I have a profound respect for the Office of the President – regardless of the gentleman sitting in the chair (same goes for a woman when she is finally elected – and no, that is not a nod toward Hillary). Even when Reagan “could not recall,” and even though Nixon was a crook. I honestly couldn’t have cared less if Bill played around while in office (he did before, what did you think he would do when he was there?), but would desperately have preferred that he treat the Office with a bit more dignity (of course the Congress could have as well).
Bush the First was called a wimp more times than any US President in history, but, whether you like his politics or not, he certainly did not actively defile his Office.
Then we get to his son. Never before has a world power been represented by such a – please pardon me, but – dolt. And I have to look for the bright spot, it’s hard, but it’s there – George W. has proven without exception that the romantic theory “Anyone can be President” is patently untrue. Hopefully people will keep that in mind in the future when bashing “educated elites” and other candidates who bring a certain gravitas to the table.
Maybe we will change, as a nation, our distrust of someone ‘too smart’. Maybe we will tarry our fascination with ‘plainspoken’, and maybe we will realize once and for all that the ‘guy you would want to grab a beer with’ may not be be the most important qualification for the nation’s top job.
Regardless, it has been a profoundly trying seven years, but I find that I still revere the Presidency. Now all I can do is hope I don’t have to live through another administration which tests that sentiment like this one has…
