President Cubic Zirconia?

The following is a recent post by RJ, a colleague of mine. It’s a pretty straightforward look at what is happening to the fancy coat of glaze that was on our new president, and how in only a few weeks, his approval rating has dropped 15 points and people are already starting to question his ethics and approach. I hope you enjoy the piece, and we hope to have RJ back in the future.

Let’s imagine that we are in a sinking ship. Water is rushing in through the lacerations in our ships hulls, creating of course a situation that warrants immediate action from captain and crew.? Like any dramatic cinema, the captain will give a talk to every man (mate?) on the vessel and instill in him a sense of duty and transcendence over what many may call “Murphy’s Law.”? Of course we need the Overture from Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” to accompany as our proud captain stares onward into the maelstrom (now it is raining and lightning) and lectures on the importance of every man on the ship.

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.? They are serious and they are many.? They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.? But know this, MEN ? they will be met.? On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”

Bear with me.

Now the captain is going to appoint men to oversee the process of expelling the aquatic enemy from our ship, and everyone is handed a pale and told to give it your all dammit!? The pails get heavy with a lot of water so the guys left in charge of the many, whilst chirping orders and calling on us to fill the pales and throw buckets-full overboard, drilled holes into their own because, well the buckets get a tad heavy.? There would be a mutiny afoot should the men discover the lack of work done by the upper echelons echoing demands over the common sailors.

The Republicans have begun their mutiny of this bi-partison love-fest promulgated (falsely) by the media who is also losing their own infatuation with President Obama.? And yet, people are being led to believe that the Republicans are solely responsible for this breach in bipartisanship.? I will touch upon the subject of bipartisanship (a cockamamie delusion) some other day.? I hope to touch upon the do as I say and not as I do attitude of our anointed President.

We have been lectured and bombarded by the President for our lack of responsibility, our need to reform, our need to become better, and our need for a new type of politics that answers to the people.? I do not necessarily disagree with these sentiments; I disagree with having to feel like every time the man talks, I have to tilt my head back to look up at his pulpit which sits so much higher than others.? He transcended the game dammit!? He was different, he would change the landscape, call for accountability? and he has reminded many of us a) why we disdain people who practice the art of politics to begin with and b) that liberals are the first to raise taxes (easily carried out when you don’t pay your own).

NOW! I don’t want to hear about Former-President Bush and how much you hate him.? I don’t want people to dig up old records about hypocrisy on the ‘right’ and parade William Bennett (though what he did was not illegal) and Rush Limbaugh as if you have articulated a well thought-out counter.? President Obama and his supporters called everyone to go beyond partisanship and the “politics as usual.”? You lectured us about corruption and scorned us because we didn’t believe your message but t’was us old sticks in the mud clinging to “guns and religion” that were holding you back from this new utopia.? You made the argument based on morality and said you were superior; then practice it!

The above quote was from President Obama’s inauguration. He calls on us to do our part in this economic maelstrom. Then we see his appointments:

Timothy Gaithner: Failure to pay taxes.? And he will now be throwing people in jail when they? fail to pay taxes.

Tom Daschle: Failing to pay taxes.? On his limousine and driver among other things no-less.

Dr. Nancy Killefer: Failure to pay taxes.? I should be so forward as to deduce from this? a pattern!

Bill Richardson: Just happens to be under investigation (and was subpoenaed) for much of the same kinds of charges as Gov-turned-star Blagojavich.

William Lynn III: Pres. Obama had to get a waiver for his OWN ethics rules to appoint this man as DoD #2 because of lobbying ties (from the “anti-lobby” candidate).

Hillary Clinton: Not much for her, but her husbands receiving funds for his library, from other countries and dignitaries while she is being Diplomatic is a bit of a conflict of interest.

How does that saying go?? Don’t spit on my back and tell me it’s raining?? Or is that a warmer bodily excrement splashing on our backs while we are lectured on our ethics and our challenging the chosen one and in essence preventing the change we need (but we conservatives didn’t believe in).? Every administration has its problems, it’s politics, it’s what people claim to hate the most but we utilize everyday (those pay-for-play deal making 10 year olds trading football cards!).? It is not justified, but neither is supercilious rhetoric that belittles everyone but the transcendental character who claims to be overcoming the vices he constantly derides.? Get over it.? There will be no change in this administration.? Not in politics, and in after a few more stimuli, not in our pockets?

-rj