Politicians: Real and Fake

I watched Attorney General Alberto Gonzales yesterday as he calmly responded to calls for his resignation by people such as Sen. Chuck Schumer, and it reminded me of something that bothers me a lot. I can't stand listening to politicians and political appointees as they deliver prepared remarks or "talking points."

Enemies of President Bush want Gonzales out of the Justice Department because they think there was "politics" involved in the recent dismissal of some U.S. attorneys. Well, folks, the appointing of U.S. attorneys IS political! The president has absolute authority to hire and fire government employees whenever he feels like it. Bill Clinton fired EVERY U.S. attorney when he became president. Not 8 attorneys, but ALL OF THEM! He had every right to do so.

I wish Gonzales would have stood at the podium yesterday and told Schumer, Hillary Clinton, and their cronies to take a long walk off of a short pier. But Gonzales kept his cool and was professional. I suppose that's the correct thing to do, but it drives me nuts.

Remember Michael Douglas as the president in "The American President"? He unexpectedly walked into the White House Press Room during a press update and verbally ripped his opponent (played by Richard Dreyfuss) to shreds on camera. While I didn't agree whatsoever with the character's politics, I wanted to jump up and cheer what he had just done. His opponent was an obnoxious idiot and needed to be put in his place. I wish so much that elected officials would throw away the prepared speeches and just say what's truly on their mind.

Wouldn't it be funny to watch a mild-mannered man like President Bush lose his cool and unleash a verbal onslaught directed at a critic? Either our jaws would drop, we would fall out of our chair, or drive off the road! I'm willing to take the risk just to see it happen once in my life.