Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Presidency Defined

After years of walking around in a pair of worn out shoes, you don't really notice how sore your feet get walking and standing all day on thin soles without arch support. There is a certain attachment one gets to things familiar. It would be ridiculous to say that you might miss having a toothache, or some other mild physical torment, but it's amazing what the human brain will do to compensate for challenges such as these. Still, I don't think anyone would wait eight years to go to the dentist, or to buy a new pair of shoes.
But I will miss President Pinhead, if for no other reason than his startling consistency. In his final press conference as chief executive, he said that "not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment." To be certain, I checked my definitions: "a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized," or "defeated of expectation or hope; let down." Again, this has been the party line all along with President Pinhead. It makes sense that he would be let down not to find weapons of mass destruction, because that would have legitimized the invasion of Iraq.
But let's look at a few other possible reactions he could have had upon realizing that there were no weapons of mass destruction to be found: Embarrassed, as in "made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride" or "the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public." How about it? Any shame here? No? What about relief: "the easing of a burden or distress, such as pain, anxiety, or oppression," or "the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced." Sorry. Not this president.
No, these are the final days of the belligerent ("characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight") man who never let the facts get in the way of his vision. He described the feeling he expects his successor to have on January 20th when, after taking the oath of office, he enters the Oval Office for the first time as president.
"There'll be a moment when the responsibility of the president lands squarely on his shoulders." Now define "burdened.".

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Too bad the Bush countdown clock kicked the bucket. It would be so satisfying to see it read "7 days"...

-CB