Brushfire of Freedom
The Irritable Pundit
"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils."
Quote by Louis Hector Berlioz
It is really quite amazing.
It was built by a host of very talented people who initially had no knowledge whatsoever of the job skills required. However they took On-the-Job Training (OJT) under the leadership of someone who knew what to do. They studied with determination and great effort, so that by the end of their program they had the required skills to get an entry level job in their field. With many years of actual work after the training, they moved up to the point where they were chosen for this particular and highly challenging role and project.
I'll tell you what it is, but first lets talk about the people who built it in a bit more detail.
Carpenters built the basic framework [4 years OJT], structural metal workers [4 years OJT] hardened it later. In the updating over the years, construction equipment operators [3 years OJT] have diligently toiled. Plumbers [4 years OJT] put in the pipes, electricians [4 years OJT] the wires. Sheet metal workers [4 years OJT] later craft armor. Insulation installers [3 years OJT] and heating and cooling system mechanics [4 years OJT] add a touch of comfort. Drywall finishers [3 years OJT] cover it all away from sight. Wallpaper hangers [3 years OJT] and Painters [4 years OJT] work their marvels endlessly throughout it's existence. Audio and video technicians [1-2 years OJT] put in gadgets, cameras, mics, teleprompters.
That is a lot of training, all to build one room -- the Oval Office of the President of the United States of America.
The White House was first constructed between 1792 and 1800, ravaged by fire in 1814, rebuilt in 1817 and with some 7 major expansions, up to and including a complete steel rebuild of the support structures. A lot of effort, a lot of craftsmen, a lot of on the job training. And based on the foolishness currently being done within that amazing building, the current occupant could use some on the job training as well. The problem of course, is that an OJT program for "President and leader of the free world" does not exist. So now what? Someone tell me, how could the single most important executive job in the world be filled by someone with absolutely no executive experience whatsoever? Who gave the keys to the teenager? Who gave the gun to the toddler? How did we get here?
Well, because a very large group of people bought a bill of goods either through ignorance, foolishness, envy or just plain gullibility. Perhaps they saw a handsome articulate man and wrongly assumed that meant competence as well. For others it could have been as complex as group-guilt for past indiscretions (real or imagined), or as simple as guilt for personal success due to insecurity. It is apparent that others were just lazy and wanted a free ride as promised. Maybe a few were simply so far removed from the common man that they just couldn't see beyond their own privilege or fame based bias. Of course, it didn't hurt that the media acted like his personal cheerleader. That alone helps explain how some decent folks went along with good intentions.
Things are starting to change however. While it is true that Obama's most ardent supporters are so far into denial they would need a compass, 4 bags of granola, and 2 weeks to find their way back, it is also true that denial only lasts so long. Then comes along the wonderful world of "regret" or in this case something akin to "buyers remorse". Note that Obama's current ratings are actually just below GWB's at the same time in his Presidency. It had to happen, no surprise there.
The real question is how much longer do the hardcore Obama supporters still manage to cling to Hope™? They remind me of the stereotype of a battered woman we see in Hollywood movies (usually with Ashley Judd). "I know he hurts me, but he says he loves me" (sniff, sniff). While some brutish thug in a wife-beater T-shirt chugs a beer in the background. Still, eventually even Ashley Judd gets tired of it.
However, for now we are stuck with the current situation. So we fight back, hoping to hold off the socialist idiocy until the next election cycle, while a majority left-wing government enables a completely unqualified man to wreak havoc on our economy and our grandchildren's futures. All from the comforts of the Oval Office.
I would tell you what I think of that, but unfortunately I am not qualified. We need a trained expert. Specifically, we need a waste treatment plant operator [2 years OJT].
Copyright 2009. The published content is the sole property of the author. Any copy, use, or redistribution of any portion of the material without the written consent of the owner is a violation of international copyright laws.