God damn it Mr. President!
Let's go...let's "get it on!"
Frank Rich, a columnist for The New York Times, headlined his 6/6/10 column by suggesting that the President "Get Even."
Mr. Rich is a much more learned and articulate writer than I but, with all due respect, I'm not feeling that vindictive.
I just want POTUS to do something!
I remember when Bill Clinton was first elected. We, who voted for him and were, at the time, disillusioned (so what's changed...?) with the ways of Washington, were waiting, with baited breath, to see him enact sweeping change. Real, effective change.
He sort of tried, and then sort of failed and then his presidency tanked, albeit in large part because he couldn't keep his little Cabinet advisor in his trousers. The only real reason, I suspect, that he was re-elected for a second term was that he ran against Bob Dole. His attempts at "change" and his legacy were, forever, tarnished and marginalized.
So now we have Barack Obama. Elected at a time when we were (and still are) disgusted with Washington politics and are craving a real substantive change...not just a handy slogan with the word "change" in it.
And once again, the "Bright One"...the intellectual prodigy (Clinton: humble roots, boot straps, Yale, Oxford, young governor...blah, blah, blah...)is poised to dissapoint.
But this time it seems more tragic. In the 90's things were tough...but they didn't seem as perilous as now.
We weren't at war(s). We were about to enjoy a Federal budget surplus. We were seen around the world as, generally, okee dokee partners. Michael Jackson seemed normal.
But now...Holy Moly...Iraq, Afghanistan, Enron, BP, Goldman, MMS, unemployment, foreclosure...and Michael Jackson is dead.
And President Obama doesn't seem to give a damn. Hollow rhetoric and fake emotion isn't cutting the mustard. The man just doesn't seem to care. Doesn't seem to know how...
He can make 100 trips to the Gulf but until he starts to relate, directly, to the ongoing (and worsening...) plight of average Americans, his Presidency is doomed.
He may very well be re-elected in 2012...possibly because the Republicans will undoubtedly nominate another loser...another Dole...Palin or Paul or Polently or the famously opportunistic Romney.
(Incidentally...if I remember my history...wasn't the orginal Tea Party about taxation without representation? Now we have taxation with representation. This time it's not tea we should be throwing into Boston Harbor...unless we put the tea in the Harbor in the winter and then pump it out with huge New England winter ice chunks and bottle it and sell it in the sweltering Boston summer as iced tea...and make a lot of money and give the money to the state to improve the schools and highways and infrastructure...)
And then we will have Barry to "kick around" for another four years. Another four years of arrogance and indifference. Another four years of political spin and double talk (and I voted for the man...)
And then...we'll really be in the soup.
Because then, even though we will need to change things even more then we needed to change them in '08, no one will be able to hear the word.
"Change"...the only thing we'll have is plenty of it...but it will be loose...and the only thing in our pockets as we watch this great democratic experiment get added to the junk pile of history...along with Rome and the Third Reich...and Michael Jackson's, once, extraordinary, career.
And we had such high hopes Mr. President.
How could you...!
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ReplyDeleteNo, how could YOU?!
ReplyDeleteCome on, Mr. Blogger, Mr. Balmalocha! You're saying Barack Obama doesn't care? I get you. I know exactly who you are. You're one of those shtick-hungry "writers” who wants an actor in the White House instead of a President. Feh!
I suppose there are over 20,000 people working 24/7 on Obama’s direct orders to contain and clean up that horrible kappora in the Gulf because Obama doesn't care. Twenty thousand. These people are out there working on this problem because that "uncaring" President is working harder on this BP problem than any other President has ever worked on any environmental disaster. This is a documented fact. Stop the meshugass and do your research. That's right, Obama's is the biggest, most expedient clean up effort of any environmental disaster in the history of the United States. Sorry to disappoint, but Obama is so busy actually helping America,that he doesn’t have time to dress up in orange coveralls and a hard hat to pose for the "concerned looking" photographs that you crave. The yutzl Bush was your man for that appointment.
Alter cocker, you should thank all that is good that your current President is a man of action. Every day, this man is busy convening with the world's top scientists and engineers to determine the best solutions for the oil spill. He went to bat for YOU and all of us when he ordered BP to pay economic injury claims to the tune of $69 million and he is only just getting started making those bastards pay. At the same time, he is taking on Wall Street to prevent people such as yourself from being robbed blind on a daily basis. He is coordinating the wildly varying political interests of China, India, Russia, and Brazil at once, as he deals with nuclear proliferation, human rights and climate change. What have you accomplished today?
You have your scmeckle in a knot about taxes and in the same breath, talk about improvements to schools, the infrastructure and highways. Tell me, Dr. Complainer. Is the money supposed to magically appear? Perhaps you can pull it out of your magical ass. Taxes are in place for good reason and lowering them does not necessarily lead to a prosperous country! (http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/bankruptcy-of-economic-theory-based-on.html) I have four kids and I know that without Americans paying taxes, they would not enjoy the national parks, trips on those highways, an education, even at the privately funded schools that they attend, because THOSE schools also benefit from taxes both directly and indirectly. Did you or anyone you know ever get a Federal grant or loan for school? Taxes.
Barack Obama’s inventive genius injected funds into a financially stuck system to get it unstuck and because of his economic stimulus package, we are finally well on our way out of a situation that he inherited when he took office. He did this, of course, because he is uncaring. If you fail to see why that stimulus package was necessary, go to YouTube. Look up Rachel Maddow's Economic 101 video. Not particularly a fan here, but she does explain the concept well in 3 minutes or less.] Now back to that uncaring President.
Obama is continually working to improve health care for children and the lives of all Americans. He has utilized groundbreaking steps to prevent minority wage discrimination. He has put health care and insurance regulations into place that will save thousands of lives every year. He is fighting to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. The man doesn't care??!!"Hollow rhetoric"? The man is one of eloquent action and he quietly accomplishes what he does much in the manner of a well-oiled machine. I dare suggest you get out of your recliner, do some research and stop complaining. Obama has enough difficulty being scapegoated by the tea baggers. He doesn't need some pisher,some amateur blogger [with a whopping five followers] moving these misconceptions along.
Michael Jackson was never normal.
Thank you for your educated and articulate comments. And I appreciated your attempts at Yiddish. It's never too late for a Bar/Bat mitzvah.
ReplyDeleteBe well.