Last night I saw upon the stair
A little man who wasn't there. . .
--"Antigonish" William Hughes Mearns
Thanks to xaxnar for leading me to Rience Priebus' terribly unfortunate attempt at humor on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday yack show.
And for hitting the proper context on the first shot: calling to mind presidents who let their innocent charges drown may not be the best tactic for Republicans in 2012. Even Americans have memories.
As has been pointed out by more than one political journalist, there has been an Invisible Man stalking the GOP primaries, an unspoken name, a Banquo's ghost spoiling the supper.
How do you solve a problem like the W?
The man was president for two terms, after all, beloved party leader whose strength and charisma led to a takeover of both houses of Congress. A president who, at his zenith, boasted an approval rating over 90%.
No Icarus can maintain such altitude, of course, but to attain it even once is astounding in an era so marked by political divisions. It's hard to imagine an American president ever touching such an Everest again.
And yet their Edmund Hillary goes unsung, unpraised, literally unmentioned, like the cousin who showed such promise until the police found the shallow graves in the back yard.
You can't blame them, really. Despite the revisionists' best efforts, Americans still stubbornly remember who was driving the bus when it bade farewell to the highway. No matter how hard the blowhards blow, the country clings to vague memories from long ago, names and phrases that won't fade into dreams: Iraq, Katrina, Bin Laden Determined to Attack. . .
All of which makes me wonder, what ever are they going to do about him come this summer? Will he be invited to speak? Can they not? Can he not?
The man does have an ego, after all, and a lust for legacy. He's also shown a tone-deafness of such epic proportions that it's plausible he would see nothing awkward in making his grand, nationally-televised reappearance on the anniversary of the Other Battle of New Orleans. Hell, he might even ask where his birthday cake is.
It will be fascinating to see how they approach this scheduling challenge. Kansas, Nebraska and I-o-way combined could not grow enough popcorn to fill my bowl.
Paulite friends are dying to see how the party deals with their man, when to slot the speech he has no interest in giving. I've spoken to Beltway types who wonder what the GOPoobahs will do with former novae like McCain and--yes--Sarah.
Me, I'm dying to see what the hell they're going to do about their greatest living hero, the Invisible Man.