Thursday, November 11, 2010

Open Letter to a Failed President

Mr. President:

Cowboy up! If you're going to sulk in the White House and bemoan the events of the last few weeks, you are not the man I voted for. If you were, you wouldn't take the abuse and bullying that is being directed at you. You would stand up and say, "Stop!" So, now I am telling you, "Stop!" Stop being a punching bag; stop moping about people being mean to you; in short, stop giving the republicans everything they want.

I do not want a compromising weenie in the White House. I want a man of conviction and vision. You had a vision and you were following it. Either you folded like a cheap suit when Rahm Emmanuel left the White House or he left because he couldn't bear to watch you disintegrate right in front of him. Either way, enough is enough.

There is no shortage of people and pundits telling you what you should do. Listen to the ones that are telling you to dial up the rhetoric. Use your bully pulpit to reveal these right-wing weasels for what they are: obstructionists. They walk into the House and the Senate with no plan for helping this country be great except to make sure that you are a one term president. If you proceed down this mealy-mouthed plan, I will soon have to agree with them.

Read the polls. People don't want the health care reform law repealed, your enemies do. The people don't want to blow up the deficit, your enemies do. The people don't want to let Wall Street off the hook, your enemies do. And make no mistake, the republicans in Congress are your enemies. They don't want to treat you with respect and civility; the want to tear you down. Get tough and get the fighters in this country back in your corner.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Morning After

Shame on you, America. That slick, smooth-talking stranger comes through town spouting promises of love and off you go. The Republicans got you drunk then took you home for a quickie. Here it is morning and you're all alone feeling used, hungover, and completely screwed. Every time it's the same thing: you think you're going to do the right thing, but you usually end up with your underwear in your purse and your shoes in your hands.

Two years ago I thought you finally wised up and realized how badly you were getting treated and you wouldn't fall for the same old story, same old song and dance. I was wrong. After spending so much of my energies extolling your virtues and how you always do the right thing I am now left with the utter realization that you're nothing but a slut. Turns out that two years ago you didn't do the right thing, you did the only thing you could do. It wasn't virtuous, it was expeditious.

Well, today you're waking up in a world of your making. When you need your government to help you, which is government's sole responsibility, you will be left out in the cold. No services, no support, no security. That handsome stranger won't remember your name. Promise after promise will be left by the wayside as he moves on to line his pockets and live the only American dream he cares about: The Conservative Agenda.

Just so you know, The Conservative Agenda doesn't encompass you. You are a mere conduit for the few to enjoy the fruits of the many's labors. You toil and sweat in hopes that one day you will live the dream of wealth and prosperity. All you'll end up doing is living out your miserable life so the few can continue to profit from your sacrifice. These few spend tens of millions of dollars of their own money for the privilege of serving you. Really? Does that sound right? Somebody spending exorbitant amounts of money for the joy of answering to an electorate? Or is it for the opportunity to use their position to help themselves and those precious few like them? Sound more like the stranger from last night? You, gullible voter, will never be part of the club.

Regardless, you still go to the bar where they congregate and pretend to be one of them. You continue to accept their drinks and their slick snake oil line hoping they notice you and give you some attention. So, here you are staring at the ceiling and thinking that this time it will be different; the stranger will call; he'll come back to carry through his whispers of love and commitment. Alas, he will not. You will be left alone to deal with the rest of your life. However, if he does come back, make sure you have your wallet under the pillow because that's all he forgot to take.