Here are President Barack Obama, with Vice President Joe Biden, attending a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Dec. 12, 2013.
This image scares me a little. I don’t see contemplation, I see menace.
It’s interesting, how I’ve disliked different presidents different ways.
The first president about whom I formed a grownup opinion was Nixon. In the midst of the circus of his eventual resignation, I was grateful to him for saving my life in the 1973 war.
I shared the common opinion that President Ford was a hack and a boob. I’ll never forget his debate answer about free Poland (in 1976), and those Chevy Chase pratfalls.
I loathed Carter. Still do. Possibly the worst American president.
Had a two-tier relationship with Reagan: loved his sense of humor, pulled my hair out as he started the ruination of the middle class and founded Al Qaeda (for all intents and purposes).
Disliked Bush 1.
Same two-tier relationship with Clinton as with Reagan: liked his personality, watched helplessly as he exported American prowess to East Asia.
Felt ashamed that Bush 2 was my president.
Now I’m so conflicted about Obama. I was moved to tears by his Philadelphia speech on race, following the Rev. right thing. went out to celebrate with my daughter the night he was elected. Now I’m watching him taking down the Middle East and messing up his one achievement of note, the healthcare bill. But most of all I fear that he is now my enemy, together with his double digit IQ secretary of State.