Current Events Watch

Take-Charge George W. Bush stepped up to the plate today out West in inferno-plagued California, requisite entourage in tow, pledging all manner of Federal resources, assurances of fellow-Americans’ prayers and support, a brighter future, promising that those in Washington would not forget the plight of the victims … and some other stuff that also seemed to go over well when he made a quick stop in the French Quarter a couple of years ago, post-Katrina. Way-post. Encouraging, reassuring, placative rhetoric, sympathetically delivered from a makeshift podium to pacify the disadvantaged. Follow through in the Big Easy hasn’t seemed to go quite according to the proposed plan, though, hence my cynicism. Promises, promises. Hey, at least there were some most excellent West Coast photo ops today, that’ll come in handy for posterity.

But, to his credit, it didn’t take him seventeen days before making an appearance this time, I’ll give him that. And at least he was able to stay awake while demonstrating his rote speech-delivering skills. Meanwhile, and not for the first time, Sharpshooter VP Dick Cheney succumbed to the siesta. Dozed off mid-speech. Must not have had enough Z-time onboard AF1, en route to the Golden State. Of course, when you’ve no doubt already heard the Boss’s speech ad nauseum, why not take a power nap? I would think, though, that given his medical history, those nearby might consider checking for a pulse when the guy at the table practically falls prostrate. He does run on batteries, after all, and batteries do go dead. Or maybe his table-mates, as I would have done, pretended simply not to notice. No, no … that was a bad thing to say. I would take it back, but my “delete” key doesn’t seem to be working at the moment.

His spokesperson said he was simply meditating. Still, whether napping or entering some sort of metaphysical meditative state while your boss is babbling, probably not such a good idea. I’m afraid either way, that he might either be dreaming about or meditating on which nation to invade next (although that’s pretty much a given, I guess) … but I may be over-reacting. He was probably just contemplating this weekend’s hunting trip to Poughkeepsie, NY. Poughkeepsians, beware!

And to those back in Cali, still aflame, don’t get your hopes up. At least not for anything promised by your VIP tourists today, those folks can’t be trusted. But you can bet, no doubt, that there will be plenty of support and resources from the other of your fellow-American citizens. We usually come through in a crunch. Unlike your visiting leaders who know how to talk the talk, but far too often fall asleep at the wheel.

california wildfires, natural disasters, hurricane katrina, george w bush, dick cheney, federal assistance