Dear President Bush: A Letter From All Of Us

Dear President Bush,

As I watched you depart the Capitol aboard a Marine helicopter, and then Andrews AFB aboard an Air Force jet*, I couldn't help but marvel at the array of emotions that must have been washing over and coursing through you. Among countless others, I imagine there was significant relief, as well as nostalgia, maybe some sadness, and probably some uncertainty (about what's next**). The moment made me consider my feelings toward you as your time in office has come to an end.

The servant and patriot in me say "thank you." Thank you for the work that you did as the leader of our nation. I often disagreed with your ways of thinking and doing, but I appreciate the personal sacrifices you and your family made in order for you to hold this pressure-filled and lonely office, and I appreciate the effort you were putting forth to serve our nation, and to keep it safe and prosperous.

The comedian in me says "come back!" I miss you already. You were very helpful to me as I embarked upon a "career" as a stand-up comic and for that I am grateful. You made statements like, "I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future." As much as I feel for your staffers for the years that statements like that must have taken off their lives, you often made my day (albeit in a bit of a sad way). I find it hard to believe that President Obama will be as funny as you were, so please, don't be a stranger.

The human being/citizen of the world in me says "finally!" Quite frankly, it often felt as though Godzilla was occupying the Oval Office and that anything that displeased the giant lizard-in-chief or got in its way would be destroyed. I suspect that America's standing in the minds and hearts of most of the world's citizens has jumped significantly since President Obama's election and during the transition. That excites me very much, so please, be a stranger.

The leader in me says "good riddance." For the last eight years, it killed me that you so often appeared unable to recognize or admit a mistake, or to change course when something wasn't working. I think you listened to the wrong people (or didn't listen to the right ones or weren't good at deciding whom to listen to) and I suspect that poor decisions were made in processes that will be embarrassing to us all when your staff goes on to other jobs and the stories of the Bush West Wing are shared.

The optimist (and Rob Schneider impersonator) in me says "you can do it!" As an ex-President, you have wonderful opportunities to serve as an ambassador of our country and of noble causes. You have the chance to shed light on and continue to impact the way our nation is governed. You are in a unique position to speak out when something needs to be said or to act when something important needs to be done. You may even be endowed with certain super powers!***

The dude in me says "let's hang out some time." Through it all, you've always seemed like a guy with whom it's probably a lot of fun to watch a game and eat some bbq.

Finally, the blogger in me says "stop by and read up!" Perhaps you will be visitor number 21,000! While in office, you provided much material for the staff here at ZiggyBackRide and for all of our visitors. It wouldn't have been the same without you. I mean, it wouldn't have been a whole lot different. But definitely a little bit.

Thanks, Mr. President, and best wishes to you and Mrs. Bush. Onward and upward!
Sincerely (I tried "Love" first, but I thought it seemed a bit much),
Z

*The flying machines formerly known as Marine One and Air Force One. When you are not the sitting President, those names are not given your transports as I understand it.
**Insert your own W Presidential Library joke here. The comedian in me thinks I'll be seeing him headlining comedy clubs all over for his speaking tour.
***If SNL should choose to revive its old Ex-Presidents cartoon shorts.

Why Wait?

This morning, I heard a local radio personality say, in reference to remembering 9/11, that "the best thing about America is how we come together when something bad happens."

I could not agree more. And less.

Our ability to unite for a common purpose is one of the wonderful things about America. The fact that we fail to do so until tragedy strikes is one of our worst qualities. Why wait?

Why not recognize that we have common wants and needs and goals and values every day? Yes, there are ideas that divide us; there are opinions about how to satisfy our needs and reach our goals about which we disagree, sometimes vehemently. But if we know that those differences won't stand in our way when it really matters, why would we let them ever stand in our way? Or why won't we recognize that it always really matters?

I have written before about the difficult beauty of America - of our incredible gifts and possibilities, and how those very things can stand in our way. Here, again, we are faced with the surprisingly difficult challenge of choosing and cherishing what is good and right, and we are challenged to do so of our own accord, without inspiration from evil-doers or mishap like we have, in so many cases, required.

When we notice a gap, now - not when the next hurricane hits - is the time to bridge it. When we encounter a wall that divides us for no reason, now - not when terrorists strike - is the time to tear it down. When families are estranged, now - and not at the next loved one's funeral - is the time to understand one another and heal.

We can come together whenever we decide we're ready. Why wait?

Welcome To The Season

Election season is here. Football season is here. ZiggyBackRide's figurative head is ready to explode with excitement.

I thought Barack Obama's address at the Democratic National Convention in Denver was perfect. I believe, more and more each day, that he is the kind of leader he says he is and is willing to truly champion the kind of change about which he speaks. Granted, I was a supporter already and this may just be convention-related euphoria, but I'm trying to see through that.

He talks about things that I believe very firmly: going beyond policy to look at what kind of person each of us is and what kind of communities we can build together; putting party aside in favor of what can really help people, make America stronger, and make the world better.

