He's got to be kidding
That's all we need... ANOTHER Bush in the White House. The decider has got to be joking. Doesn't he realize his approval ratings are in the toilet? I mean, that's quite a fall!
Geoffrey Chaucer is Pure Genius
And a happy May Day to you!
I woke up early on Saturday and spent the afternoon watching the Royal Shakespeare Company's brilliant performance of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales at the Kennedy Center.
As I walked from Dupont Circle to the theater I couldn't help but regret having to sit indoors on an afternoon with a cloudless blue sky and gentle breeze. I toyed with the idea of skipping the performance altogether -- though the tickets cost $65 per seat.
And that's how I ended up in the balcony, bent over laughing, and savoring every moment of the three-hour matinee performance. It was fantastic!
I saw Part I and am now in desperate search of extra tickets to Part II to enjoy my favorite tale of all -- the "Wife of Bath."
Then I spent the rest of the weekend helping a friend with some editing assignments and installing - uninstalling-installing virus protection software on my laptops.
And that's how I spaced out on the Darfur Rally on the Mall to hear speeches by Elie Wiesel and George Clooney.
Though I am really grateful my computers are once again in tip-top shape and behaving properly. Those sacrifices I made to the computer gods paid off.
I really must learn not to completely freak out when my laptops have technical difficulties.
And with that thought, I hope you all make time to run outside on this glorious May Day and enjoy the weather while it lasts.
It's About Time
Scott McClellan resigned his position today as White House Press Secretary. Anyone the Bush administration appoints to the position will be better than poor Scott.
My friends and I often argued about whether McClellan was the worst press secretary in the history of communications or one of the best.
In the face of telling bald-faced lies to the White House press corps, he remained loyal to the party line. Never budging. Even when he looked completely ridiculous.
That he remained in the position for 2 1/2 years is a testament to his strategy of repeating the same line over and over and over again.
His performances during his press gaggles reminded me of one of my first jobs.
My boss told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to control the message during a controversial event. A bigname speaker was part of the conference and I knew the reporters would want to ask him about his latest research on a cancer drug... which had little to nothing to do with the event.
I was not suave. I was not coy. I did not throw the reporters a bone. I handled the press like Scott McClellan handled the White House press corps. Unyielding. Stubbornly repeating the same information... paraphrasing one line over and over and over again.
The reporters hated me. My boss hated me for being so obvious and appearing like I was hiding something. And I hated me for -- in effect -- sticking with "No comment."
(I groan inwardly every time I remember that turning point.)
I learned some valuable lessons that day -- learned to trust my judgment and to trust the journalists covering the story. I also gained a deeper understanding of my role as information gatekeeper and facilitator.
But that was nine years ago.
I'm not surprised that McClellan is leaving. I can only say it's about time.
