Joshua Dubois: What the President secretly did at Sandy Hook Elementary School | Vox Populi

[TygrBright]

5. With a few rare exceptions...

...(Jimmy Carter and GW both come to mind, for polar opposite reasons) the office of President is pretty much a guarantee that you'll take lifespan-shortening physical damage from the stress of the office.

That doesn't just mean making difficult life-or-death decisions affecting others directly and immediately, nor does it mean just the many, many compromises you'll be forced to make with your own conscience and values, in order to ensure lesser evils or marginal progress.

It means being the one who stands and salutes the flag-draped coffins, the one who tours the disaster sites and sees firsthand the devastation, knowing that there are no resources in the world that can undo, and precious few to stave off the next.

And it means being a role model, 24-7, knowing that virtually every gesture and action and choice will be scrutinized in countless ways by those who hate you and everything you stand for, as well as those trying to use you to advance their own agendas.

And, sometimes, it means bringing the charisma of the office and the aura of power attached to it to do the best you can healing real hurting people, even though charisma and aura are precious little in the face of horror.

President Obama shirks none of these responsibilities.

I can respect that, even while I disagree with some of the compromises he's chosen.

sadly,
Bright