After O and company took their "shellacking" this midterm, I started thinking about articles like this ,(h/t to Felecia) and why, in spite of all of that, there was still such a national angst for all things O. I mean I understand the partisanship, and the fact that there is always going to be pretty much an even split when it comes to political affiliations among the voting public. But, given what Obama has done so far in his presidency, this beat down didn't make sense.
Anyway, I saw an opinion piece in my hometown paper which might have left some hints. The author apparently is trying to help his O ness and he proceeds to give him tips on how to win over A-merry-ca. I am not going to go in the order the author gave them for a reason. I want to save the best for last.
"IT WAS BASEBALL pioneer Satchel Paige who warned: "Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you."
Anyway, I saw an opinion piece in my hometown paper which might have left some hints. The author apparently is trying to help his O ness and he proceeds to give him tips on how to win over A-merry-ca. I am not going to go in the order the author gave them for a reason. I want to save the best for last.
"IT WAS BASEBALL pioneer Satchel Paige who warned: "Don't look back. Something may be gaining on you."
In the wake of the midterm elections, that's one bit of advice that President Obama would do well to follow. If his presidency is to survive, he must look forward and must begin to make changes now.
But exactly what should Obama do, and how and why? Five simple suggestions:
1. Dump what's left of the Chicago Gang. Rahm Emanuel's departure was a good first step.
But too many others in the Chicago clique are still around. All pols like to be surrounded by trusted confidantes. In the rough-and-tumble world of politics, loyalty is an understandably treasured commodity.
But the president is different. He's the only public official directly elected by all the American people. Those around him must be attentive to the wide variety of views of a large, diverse society. The president's advisers must present a broad range options in open, vigorous debate.... "
No problem with that one. I kind of agree.
3. "Get rid of the TelePrompTer....... "
OK, I will give you that one as well. But all presidents use the TelePrompTer.
4. "Bring the Grand Tour to a close. After the India trip, the president should stay home and tend to the problems at hand. That means bringing down the curtain on touring, and maybe even vacationing. It also means ending those frequent TV appearances. The president has been overexposed. It took us nearly eight years to develop Clinton fatigue. But Obama fatigue began to set in after only 18 months....."
OK, whatever, reasonable people could argue both sides of this one.
5. "And speaking of Clinton, Obama should have a nice, long sit-down with the former president and elder statesman of the Democrats. Sixteen years ago, Clinton was in the same spot Obama finds himself in today.
Clinton faced a GOP House and Senate after the '94 Republican sweep that was one of the largest turnovers in history till now.
But with surprising speed, Clinton shook up his staff and moved toward the center. He listened to new people and embraced new ways. And he became a relatively popular two-term president. So call in Clinton. And sit down and listen."
More Clinton nostalgia, I get it.
2. "Lose the strut and the condescension. The president has a way of pushing himself up on the balls of his feet as he walks. I call it "the strut," and I suspect I'm not alone in finding it oft-putting. Along with this strut comes an air of condescension.
Mr. President, those who don't agree with you aren't your enemies. And they aren't misguided or distracted or paralyzed by fear or blinded by anger. (And they aren't necessarily clinging to guns and religion, either.)
When you dismiss or trivialize "we the people," you mock the very foundation of our democracy." [Article]
This one was actually number two, but I saved it for last for a reason.
LOSE THE STRUT!!!??? WTF? Alright folks, you can put on your Air R's for this one. Honestly, do these clowns writing in major newspapers even realize how utterly stupid, unenlightened, and ignorant they sound?
Look, I have mad love for the Daily News,--- they link the field for crying out loud, but some of their opinion writers must have been asleep since 1949 and just woke up. "STRUT"?
Wow, stereotypes really die hard. One of the few things I liked about Bush was his walk. It exuded confidence. (Even if he was one of the dumbest people on the planet.) Watch him when you get a chance, he had quite the bounce in his step, just like Obama.
For the record, Obama's walk (if I might get in touch with my feminine side a little) has a certain (sex) appeal to it. I know because the females tell me so. They say the same thing about Denzel Washington and Idris Elba, who both have distinctive walking styles. (They both also have something else in common with the president; but I will leave the obvious alone.) There is nothing unusual about a man who walks with confidence. Unless, of course, he happens to be the first black president.
If you are of a certain persuasion and you secretly resent this Negro having power over your life, that walk says f*&^ you! I am in charge and you are not! You resent it because the Negro president should be more appreciative of his position and who put him there.
"The president has a way of pushing himself up on the balls of his feet as he walks. I call it "the strut," and I suspect I'm not alone in finding it oft-putting. Along with this strut comes an air of condescension."
No Daniel, you are not alone. I am sure that many of your fellow A-merry-cans feel the same way.
No comments:
Post a Comment