I haven’t paid much attention to the news over the last few days. Part of that is because I was traveling, looking for a place to rent, moving some stuff, staying with a friend out-of-town and just generally ignoring the world. It’s funny because I did read the paper a couple of days, but nothing really stuck.
Blah, blah, blah … nuclear option … blah, blah … the earth exploded into a bright blue flame … blah. I did see something this morning that was disturbing. Laura Bush got heckled from apparently both Jews and Muslims while visiting Jerusalem. There’s nothing like equal opportunity hecklers. What a great country that Israel.
I did a one-on-one interview with George W. prior to his being governor of Texas (and in company of no handlers) and found him pleasant enough. He even did a few good things as governor, though some might argue with his thorough thinning of the prison population by lethal injection in Texas. But I haven’t found much I have liked about his performance as president. It’s not a partisan thing. It’s what you might call, an Ahh-murr-i-cun thing.
But nonetheless, I don’t think it is right to go hassling the wife of someone you dislike. I didn’t particularly like the woman at the post office this morning who went into this detailed discussion defending her position on why the office had no post card stamps. But if that woman had a spouse, I wouldn’t go heckle him. If your doctor or dentist is a major butthead, you may want to give him or her a piece of your mind (after you find another professional), but that practitioner may have just the nicest husband or wife in the world.
One might argue that Laura Bush has influence over George W. That’s probably true. But a lot of people have influence on Whiz Kid — the Veep, Rumsfeld, the board of Halliburton and any number of petroleum companies, and let’s not forget James Dobson and Jerry Falwell. These people may have even more influence than Laura.
I particularly think it’s chickenshit to rag on someone’s spouse or significant other because of what that other person has done. I don’t think it is necessarily fair, not to mention that it isn’t very brave. If you don’t like George, tell him, although he won’t be within your sight or earshot. Yeah, it’s one of those Catch-22 situations we still haven’t worked out yet. But don’t go bugging his wife or kids. It just isn’t right. If you want to protest, go protest that blue flame that now is the eaaaaaaaaarrrrrthh …