National Embarrassment

I am one of the first to laugh at Bush's multitude of stupid jokes or goofy Bushisms but I have always assumed (hoped) that, one-on-one with world leaders, he actually could straighten up and speak intelligently. I think the conversations overheard at the G-8 Summit can finally put a rest to that idea. Bush truly is a national embarrassment. He is just as crass and impatient with important world leaders (Blair, Putin, etc) as he is with the White House press corps. I always figured the press corps just didn't deserve to be treated any better.

I remember when Bush was first running for president the press was falling all over itself saying how he was the guy you would want to have a beer with while Gore was stuffy and academic. Do you really want to have a beer with the president? Is that our standard for the leader of the free world?

I want someone who is demonstrably smarter than me; not someone who can speak to the average American at their level. The President is not supposed to be 'average'. He (or she, but who are we kidding) should be the best the country has to offer. I want someone who speaks well, even if they have a country twang. I don't think Clinton's or Carter's speaking ever embarrassed me.

Worse still than Bush's tortured speech is his piqueish sense of entitlement. Other world leaders have issues they are dealing with also. If they don't address your issue immediately, it is not a personal affront. If they speak a little long and you are 10 minutes off your schedule, then you might miss your favorite show on TV when you get back to DC. Get a damn Tivo.