And it’s cool to be present and accounted for. Even if a lot of people don’t have jobs, it’s cool to see someone who does and to see him really work.
Remember Ronald Reagan and his afternoon naps? Remember how George Bush all but disappeared in his last couple of years in office, mimicking those Where’s Waldo books more than anything else. We couldn’t find him to save ourselves. But President Obama is around. He’s everywhere: traveling to foreign countries, giving press conferences, appearing on You Tube, making speeches; he’s on television, and he and Michelle are on the cover of every possible magazine, smiling and telling us how great life is.
We may not agree with every decision he makes—even those on the left, even those who voted for him — are sometimes disappointed. Many still wait to see what will happen.
But no one can say that he’s shirked his duty during his first 100 days. He’s been busy. Boy, has he been busy. He got straight down to work and he’s earned his pay. Unlike the guys he bailed out: the paper pushers and the office decorators, and the men who brought down banks and insurance companies, those men who swindled and lied and cheated and stole and still took home obscene bonuses, Obama has, at the least, put in 16-hour days working. No naps for him. The wrinkles and the exhaustion and the gray hairs are already showing.
I think the Obamas are what we would like to be and have. They are the perfect nuclear family: two kids, nice house, someone to live in and help, good job for the dad, work that matters for mom, excellent educations. They live meaningful lives, knowing that what they do makes a difference; when they talk people listen. They have each other to bounce things off of. There is real love there. And then there’s that damned darling dog.
Will it last? Can happiness ever? Who knows? But isn’t it nice to know that at the least they’re giving it their best shot.
Barack Obama and the Jewish Imagination Jon Sobel
When President Obama hosted a seder at the White House, it surprised many. No President had ever done such a thing before. Certainly it was a gesture of inclusiveness towards American Jews, whose support Obama the candidate had actively sought, and who have strong political influence on any sitting President.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Man we're really seeing a wide variety of opinions just in this series!
2 - Eric Olsen
yes, we are, which is the BC way!
3 - Arch Conservative
"But President Obama is around. He’s everywhere: traveling to foreign countries, giving press conferences, appearing on You Tube, making speeches; he’s on television, and he and Michelle are on the cover of every possible magazine, smiling and telling us how great life is."
Translation: He's a smug, narcissistic piece of garbage.
4 - Phillip Winn
Yes, Archie, because no previous President has ever traveled to foreign countries, given press conferences, or made speeches. Obama is the first President to ever go on television.
And, of course, he is demanding that magazines put him on their covers, and since we lack freedom of press in this country, they have no choice but to comply.
Or, just maybe, possibly, all those magazines are using candid or non-exclusive photos, and President Obama is just doing his job. Because I have these strange ideas, could even be memories, that Ronald Reagan was very much in the public eye while he was President as well, and I don't remember him being a "smug, narcissistic piece of garbage."
Yeah, I think I'm going to go with "B." Your translation is more projection than translation.
5 - roger nowosielski
Well, ladies and gentlemen. Let's not congratulate ourselves prematurely. I'm kind of disappointed of late of Obama's lack of enthusiasm and electrifying quality which characterized his primary appearances. No doubt it's difficult to maintain such high level in light of the problems facing us. How can you be upbeat day in and day out?
But I do remember JFK and RFK, which is not fair perhaps to the younger generation.
6 - Eric Olsen
I think Obama fares pretty well under the JFK comparison - remember that the press was still very compliant and discreet regarding personal foibles in that day
7 - roger nowosielski
It may be so, Eric. And the times were surely different. Perhaps the difference comes down to the fact that we were more naive then and more idealistic.
I don't think it's any longer the case, not even when it comes to the youth.
8 - Mongo
Some good signs in the economy today.