When The President Whines
The job of President of the United States really shouldn't be handed to someone who is going to need a lot of on-the-job training, but when that training extends well into the second term, most Americans get nervous, or should.
The current White House resident has placed this country in so many untenable tight spots that citizens are finally showing the fatigue. No poll currently has Mr. Bush with even a 40% approval rating. As a result, the Emperor has been dispatched by his handlers on an extensive road trip. The tour has been promoted as a chance for Mr. Bush "to listen" to what people have to say. This would be a good idea, except that this president has never been known for his listening skills.
The tour also will give an opportunity for Mr. Bush to explain to the American public his stance on various issues so that the public will lighten up a little. If yesterday's unusual press conference (held away from the White House) is any indication, Mr. Bush would have been wise to stay at home. From the Washington Post:
President Bush on Friday defended his response to the budding crisis spawned by North Korea's missile tests, saying he will not "get caught in the trap of sitting alone with North Korea at the table."
Bush said he will patiently wait for the other countries taking part in the six-party talks to speak with a single voice, urging North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and refrain from further long-range missile tests -- a process that he acknowledged will take time.
"The problem with diplomacy, it takes a while to get something done," Bush said. "If you're acting alone, you can move quickly. When you're rallying world opinion and trying to come up with the right language at the United Nations to send a clear signal, it takes a while." [Emphasis added]
The Emperor's much vaunted cowboy-style diplomacy has been a failure from the start. The invasion of Iraq (with the assistance of only Great Britain and a few lesser powers) was done in defiance of the United Nations and all of what used to constitute our allies. The disasterous results of that decision to act alone have affected not only American credibility around the world, but also our economy. It has been a disaster.
While I suppose we should be celebrating the fact that the US didn't immediately respond to the launching of North Korean missiles with a missile launch of our own, and we should be cheered that the Emperor is finally getting the idea that working diplomatically with the rest of the world is necessary, I think waiting more than five years and suffering many major disasters during those five years takes the edge off any cheer.
And the graceless tone of Mr. Bush's comments doesn't make it any better.
The current White House resident has placed this country in so many untenable tight spots that citizens are finally showing the fatigue. No poll currently has Mr. Bush with even a 40% approval rating. As a result, the Emperor has been dispatched by his handlers on an extensive road trip. The tour has been promoted as a chance for Mr. Bush "to listen" to what people have to say. This would be a good idea, except that this president has never been known for his listening skills.
The tour also will give an opportunity for Mr. Bush to explain to the American public his stance on various issues so that the public will lighten up a little. If yesterday's unusual press conference (held away from the White House) is any indication, Mr. Bush would have been wise to stay at home. From the Washington Post:
President Bush on Friday defended his response to the budding crisis spawned by North Korea's missile tests, saying he will not "get caught in the trap of sitting alone with North Korea at the table."
Bush said he will patiently wait for the other countries taking part in the six-party talks to speak with a single voice, urging North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and refrain from further long-range missile tests -- a process that he acknowledged will take time.
"The problem with diplomacy, it takes a while to get something done," Bush said. "If you're acting alone, you can move quickly. When you're rallying world opinion and trying to come up with the right language at the United Nations to send a clear signal, it takes a while." [Emphasis added]
The Emperor's much vaunted cowboy-style diplomacy has been a failure from the start. The invasion of Iraq (with the assistance of only Great Britain and a few lesser powers) was done in defiance of the United Nations and all of what used to constitute our allies. The disasterous results of that decision to act alone have affected not only American credibility around the world, but also our economy. It has been a disaster.
While I suppose we should be celebrating the fact that the US didn't immediately respond to the launching of North Korean missiles with a missile launch of our own, and we should be cheered that the Emperor is finally getting the idea that working diplomatically with the rest of the world is necessary, I think waiting more than five years and suffering many major disasters during those five years takes the edge off any cheer.
And the graceless tone of Mr. Bush's comments doesn't make it any better.
posted by Diane at 4:28 AM
2 Comments:
yor consistently nail it, dahlin!
I'm actually unable to describe his affect and attitude at the Chicago presser adquately. He seemed pissed off at having to answer questions, made his usually graceless jibes at reporters in, if anything, an even more graceless manner.
He did not seem like someone who wanted to be where he was and doing what he had been told to do.
"Petulant" has been used frequently for his moods of pique, but this seemed a bit more than that.
Still, the rebellious, snarly, forced to go to the family gathering teenager did come out.
Yech.
jawbone
Post a Comment
<< Home