The Fading ‘W’
I didn’t know what to expect when I saw this cartoon from Bob Engelhart, a cartoonist for one of my state’s papers, but it displays precisely what I’ve been seeing since shortly after the election. Lame ducks happen after every president-changing election. So obviously, as a lame duck, President Bush’s power is limited, but I think it still says something when the most mentioned names these days besides Barack Obama are Hank Paulson and Ben Bernanke. The last I heard anything from him was at the economic summit…and I suppose the turkey pardoning.
Lets face it. Since being elected, nobody has really cared what George Bush thinks about the economy. As the incoming president, everybody wants to hear what Barack Obama is going to do. Is he for bailing out the automakers (he is)? Is he going to support raised taxes on businesses (one report says the windfall oil tax is going buy buy)? And what about the small folks? Is there going to be a stimulus package and how much will it be?
So, officially, George W. Bush may still be president (as Obama likes to point out), but if you want to know what the government is going to do with the economy after January 20, Barack Obama is the guy to look at.
There is something supremely ironic with one post suggest GW is irrelevant followed by another post that questions his administration activist intervention into the economy.
Maybe what lame ducks should do is announce a lame duck cabinet but announce each new member once a week to remain in the press spotlight.
Every 4 - 8 years the “fading lame duck” story always seems to be so much a self-fulfilling prophecy. Loads of stories on the incoming presidents possible then actual cabinet and further stories about possible policy changes. And then occasionally a page 10 story about how the lame duck seems to be so unimportant.
I got a better idea, lets make Sarah Palin Bush spokesperson for the last month. that will get more press!!!