Brass Ring

I noticed it last time, and it's affirmed now. Obama just gave a forceful speech about how unacceptable and intolerable Christmas Day underwear bombers on airplanes are. Gotta say, surprising though it is, I agree. In his clipped dogmatic brooks-no-contradiction tones, he reasserted how he demands something better from those responsible for our flying and under-flightpath security. As I say, I noticed it. His use of the word, "demand."

Here we have a head of state who repeatedly bows to foreign heads of state, and apologizes for the greatness albeit fading of America, and generally fails to understand the purpose and true dignity of his office, while at the same time, uses the word "demand" with regard to his administrative functionaries. "Hey, secretary! -- git me some coffee, snappy, and make it hot this time, stupid. I demand it."

You see it? People in power don't demand. They command. They issue an order and it's done. Weaklings demand. It's an emotional thing. People who need to threaten, demand. You'd think someone as poetic and eloquent as our golden-mouthed Obama, a regular chryostom, would apprehend such an elementary linguistic non-subtlety. But even you, so pedestrian and hopeless, must finally by now have cottoned on to his tired rhetorical tricks. Even Obama seems bored with them. Can it be that he's bored with himself?

Someone who learned his political skills as a community organizer dealing with low-level local political hacks, aldermen and block wardens, and had the almost insupportable egotism to thrust himself forward into the highest office in the world -- that level of self-worship surely cannot be capable of growing tired with itself. It must be that Obama is not trying anymore. He got his, babe, now you get yours. Going through the motions. Could that be it?

Which brings me to a simple observation. Obama, used to being the loudest voice in a room full of pipsqueaks, now finds himself on stage with Putin, and Sarkozy, and Netanyahu -- leaders who learned their craft slashing their way up through parliamentary and party systems that blast to deserved oblivion such non-accomplished neophytes as our White House current occupant.

Well, I seem to be over my chronic funk about the last election's incomprehensible outcome. I still shake my head every single time that the news readers utter the string of syllables, President Obama. But I've never been one to balk at speaking ill of the dead. So perhaps I'll open up full blast the vitriol spigot that's held back the dam for these several consecutive seasons of darkness. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Maybe the Secret Service will feel the need to interview me.

It's such a relief that there is no more terrorism, on which to war. Man-made-disasters are so much more soothing. It's so good to get away from the swagger of the last ten no eight years plus one though but still only eight, uh, away from the swagger I say. Now we move forward into the bright bold future of our children and our childrens' children with the sinuous slinking of an accomplished ballroom gigolo. That's a good thing. Does Obama have a pencil-mustache? That sodomy offer still stands. But we didn't need to make an offer. It's happening anyway. What after all is healthcare, but a push to look into our cracks?

J