Mr. President, Take Time to Walk Your Dog
April 18th, 2009 . by economistmom
No clever reference to the federal budget or economic policy; here I mean (or rather, columnist Colbert I. King means) a literal walk of the president’s literal new dog, Bo. (Non-dog-lovers, don’t even bother reading on…)
Within his first 100 days in the White House, President Obama has made several critical decisions that will live with him for some time to come: an unprecedented economic stimulus package, the bailout of the nation’s financial industry, a surge of 21,000 troops into Afghanistan.
But none of his decisions comes closer to being a life-changing experience than the choice that he and his wife, Michelle, made to bring a dog into the White House…
A more steadfast friend the president will never have. The same for his family. As a dog owner, I know.
Now, it won’t always be bouquets of happiness. Dogs do things that most people don’t.
Some dogs will eat anything. Like, for example, my mother’s nylon stocking. Or a $10 bill.
And when they have to go, they have to go.
A friendly word to the president: Don’t leave the job of walking Bo exclusively to your wife and girls.
Commander in chief, world leader, master of all you survey — that you may be. But when Bo needs a trip to the South Lawn, put world peace on hold, sir, and take that dog for a walk.
You can be sure he’ll be there walking by your side when, as Walter Winchell once said, “the rest of the world walks out.”
A president’s performance is, to a large extent, a function of the quality of his advisers, as well his own common sense. I am therefore deeply troubled by Obama’s decision (as the ultimate “decider” if I may borrow that elegant term from our exceptionally eloquent 43rd president) to name his dog “Bo”.
Monosyllabic dog names are, in general, poor choices, because they are much more difficult for the dog to distinguish from other speech. A monosyllabic name that sounds similar to “no” is particularly bad.
What is even more troubling to me than Obama’s failure to apply common sense in making this decision is the absence or or failure of advisers to alert him and guide him on this matter.
This matter is deeply, deeply unsettling, unnerving, troubling, horrifying! Or…well, maybe just an inconsequential pet peeve of mine (pardon the pun).
By the way, I once “met” a dog whose lower legs had reddish fur. His name was “Boston”, chosen, the owner explained, because the dog had “Red Sox”. Awesome.
Brooks: good point on the problem with the name “Bo” which rhymes with “No” which is definitely going to make for a confused doggie (or one with a serious complex). It’s sort of like how Obama’s ideas on fiscal responsibility always turn out to be better in theory (talking of the need for “shared sacrifice,” the “common good,” and “living within our means”) than in practice (the measly $100 million in cost savings announced today as one example). I assume “Bo” came from the President’s own initials. Sort of like how the “Bush tax cuts” will become the “Obama tax cuts” now; he’s just putting his name on everything.
Diane,
If his initials really were the basis for the name, that would be the worst case of impractical naming narcissim since George Foreman names all his five sons “George”
ok, apparently Foreman has nicknames for them all, and anyway I really shouldn’t pick on a guy who had the guts to go toe-to-toe with me a few years ago http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Hga_UiJ5KoU/SJVOnJAVpTI/AAAAAAAAAA4/_bv-7ShSm7k/s1600-h/George+Foreman+high+res.jpg
Re: the discrepancy between Obama’s talk and action (so far) on the fiscal front, I’ve been meaning to applaud you for maintaining objectivity and a single standard for commentary (and criticism) of the president regardless of party or individual. Your evenhandedness is an oasis in the desert of hyperpartisanship in the blogosphere and in political discourse in America generally. Three cheers for EconomistMom!
Brooks: wow–awesome photo! I like how he’s sitting and you’re standing, so you look much bigger (if not tougher) than him!
And thanks for your cheers; I hope my Obama Admin friends understand that it’s nothing personal–just very genuine bewilderment about their fiscal policy strategy.
thanks Diane. The pic was at the big annual automotive aftermarket trade show (AAPEX) in Vegas. I was there with a client (marketing strategy consulting work). And for the record, I am indeed much tougher than George Foreman. He was shakin’ in his…well, in his chair