Dear Mr. President,
I just wanted to drop you a quick line, just share a few of my loose thoughts with you, American to American, citizen to citizen. I hope that’s all right with you.

You know, yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. You DO remember that, don’t you? ‘Member how you slapped ya boy, “The Horse Whisperer” on the back and said, “You’re doing a hellavu job Brownie!”. ‘Member?

Well, let me start by saying that I hate that there are anniversaries of things like Hurricane Katrina, 911, etc. I really do. Anniversaries are meant to be happy occasions and I’m sorry – I just can’t find my happy place.

So, I was listening to a radio show yesterday and Mayor Ray Nagin was on air. (News teams reported that he went out of his way NOT to share the stage with you. Ain’t that about a blip?) He said he had dinner with you the night before so people asked him what you had to say about Hurricane Katrina and the “progress” that’s been made. (I put “progress” in quotes because I mean it to be facetious… ironic– I mean it to be funny.). The mayor says he’s come to the conclusion that this situation is bigger than you, that it’s bigger than what you as president can fix. Please, please, please tell me that it ain’t so. I just need you to say the words.

Do you know what pains me the most about his words? About this being bigger than you as president can fix? That as the President of the United States, as the Leader of one of the richest countries in the world, as “The DECIDER”, you don’t have enough polish to simply FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT. That is a painful realization Mr. President. As much as I abhor dislike the sentiment of “Fake it till you make it”, the fact that you might not be able to pull that off is frightening. Lawd, that makes you look like the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy pulled back that curtain. Jesus take the wheel! And the white house! (Sidenote: I do have a theory that there was more than one scarecrow in Oz looking for a brain. That’s just my take on things. *shrug*)

Oh, excuse me Mr. President. Now. Where was I? Ok, now I know this isn’t EXACTLY the same thing but let’s go with this analogy…um, let’s “pretend”. I worked as a project manager for many years. I was fortunate in that, I had tremenedously qualified resources who were actually in charge of doing the work. That made my job so much easier. I didn’t have to know the details – I just had to know who did, empower them to do their jobs, and fight sporadic fires. Even though my former employer and I eventually “divorced”, they cannot deny that having the right people in the right positions was the way to go. I’m just saying. It might have worked for you too.

I know, fine time for me to tell you, huh? Well, I was a little preoccupied what with outsourcing, being laid off, fighting to pay for healthcare, donating to care packages for troops, Jena 6 (and no it’s NOT a new video game) and so on. You know – just another day in the life of the little guy.

Oh yeah, I wanted to ask this question. I know you’re adamant about not pulling troops out of Iraq, saying we can’t leave the country like that, that we have to take care of their infrastructure. So, um, not to be mean or anything Mr. President but what ‘bout New Orleans? What about the infrastructure there? Why is it that the levees won’t be completely rebuilt until 2011 and even then, they won’t save the city from another Category 5 storm? What about the infrastructure of the bridges in this country? What about…well, you get my point.

Well, I don’t wanna take up too much more of your time. I know you’re busy what with people dropping out of your cabinet like dead flies and what-not. Oh before I go, I noticed that while the country’s attention was on “Katrina – 2 Years Later”, “unknown sources” leaked that you were going to ask for another $50 million for Iraq. They say that will bring our average spending in Iraq to $3 billion/week. I don’t know if anybody else caught that but I heard it LOUD & CLEAR. Oh well, you just gotta love those “news leaks” and their impeccable timing.

Anywho, I just wanted to put that little bug in your ear. Calm down Mr. Decider – it’s just a saying! Dang!

Signed,
Just an ordinary citizen

*~* QUOTABLE *~*

“I’m going to try to see if I can remember as much to make it sound like I’m smart on the subject.” –George W. Bush, answering a question about a possible flu pandemic, Cleveland, July 10, 2007

“This process has been drug out a long time, which says to me it’s political.” –George W. Bush, discussing the controversy surrounding Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, Sofia, Bulgaria, June 11, 2007

“My attitude is, if they’re still writing about (number) one, 43 doesn’t need to worry about it.” –George W. Bush, on his legacy, Tipp City, Ohio, April 19, 2007