say goodnite george - remember the nixon
some 30+ years ago, i stood at fisherman's wharf in san francisco with a happy crowd celebrating the exit of richard nixon from public life, the presidency and washington. i suspect that's the first time i truly began to understand the word 'bittersweet'. there seemed to be some at least poetic justice to nixon's exit in disgrace. but actually nixon's own words in an earlier exit told more than we wanted to hear.
nixon did leave us with his mess not to return until a public appearance in little ol enid, oklahoma, in support of outgoing governor henry bellmon. my political junkie father took my mother to that event even tho he was an adamant and lifelong democrat. enid and northwest oklahoma had been the red state portion of oklahoma before it became a statewide phenomenon. enid was the home base of my mother's side of the family and the only small town i visited regularly during my childhood.
[the only 'citation' i could find for the event: http://paperson.blogspot.com/]
fast forward to this day in history when george bush continues to make his own version of a cheesy exit that for me is both satisfying and irritating. he has done badly and left a terrible legacy for his successor. but i and some others have lost the special joy of sharing our distaste for him. we will no longer be able to enjoy the wonders of the jokes about him that the new technology gave us. they and he now pass into the artifact stage of history and our individual selves. my original intention was to offer a few last humorous images of him. but at this moment that seems as unnecessary and inappropriate as pursuing the crimes he and his folks committed against us all. face it friends we simply won't have george bush to kick around anymore
some 30+ years ago, i stood at fisherman's wharf in san francisco with a happy crowd celebrating the exit of richard nixon from public life, the presidency and washington. i suspect that's the first time i truly began to understand the word 'bittersweet'. there seemed to be some at least poetic justice to nixon's exit in disgrace. but actually nixon's own words in an earlier exit told more than we wanted to hear.
'I leave you gentleman now and you will write it. You will interpret it. That's your right. But as I leave you I want you to know — just think how much you're going to be missing. You won't have Nixon to kick around any more, ...' press conference after losing the election for governor of
california, (7 november 1962)
nixon did leave us with his mess not to return until a public appearance in little ol enid, oklahoma, in support of outgoing governor henry bellmon. my political junkie father took my mother to that event even tho he was an adamant and lifelong democrat. enid and northwest oklahoma had been the red state portion of oklahoma before it became a statewide phenomenon. enid was the home base of my mother's side of the family and the only small town i visited regularly during my childhood.
[the only 'citation' i could find for the event: http://paperson.blogspot.com/]
fast forward to this day in history when george bush continues to make his own version of a cheesy exit that for me is both satisfying and irritating. he has done badly and left a terrible legacy for his successor. but i and some others have lost the special joy of sharing our distaste for him. we will no longer be able to enjoy the wonders of the jokes about him that the new technology gave us. they and he now pass into the artifact stage of history and our individual selves. my original intention was to offer a few last humorous images of him. but at this moment that seems as unnecessary and inappropriate as pursuing the crimes he and his folks committed against us all. face it friends we simply won't have george bush to kick around anymore
Labels: enid, life after bush, my father, obama, oklahoma
posted by barry at
12:13 PM
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