America's Pastime

While the overall season of 24 was a disappointment (Bauer's kill count for the day only ended up at 49), the series finale actually was intriguing to me. What intrigued me about the episode was a quote by acting President Noah Daniels, who despite being President for only 8 hours managed to nearly lead the US into two different wars. Said Daniels "Until you get to this position you have no idea of your responsibility. Its easy for everyone to think they know, but until you sit in this chair no one has a clue."

Because Daniels is portrayed as a grouchy Texan, I immediately started thinking about this quote in the context of our own grouchy Texan President, Mr. Bush.

I always thought of Bush as a President who simply didn't get it. I assumed that he simply did not understand the context of his decisions how those decisions could have a ripple down effect throughout society in later years (IE Iraq). I thought Bush was like the coach of a Little League team who makes his pitcher throw 232 pitches each start because he needs a pitcher and doesn't understand that kids who pitch that much always end up blowing their arms out. .

However after watching 24, I realized I was wrong about what type of Little League coach George Bush is. He isn't the completely inept coach, but instead is the coach who will do anything to win because he assumes that everything will fall apart if his team loses. These are the coaches who scream at the umps, or use ineligible players in 4th grade (Kelly Bradetich I still hate you) Losing is not an option to these coaches. They act like each game is the World Series, when in reality they are the coach of a 2nd grade girls Tball team.

I feel Bush, much like the second grade Tball coach, believes what he is doing is so important that failure will lead to cataclysmic results. That is why we are seeing Secret Prisons, Warrantless wiretaps, Pre-emptive wars, etc.... Bush is handling his presidency like it is game 7 of the World Series when in fact, there is a lot of baseball left to be played. Bush is making desperate moves to try to win now, that undoubtedly will bite him in the ass later on. Bush needs to learn that you don't pinch hit for the pitcher in the third inning even if the bases are loaded because of how it limits a team later on in the game (Were talking National League here)

I only hope that if Bush does elect for a pinch Pinch hitter, that the guy hits a grand slam because Bush doesn't have a lot of options out in the bullpen and he needs all the help he can get.

Oh, and this is the best Youtube video of all time. I want to be a child of mother nature just like Malibu.

BaldingReportOut