Well, its been some time since I posted on this, my BLOG, but I must offer that it was not because there was not much to record or post – my world is so interesting, exciting, and family-oriented that I’ve just been soaking up the sun, rain, and snow of recent weeks, chomping at the bit to get into a golf groove for this, my 50th year in golf.
Still, I’m a news junkie and always keep my ear, eye, and nose to all things political, and so, this post causes me to see the convergence of two events (one about golf, the other about politics), and how the two might be related, and, therefore, appropriate for my BLOG.
If you’ve been paying attention to our new president’s efforts at executive leadership, you cannot be unmindful of his inexperience, insensitivity, and his incredible addiction to his teleprompter when addressing either the press, his cabinet, members of congress from his White House office, and the American people. When he is ‘off’ the teleprompter, the president’s speech delivery is peppered with um’s, ah’s, uh’s, and’s, and on and on – it is really painful to listen to him when he’s ‘off’ the teleprompter. (For the record, it’s also painful for me to listen to him with his prepared teleprompter speeches since they are inaccurate, accusatory, mischaracterizations, and, sometimes, and, yes, partisan.)
But, you must note, this post is also about the golf swing of Charles Barkley. What a sight to see! What a painful display of uncoordinated physicality! Usually golfers of different abilities will try to emulate another golfer’s swing in some form or fashion for the purpose of improving their own swing. But the recent publicity of Barkley’s tragic golf swing only reminds me of Obama’s fits and starts at presidential leadership. How so, you may query?
Well, Obama’s embarrassing efforts at gift-giving with the British prime minister (specially constructed desk writing set versus 25 DVD movies) reflected a keen lack of attention to detail or callous disregard for propriety that somewhat angered the Brits. Also, Obama’s flip-flopping on his so-call economic recovery strategy is tragic in its insensitivity to investors of every level. Then, there are the Wednesday night parties in the White House, including ‘conga lines’, noisy bands blaring into the night (keeping nearby city residents up late)-- well, that’s just not presidential, really.
And, Barkley’s golf swing, by comparison, shows a golfer trying to ‘look’ at the ball while he is swinging by literally lowering his head fully 18 inches, and just as he lowers his head, he stops his swing in mid-swing, then starts his swing again! In his relationship to the ball, he has moved several times. How could he ever hit the ball even reasonably close to a golf shot? He can’t and he won’t.
Do you now see how the two events coincide? It does not matter to me, folks, what Barkley’s political interest may be – it does matter that his trouble with the golf swing is serious and, maybe, corrective. Obama’s challenge with executive authority, delegation, and decision-making is serious and is very much imbedded in his presidency. Perhaps Barkley will cure his golf swing with professional help. Can Obama cure his short-comings in presidential leadership and ability? I don’t think so. How could he? The job does not lend itself to on-the-job training, really.
So, we must continue to watch the political scene – I can’t wait to vote against Obama again. I can’t wait to play my next round of golf and forget about Barkley’s golf swing, too!
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