The Apocolypse Invitational Golf Tournament May 14
“I was brought up quite differently than you apparently, even as you sought to show some grace which is usually lacking you end up the Fool. What a sad place to exist.(in your mind that is)
If you couldn’t be decent enough to leave all political feelings out and send good wishes to the family on their happy moment then you are nothing less than a heartless clown.”
“Imana” commenting at The Omnipotent Poobah Speaks!
My Monday post was about the Jenna Bush wedding. As the comment above shows, not everyone was captivated. The post pointed out that while I hold no personal ill will toward Jenna or the family, presidential actions sometimes carry political weight - like it or not. The post’s main political point was a juxtaposition between George’s ability to enjoy his daughter’s “spectacular” wedding and the inability of families who’ve lost loved ones being able to enjoy the same types of events.
The wedding certainly wasn’t the only expression of political patina applied to everyday, banal events. Obama’s bowling prowess and Clinton’s ability to chug a whiskey followed by a beer chaser are examples that come to mind. Even George understands this, at least in a superficial and slightly cynical way. He stopped golfing in 2003 as a show of “solidarity” with those in harm’s way in the War of ErrorTM.
My Heart Bleeds for Thee
“I remember when (Sergio Vieira) de Mello, who was at the UN, got killed in Baghdad as a result of these murderers taking this good man’s life. And I was playing golf - I think I was in central Texas - and they pulled me off the golf course and I said, it’s just not worth it anymore to do,” he said.
Oh George, how my heart bleeds for thee.
George’s sensitivity about golf is well-founded. Jimmy Carter eschewed almost everything during the Iranian hostage crisis, but his actions branded him a weak man trapped under seige in the White House - a perception that ultimately cost him reelection. Giving up golf is nice, but it’s an empty gesture. George hasn’t sacrificed much else and equating a golf game with the trauma of a dead-soldier’s mother is stretching things more than just a bit.
Therein lies the problem many Americans have with this president. Most would be completely unruffled about his joyfulness at Jenna’s wedding or his relaxing with the occasional game of golf. Presidents carry plenty of political baggage, but they’re human too. However, this Commander-in-Chief’s shows of solidarity are nearly always as shallow as nixing golf. He talks about his envy of the troops as they face death and injury in his noble war. Yet, he couldn’t see fit to actually experience the up close and personal nobility of Vietnam. He prattles on about his support of the troops, yet he risks their lives and limbs for sub-standard wages, sends them on rotation after rotation, and sees them come home in body bags or not physically or emotionally whole - a situation causing suicides at an ever-increasing rate.
Walkin’ on Water
As with many Bushian behaviors, his understanding of personal sacrifice is an inch deep and a mile wide. He’d rather walk across the shallow river and appear to be walking on water than to plunge in and actually fix something completely within his control. His behavior shows his golf game isn’t a show of solidarity so much as a photo op demonstrating his faux concern. Even the PGA is probably embarrassed by this.
I’ll cut Mr. President some slack on golf and weddings the day he does something to earn America’s respect. Until then, I’ll dog him every step of the way and breathe a sigh of relief when he goes home to build a presidential library designed by the politically illiterate for his tone deaf proles.
And I too will pledge that I will not play golf.
The Poobah is a featured contributor at Bring It On!
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Omyword! Did I Say That? May 14
I just read over at HuffPo(?) that Bush was diagnosed with knee problems in 2003 and had to give up golf because of that. Surprised? Nah.
Omyword! Did I Say That?’s last blog post..Let’s All Make Fun Of Kentucky & West Virginia
Omnipotent Poobah May 16
OMW,
I never took his original statement seriously myself.