Bush Balks Again

For almost 100 years it has been a tradition for American Presidents to throw out the first pitch to open the major league baseball season. The picture to the left is of George Bush making his pitch in 2005. As his popularity has plunged, Bush has become more fearful of appearing in truly public settings, not wanting to hear the rising chorus of boos from the crowd. Last year Bush sent Cheney, who fortunately did not have the firepower to injure any errant targets with his attempt at an opening pitch. This year, with 13 openers on schedule, Bush and Cheney both balked.

If Bush could have followed his preferred photo op practice, the stadium would have been cleared of all but a couple dozen pre-screened fans standing on bleachers installed behind the pitcher’s mound, where the camera could catch them in the background as the dapperly uniformed Bush wound up and released. The perimeter would be secured by scores of secret service agents and the air space protected for miles around by squadrons of fighter aircraft, none of which would ever be shown on screen.

John McCain just had a Bush style photo op in Baghdad, strolling in his protective vest with a couple soldiers and pronouncing how the media is not telling the true story of how safe it is now to wander around that city. But if the cameras pulled back, we would see a hundred heavily armed soldiers clearing the way and intensely guarding him, while overhead three Blackhawk helicopters and two Apache gun ships secured his air space.

The first quarter2007 campaign contributions reports show McCain only in third place in the Republican league, trailing frontrunner Romney by $8.5 million. Many people were surprised that Romney took in almost $21 million, but considering his background and contacts in financial circles, I think it was to be expected. Hilary appears to have led the Democratic league and the majors with $26 million, but Obama has delayed releasing his numbers for a few days as part of his messianic image building.

Bush continues to have trouble getting hits against the pitching of the Supreme Court, even with the two friendly relievers he added to their roster. Yesterday they struck him out on his attempts to let the EPA take a walk on environmental protection. In fact as this NPR report explains, the courts have been doing quite a bit to protect the environment from Bush.

Bush has one more baseball season in the White House before his contract expires. On opening day 2008, if he again avoids the pitcher’s mound, the crowd should go to the White House and give him the thunderous chorus of boos he so definitely deserves - as a prelude to his eventual enshrinement in the Presidential Hall of Shame.