The Bully Pulpit

It is July 22, 2009 and President Obama is holding a press conference on health care reform. As the press conference nears its end, reporter Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times asks the president what he thinks about the arrest of Professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates outside of his own home in Cambridge MA.

Obama replies, “Lynn, first of all we’re here discussing health care reform so what’s with the off topic question? Second do I look like the friggin Mayor of Cambridge to you? Or even the Governor of Massachusetts? I’m the president of the United States. I don’t spend my time worrying about local issues. Or maybe you think you get to ask me my opinion on anything black? Is that it, Lynn? Stupid question, next.”

Sadly that is not how it went down. Obama answered the question and inserted himself into a local issue he didn’t belong in.

My preferred answer would have come from Chris Christie. Folks call Christie a bully but he calls out stupid when he sees stupid whether from a reporter or a potential voter.

“Bridgegate” will be hard for Christie to overcome if for no other reason then it shows his incompetence if not outright dishonesty. That’s a rotten shame because I would love to see a straight talking president who actually does inspire some fear in our enemies and even our Congress.

I LIKE the fact that Christie intimidates people. Perhaps he can overcome the bridge fiasco and we can get a much needed bully in the White House.

Respectfully,
Rutherford

My 2014 Predictions

Here are my predictions for 2014.

Good Samaritans will continue to selflessly help others without ulterior motives or agenda.

Psychotic young men will continue go out and kill as many people as possible in as short a time as possible and then most likely kill themselves.

Politicians will work toward noble goals regardless of ideology.

Men and women will pursue politics as a craven dash towards self promotion.

Children will be born and have a loving home with biological or adoptive parents.

Children will not get a chance to be born because their parents lacked the responsibility to do proper family planning and then lacked the courage to give that child the chance to find a loving home through adoption.

Employers will find creative ways to thrive and save the jobs of their employees whom they treat like family, like human beings.

Employers will lay people off with abandon pursuing the bottom line and pleasing the stockholders. Employees are just a “resource”, a cog in the wheel. Disposable.

Men and women of faith will follow the greatest teachings of their creed and will work toward the good of all people.

Men and women of faith will use their religion as an excuse to sow hatred, destruction and death.

I could go on but you get the picture. My prediction for 2014 is that nothing will change. Good will live alongside evil. One will win one day and one will win the next.

To my readers: may 2014 bring more happy tidings than sad. Thank you for taking a bit of time out of your life to read what I write. I truly appreciate it.

Respectfully,
Rutherford