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The President’s Press Conference

Well you have to hand it to the guy. Our President is wicked smart, articulate and very careful about the words he chooses (almost all the time). He and the American people are having a love affair with each other (mostly) and this is now his third prime-time talk to us in the first 100 days, which he and his staff decried as a “Hallmark holiday” but then spent two weeks celebrating. In his first four years in office, President Clinton gave a total of two prime-time speeches.

Whether you agree or disagree with his policies and direction, and it is clear that more than a few disagree, we all need our President at certain times. With regard to the swine flu, which for some reason has been renamed with letters and numbers (does that make us less concerned?), so far I think he is doing a very good job of increasing our vigilance and preparation without panicking anyone. Yet. He even complimented the Bush Administration for putting so much Tamiflu on ice in case of an event like this. But clearly the government is very worried. When the President of the United States needs to remind us to wash our hands, and then also says a school should consider closing if it has even one case, this is a real concern – especially for us here in NY which for the moment seems to be the epicenter of infection.

As to other stuff, many believe that energy, health care and education should be the top priorities of government while also trying to stabilize the economy. Others focus more on defense and shrinking government. To me, energy is one of those things both sides should be able to work on. We all want to eliminate dependence on foreign oil. We don’t always agree on how to get there, but pretty much all agree that alternative energies are a good thing. So for bipartisanship, Mr. President, maybe move there?