Hail to the chimp! Um, I mean Chief!

Ok, I have a confession to make; I am a political junkie. I love politics! I love the debates! I love the glitz and glamour! It’s my reality show! It’s like watching the WWF, people pretend it’s real but it’s not.

The President is coming to town tomorrow to hold one of his “Town Meetings” to discuss his plan to reform Social Security. A lot of people have asking me (knowing that I have this policy monkey on my back) if I was going to see the President. My answer is no. First off, you have to buy tickets to see him and you can only buy tickets through a certain local republican representative (or the Chamber of Commerce, also a member of the republic) and only if you’re on the list! The White House has asked for a nice cross section of the GOP to sit in the “Town Meeting.” This includes young students, single mothers, people on social security, and you professionals under 30, all no doubt republicans. It is well known even before the President was re-elected that you had to sign a loyalty oath before entering the lion’s den. I’m sure things haven’t changed much since he took the throne again. I’m also surprised the President is coming to a town where unemployment is on the rise and a major corporation, who’s home base is Rochester, is about to lay off a large percent of their work force. I would think it would be a little uncomfortable talking to people about their retirement when they won’t have anything to retire from.

To be perfectly fair I’m not going to be with the Democrats who are on the other side of town protesting Social Security reform. Now, it’s my understanding if you’re going to protest it’s the objective for the person (or the issue) you’re protesting to see you. President Bush has a wide view of things but not that wide. Get your wimp asses to where the man is!

Fast forward- The President just finished his speech and I have to tell you he is great at being a man of the people. He is great at being plain spoken and speaking the language of the people. BUT, he is also great at scaring the pants off of the ignorant and slow witted. While talking about Social Security reform he gives you a choice, you don’t have to invest in personal accounts but we can’t guarantee you’re going to get what’s coming to you. Also, he filled the house, standing room only with not one person who opposed him. He had a retired grandmother and a Christian school teacher both of whom fell to his feet and praised him. No one questioned, no one had a conflicting opinion, and they all stood emotionless like good little drones. He was charismatic and the got a standing “O”. It was a well rehearsed and commanding performance. There were many leaders in history that had this kind of “staged” presence. A “captured” audience if you will.

By the way, golfer’s clap for Bush protesters who stopped cowering in the corner and moved their protest to the President’s speech. Now if we can just get them to take their thumbs out of their mouths.