How weird a year was it?Here's how weird:
• O.J. actually got convicted of something.
• Gasoline hit $4 a gallon -- and those were the good times.
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• On several occasions, Saturday Night Live was funny.
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• There were a few days there in October when you could not completely rule out the possibility that the next Treasury Secretary would be Joe the Plumber.
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• Finally, and most weirdly, for the first time in history, the voters elected a president who -- despite the skeptics who said such a thing would never happen in the United States -- was neither a Bush NOR a Clinton.
Of course not all the events of 2008 were weird. Some were depressing. The only U.S. industries that had a good year were campaign consultants and foreclosure lawyers. Everybody else got financially whacked. Millions of people started out the year with enough money in their 401(k)'s to think about retiring on, and ended up with maybe enough for a medium Slurpee.
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So we can be grateful that 2008 is almost over. But before we leave it behind, let's take a few minutes to look back and see if we can find some small nuggets of amusement. Why not? We paid for it, starting with . .
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3 comments:
2008 was definitely a whirlwind. Great article. Thank goodness gas is down again...but it is also unnatural and still makes me a little nervous.
About the Bush post, People mag has always been known for using quotes verbatim and not editing out others. That was my first thought. Second, was how important the troops and their families are to him. My last thought was, typical guy. A former MLB owner is nervous throwing out a pitch, in the world series, one month after 9-11, with the whole world watching. Why should that make you nervous? Not the best answer, but then again, consider the audience he was speaking to, People readers.
But it made me wonder, on a spiritual side, we all can agree that this nation was built up for a greater purpose. And I believe our Presidents have been put in place for reasons we may not understand. It makes me wonder, in horrificly weighing times (like 9-11), if our leaders are given a sense of strength from God, that is necessary for our country's survival. This is much to religious for what we usually stick to, but I wondered if he did receive a sense of calm during those more naturally anxious times.
Or he could just give horrible answers in interviews.
I love reading Dave Barry's opinions on politics and life. He digs until he finds the humor in everyone and everything, political parties aside.
Your musings on our current president got me wondering what I would think of him if he'd been a Democrat, and if I'd cut him more slack for leaving the country in shambles. I started to think of Bill Clinton when he left office 8 years ago, the whole - stain on the blue dress debacle that left many of us embarrassed and wondering, WTH?
I compared my parting thoughts of the two and this is what I came up with... In my mind they are mirror images of each other's flaws and strengths.
When Clinton left office I thought him personally devoid of any moral compass whatsoever, that he was a crappy husband and obviously a good liar - to his wife. But politically he was off the charts smart, and as far as running the country went, I thought he did an okay job. We did end up with a surplus.
Bush on the other hand is a good husband and father, I would guess. He's probably a nice enough guy to hang out with, to carry on a casual conservation with, to go to a baseball game with. But politically....we'll let's just say he should have stuck with managing baseball teams instead of the country.
You might be too young to remember, but I'd bet a MILLION dollars your parents were none too happy to kick Clinton out of the Whitehouse.
And such it is now with us.
Tit for tat...
Makes you wonder if the power of the office eventually corrupts the best of them. Besides George Washington, our other widely respected and praised from both sides Presidents were assasinated (sp?). (Kennedy and Lincoln). Would they be pushed out of office by their opposing party just like every other President? Interesting.
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