Those who do not remember history...


The hyperbole is making my head hurt

Enough, already.

The presidents, both -elect and soon-to-be ex-, are politicians. Neither man -- and by association, his administration -- is demonstratively (at this point in time) either the best or worst thing to ever happen to the United States, or the world at large.

Anybody who thinks otherwise has a very short memory. There hasn't been a president for the last forty years (sorry, that's as far back as my memory goes; I was still in the cradle when Kennedy was assassinated) that a goodly portion of America hasn't heaved a collective sigh of relief at the swearing-in of his successor and muttered, "Don't let the car / helicopter door hit your ass on your way out," at his back. History finds scandals during the administrations of those that were loved, or at least well-tolerated, while in office and some good in the administrations of the vilified ones; some presidents that had perfectly useless terms go on to be brilliant humanitarians, while others with active administrations go on to do nothing but rest on their laurels until they pass on. All of them will be spoken well of when they die, even by those who are not at the funeral and therefore would not be offending the mourners. (I sat through the coverage around Nixon's death thinking, "Damn, did these people live in the same universe I did at that time?")

I find it amusing that a man that was so determined to make his mark on the office and the world, to leave a legacy that would be "one for the history books," and to outshine his daddy, has succeeded, but beyond his wildest nightmares, not his wildest dreams. I also find it amusing that a do-nothing Senator from a state where the "corrupt" in "corrupt politician" is assumed is viewed as the savior of the country.

Neither man is the devil incarnate nor the Second Coming. There were scandals; there will be scandals. There will be white-washing of GWB's past scandals. We will all be unhappy.

It's politics.

Posted: Tue - January 20, 2009 at 09:52 AM   Home         | | View Technorati reactions

©