Ercille I. Christmas

Hello There, Mr. President
January 30, 2010

Hello There, Mr. President. I did not watch your State of the Union speech. I already know the state of the Union. It is at the point where the “lipstick on this pig” analogy is looking more and more apropos. I did not watch your speech, because quite frankly I am tired of the 365/24/7 campaigning. I suspected that it would be more of the same. It was – basically.

You already have the job. Do it. Making speeches, although necessary, is not the raison d'être of the office. I did read and hear excerpts of your speech, and I did not get a “thrill up my leg.” I experienced a shiver down my spine, which I suspect you do know, is an entirely different sensation. If I may be so bold, allow me to offer some suggestions for you to bring back the thrill for your disciples.
 

Dignity

"With all due deference to" the office of the president, it was unseemly for you to use the forum of the state of the union, to bash the justices of the United States Supreme Court, while they sat there – captive. It suggested a lack of class, and unfamiliarity with the word “dignity.” In case you want to know my opinion, I would get into a lifeboat with Justice Alito, because I feel certain that Justice Alito would make room for me, and would probably give his life to save mine. Also, I would not be fighting for room with a Teleprompter!

Prevarication

"With all due deference to" the office of the president, you are giving a good impression of being unfamiliar with the meaning of the word "lie," as in not telling the truth. Are you applying the precedent of “it depends on the meaning of the word is”? That has been discredited. You are apparently unaware that it is a lie and hypocritical to accuse another party of behavior in which you have indulged, and continue to indulge. I have no great love for most politicians because the joke about knowing when they lie because “their lips are moving,” is a snug fit for far too many. But, I will point out lies when I hear or read about them. "Leaving a mountain of debt," is quite ingenious. You inherited a “molehill” of debt and promptly turned it into a “mountain.” Your tripling the Federal deficit fits the bill.

How can you convince me otherwise about every time your lip moves, that you are not lying? Go to your favorite venue, in front of the cameras, without your favorite companion, the Teleprompter, and confess that you knowingly and deliberately lied to us. Give up the Teleprompter for one night. If your wife ever files for divorce, she would probably be able to list that Teleprompter as "the other woman!"

Transparency

While you are at that venue, bring out a box of personal papers and hold them up to the camera, and make the papers available for impartial scrutiny. No, I am not a “birther.” My personal opinion of the birth status of a president is as follows. I do believe that the president of this republic should have been born of parents, who are both native born citizens of the US, with no first generation ties to another country, in order to prevent possible situations of divided loyalty. The papers that I am talking about are the school records and work records. Your actions do not suggest those of someone with the required experience to run this country. When reports continue to come in that you have spent almost $2 million to forestall scrutiny, you are leaving an inescapable impression that you do have something to hide. Oh, you can also toss in the records of all of those who contributed to getting you elected, all for the sake of transparency, which you did promise.

Terrorism

How else can you make me experience the “thrill up the leg”? You could declare that we are in a war against fanatics of the Muslim religion, who want to kill us. You could "man up" by telling them to stop killing your fellow citizens, or they will be killed. Follow through. You would convince them that there are no 72 virgins. Part of that “manning up” demeanor and action, would be to cease and desist in granting foreign terrorist killers the same rights as American citizens, while persecuting US troops relentlessly. And stop the sugarcoating of the war we are in, with the innocuous sounding designations that make it sound as if you are pursuing bank robbers. We are way beyond Jesse James.

Staffing

I am tired of the jokes about only tax cheats being able to be hired for your administration. Tighten up that criterion. I even have a slogan: “No pay, no hay.” Get rid of the sycophants with whom you appear to have surrounded yourself, especially the court jester. You are smart. You figure that one out. You need men and women who can look you in the eye and tell you: “Mr. President, that is a crock of (definitely not stew)!” One qualification for the possible replacements, should be total familiarity with, and the devout practice of telling one truth, not variations of the "same truth." You may want to set the example.

Demeanor

Please go into counseling for your spending habits, spending of the people's money from the US Treasury. The descendents of today’s toddlers should not be made to work to support 21^st century excesses. Please stop saying "let me be clear." Please promise to never again accuse "we the people" of "not getting it," and therefore causing you to make more speeches. We get it and please enough with the speeches! We the taxpayers are adults. We no longer need scolding from a "father." Stop with the head tilted and jaw thrust out stance. It suggests “posturing,” as in theater. Don’t ever say again, “I took my share of blank.” That is not presidential or prudent.

I almost forgot. This request is more on the policy side, but here goes anyway. Stop with healthcare reform, fondly labeled “Obamacare,” even if you generously decide to share in the pain of the same plan. Keep in mind that your "Cadillac," more like a Lexus plan, along with the other perks of the job, (170 parties?), are being paid for by the sweat, blood and tears of we the taxpayers. If you were close by, I would serenade you with a verse or two of “Old Man River.” Instead, the following verses speak for me:

You and me,(we the people) we sweat and strain

Bodies all achin' and wracked with pain

Tote that barge and lift that bale

Ya get a little drunk and ya lands in ja-ail

I gets weary and so sick of tryin'

I'm tired of livin', but I'm feared of dyin'

And Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along

Yeah, I am scared of dying because my carcass will be taxed, and my dependents will be forced to sell the farm that we do not have!

Mr. President, if you go into seclusion like the president of Nigeria and we don’t hear any speeches for at least two weeks, don’t worry that we will feel deprived. We will welcome the break. Even “Obama Girl,” is reported to be not so enraptured anymore. If you lose such fatuous rapture, that could be more devastating than al of the sinking poll numbers! Maybe you could try apologizing to the Cambridge PD. Their devotion may not be on par with that of Obama Girl, but it could be a “solid B plus” restart.

I have laid out a blueprint. Take it from there. Make the necessary corrections, so I can take baby steps and learn to respect you. I so want to experience the thrill of being proud of a president who has a “muscular” foreign policy, and listens to “we the people.” As you have stated, it is not about you. Prove it.