Less than 20 million people watched the President's speech last night. My guess is that the majority was made up of politcal junkies, including Bush non-supporters like ourselves. My girlfriend watched "Friends" re-runs while I watched the Presidents speech. Apparently many Americans did; as Chandler would say: "Could there
be any less people watching that speech?"
What the President could have done is address the press from the White House the day before. Ask them to preempt all other programming to carry his speech. Make it clear to the press and the country that Iraq is important and its worth an honest discussion.
But he didn't -- because he doesn't get it.
The President could have taken an opportunity to address all Americans and seriously engage them in this war. He could have made a clear and resolute statement that this war will forever mark our times and that it deserves every American's full attention.
But he didn't -- because he doesn't get it.
Instead the President did what he's supposed to do; what the playbook says. If there's growing discontent, go out and address the poeple. I guess that playbook doesn't say: "engage them," "don't just tell them you will make everything alright," "preseve democracy by calling for true citizenship."
He might as well have said "go shopping."
He doesn't get it. His job is not to just protect us. We don't elect Big Brother. That was not the Founding Father's view of the office. President Bush, your job is "first citizen." You are to be the model citizen for our democracy. Your job is to live out the Constitution every day in office. And its your job to call the rest of your citizens to action. Together we protect our families, our wives, our husbands, our partners, our children.
He doesn't get it. He thinks he's the star of the show and we're spectators. Spectatorship is the cancer of democracy.
Someone said it on this blog earlier: Bush can't find the solution, he's the problem. Problem is he fundamentally does not understand his office. We need someone who does.