As you can tell by the title of this post, my political brain has gone a little soft as I’m trying to sort out keeping up with my wonky stuff, a few new projects and “strategic alliances” as they call them in the business world, and managing a nine-year-old for 13 1/2 weeks of summer vacation. You heard me — 13 1/2 weeks. School finished up for PunditGirl last week and now she’s off until September 9 (Labor Day is VERY late this year).
But as I read and watched the coverage of President Obama’s grand tour last week, it occurred to me that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be the leader of the free world. Not that I’d want to have to figure out the economic crisis and force myself to politely hold my tongue about Newt “I-don’t-hold-any-elective-office-but-I’m-going-to-shoot-my-mouth-off-anyway-just-to-be-a-pain-in-the -ass” Gingrich. But I could go for some of the perks!
I’ve always wanted to travel to Egypt. It’s on my list, but since we’re working on the grand China trek to take PunditGirl back to the country of her birth for next year, I don’t think that’s in the financial cards. Seeing the photos of Obama strolling near the Sphinx was great, but I wondered where the obligatory camel ride was? Apparently many of his staff took the opportunity, but Obama didn’t. Why?
Can you imagine how often Fox News and Limbaugh would show those photos to mock Obama in some way? Shades of Michael Dukakis in the tank and John Kerry windsurfing! Tempting as it might have been to play the tourist, Obama’s mind was already a couple of steps ahead of the media, beating them to the punch by taking away their chance for months of mockery! You’ve got to like that in a President!
But the part I really loved reading about was the Obama’s time in Paris. Even though he told the Paris news conference that he wasn’t going to have time to play tourist, he did carve out some time for speed sightseeing with the family. One thing in particular got me — Sasha Obama celebrated her eighth birthday by having lunch at the Elysee Palace!! I’m not a great birthday party planner, but I’m pretty sure that trumps the bowling party PunditGirl had when she turned eight!
So with cool stuff like seeing the pyramids and getting one-of-a-kind birthday celebrations for your kids, maybe it is time to consider a run for the White House. Or at least I can hope for a Constitutional change so PunditGirl can run and invite me over!
Mon, June 8, 2009
Democrats