It is his glorious commitment to loftiness for which I believe we should all be striving that I anticipate will make this election season so frustrating. I have already heard commentary from people who say he's thinking too big and that lofty is nice, but you have to get things done. I'm hearing these things from people who would be first in line to say how great America is. Why, then, would they want a candidate for President of this great country to shoot for anything other than lofty? If you reach for the stars, you may not reach them, but you won't end up with a handful of dirt either. Let's not be afraid to aim high!

John McCain selected Sarah Palin, this morning, as his running mate. I look at the two of them and my first impression says they will not win. I'm looking forward to finding out more about her, though, and hearing what they both have to say next week in the Twin Cities.

My congratulations to both candidates for classy moves early on, though. We might be in for a great campaign. I hope so! We'll see over the next few months.

With all the political goings-on, there has been less time for pre-football season preparations, but the season is upon us. The Texas Longhorns play their first game tomorrow night against an upstart Florida Atlantic team who won their conference last year and whose coach recently questioned the toughness of the Longhorns. Let's get it on.

Yesterday, I went on my first football season shopping trip of the year, procuring orange food and drink for gamedays and it's all set up in front of the tv, ready for the game...



Now, I know what you must be thinking and, deep down, I know you're right. The queso is really more yellowish than orange, but I feel confident that it has something to add to the effort! No, I know what you're REALLY thinking and don't worry, I didn't leave the carrot chips sitting in front of the tv. They're in the fridge. Okay, okay, I know what you're REALLY, REALLY thinking and I think it's going to be okay. Gatorade G2 can be just as effective in helping the Horns as Diet Rite Tangerine and Diet Sunkist have been in seasons past.

For some clarification on just what on earth I'm talking about, see these previous posts.
The Adventure Begins
My Stitions ARE Super!

Triumph In Beijing

As you certainly know, the games of the XXIXth Olympiad are in full swing in Beijing and, just a few days in, there is no shortage of fantastic stories of triumph. From the USA Men's 4 X 100M Freestyle medley win over the heavily favored French at the Cube (the aquatics venue) to the USA Men's unlikely team bronze in gymnastics*, surprising moments of glory have kept viewers and fans cheering half a world away. Perhaps the greatest achievement of all, though, may be the one that has unfolded on the sand of the women's beach volleyball competition where the USA's Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh look to continue their dominance in the sport and earn their second straight Olympic gold. So far, so good for their quest to repeat as champions, as they are 2-0 in pool play. No surprise there. What then, is the real surprise of this beach volleyball competition and these Olympic Games?

The real triumph here is that someone has found a way to make women's beach volleyball "uniforms" more revealing than they already were. Truly amazing! For those that have not seen the sport, the ladies wear bikinis - appropos for a beach pasttime and certainly unencumbering for sport. Of all sports that I can think of, though, this gear offered the lease body coverage of any regulation uniform**. I caught part of last night's May-Treanor/Walsh match and was appalled*** to find that not only were they wearing white uniforms that were somewhat more transparent than your average woman might wish to wear on worldwide television, but the sides and the top of the back of the bikini bottoms were made of what appeared to be mesh of some sort. See through. I presume this allows the sides and back of the players' waistlines to breathe more during competition? I'm sure that, prior to this, the smothering of the waistline area kept many a team from reaching full potential and challenging for the gold. Kudos to those whose commitment to the comfort and performance of our athletes never wavers (though I think they may have overlooked the possibility of thong bottoms and band-aids over nipples for maximum breathability, but hey, progress can sometimes be painfully slow).


* I'm sure some other countries have had good moments, too, but while the Olympics is a time for international unity and fellowship through sport, it is also an excuse for extreme, founded or unfounded, jingoism. It's kind of fun.

** Now that swimmers have, in large part, left the old "speedo" and gone to the full body suit, but even that tiny suit had some perceived performance impact as it lessened an potential resistance the suit may cause as a swimmer traveled through the water.

*** appalled = delighted

Tread Carefully, Patriotic Ladies

On this Wacky, Wonderful Wednesday, which follows Super Tuesday, which closely follows (perhaps we need to do some adjective brainstorming)Super Sunday, it occurs to me that female supporters of Hilary Clinton who believe that all women should support Hilary Clinton should carry and act upon this belief with great care.

There are several reasons for my concern. First and foremost, no demographic distinction - gender, race, religion, sexual preference, etc. - should be THE defining characteristic of a successful political candidate. While I know well that any group may be happy to see one of its own reach new heights, women should no more support Hilary just for being a woman than Blacks should blindly support Obama, Christians Mike Huckabee, or even (and a LOT of people never even consider this one) those who consider themselves Republican or Democrat their respective party's eventual nominee. That's a fantastic way to get awful elected officials (see post from 10/4/07).

I mention women for Hilary today because I have read and heard statements, of late, accusing any woman who would vote for another candidate of being opposed to the cause of feminism. Kind of an "either you're with us or you are against us" message. This characterization is both unfair and unhealthy. Certainly someone who thinks another candidate might make a better leader for our nation is not automatically in favor of limiting the rights or potential of women.

More importantly, the next time anyone who assumes a non-Hilary-supporting female to be anti-feminist critcizes America for something, he of she had better be prepared to called unpatriotic, which is ridiculous, unfair, specifically unpatriotic, and the exact same thing.