commented thtat the hard-charging character bears a remarkable resemblance to George himself.

Over the years, Bush has added a Christian morality tale to the painting, declaring that the artist based it on a Methodist hymn, and that the indomitable horseman really is a circuit-riding minister rushing passionately ahead to spread the religion of Methodism (which happens to be George's own chosen faith).

It's all very inspiring, except for one small detail: It's not true. It turns out that W.H.D. Koerner painted the work to illustrate a Saturday Evening Post short story entitled: "The Slipper Tounge." The story is about a slick-tongued horse thief, and Koerner's painting--far from illustrating bold moral leadership-depicts the horse thief frantically fleeing a lynch mob.

This is Jim Hightower saying... So when Bush says that he see himself in the painting he might inadvertently be revealing the truth.

Tagged as: bush, hightower

Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of "Thieves In High Places: They've Stolen Our Country And It's Time to Take It Back." He publishes the monthly "Hightower Lowdown," co-edited by Phillip Frazer.