“Whiskey production became an important part of the history of George Washington's business activities at Mount Vernon when he built a successful distillery after he left the presidency.”
Even if GW does decide to take up the ancient art of distilling grain into fine liquor (or the even older tradition of making potatoes into rotgut moonshine for drinking on the porch) we, the general public will never find out in our lifetime. Not out of the fact that no-one but his family will know about it... Oh no, but because a thing like that in the newspapers could cause serious political damage to the office of the president.
Imagine the furore that would be caused by the Russians for one. For years America laughed at their country and made thinly veiled remarks about their pisshead president as he staggered his way through speech after speech. "Good Old Boris... Smashed again..." They'd say during UN gatherings, and other summit meetings, with not even the slightest thought to whether the translator would have the savvy not to relate the very same slur to the sloshed supremo.
Now, thankfully, there's no longer a Yeltsin dancing in the Duma and no more Dunce drinking in a darkened oval office. Today, there's an ex KGB operative making sure that no more of the former Soviet Union neighbour states stray from the path and, for once, there is a decent man in charge at the White House.
I wish him all the luck in the world. He's going to need it.
3 comments:
"...and, for once, there is a decent man in charge at the White House." We shall see - time will tell. Methinks the task is too big - the expectations of the masses - almost Messiah" like - is too big.
Salagatle!
My 2c worth....the Americans (and perhaps the world) are treating his election akin to Mandela being released and put into office. The man started off great, then faded into obscurity as his term wore on. What happened when he left, as we are experiencing at the moment, is that no-one subsequently has earned the same respect the old man did, and Governmunt is now reverting back to the "gravy train" days of old...non-delivery on everything, corruption, nepotism, crime, you name it...
Let's hope the States doesn't suffer the same fall from grace...
Politicians can never gain high office without some kind of sacrifice of their values along the way. This is fact. Whether it's something small to appease a local level politico or something huge to get the backing you need in the money stakes. It still must be done.
Obama is certainly not immune to this phenomenon and only a fool would think differently. But with Obama's rise to office the same phenomenon has been reduced to the point where it doesn't matter. Any promises made in order to get him into power are now forgotten and the poulace are riding a high and fine wave of hope. Which, as we all know is a force that if used correctly can make a huge difference to the masses on the ground level.
I too hope that there is not the backlash that SA suffered (and by all accounts is still suffering) but right now, in this moment, the new President can make changes to the way of life of many thousands of people be they in New Orleans, Iraq or Palestine.
Whether these changes are taken and used for the power of good or snatched and abused by the powers of evil remains to be seen. Only time will tell on that count.
Give the man a chance and judge not the ones who follow in his footsteps for their own personal gain until they have the the office of the president in their hand and choose to abuse the power or not.
Mahalo.
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