Zach Vargo

Yesterday, President Obama threw the ceremonious first pitch at the 2009 All Star Game. This is a tradition dating back to 1910 when President Taft became the first president to throw the 1st pitch. Here is the video:

President Bush may have had the best pitch in presidential history, when throwing the first pitch after September 11, 2001. He threw a strike, but that could be because he used to own the Texas Rangers.

As you heard in recent news that US troops are pulling out of the cities in Iraq allowing the Iraqi Government to take full control of their country since before we invaded back in 2003.  Luckily, Former President Bush did not follow the Democrats plan of completely removing all US presence out of Iraq in 2008.  I wonder how Joe Biden feels since he told Bush that “complete democracy in Iraq was not possible.”

I want to thank the Bush Administration for believing in a sustainable democracy in a country once ruled by tyranny, because I know the current administration won’t.  There is still work to be done over there, but it is nice to know that Bush’s policies are making a positive impact around the world even after leaving office.  I also want to thank the troops for their courage and patriotism.  Hopefully, this will be a permanent success.

For five straight weekends, Obama has been out on the golf course.  The media’s reaction? They love it.  When Bush was golfing in 2003, the media slammed him for golfing while the troops were fighting and dying for their country.  Obama is golfing when troops are dying in GWOT, Iran is murdering protestors, and North Korea is trying to wipe the United States off the face of the Earth.  Does anyone see the problem here?

I do not criticize Obama for golfing, there is only so much he can do with current events and golf is a relaxing sport.  However, when the media becomes hypocritical, then I have a serious problem.  The media pretty much forced Bush to lay down the clubs, but now seem to be encouraging Obama to play more often.

In August 2003, Bush gave up golfing after receiving word of the United Nations headquarters was bombed in Iraq.  The media had a field day criticizing Bush for making the “huge” sacrifice in support of the troops.  Bush said, “I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.”  Veterans got angry over that statement, one even went as far as saying “Thousands of Americans have given up a lot more than golf for this war. For President Bush to imply that he somehow stands in solidarity with families of American soldiers by giving up golf is disgraceful. It’s an insult to all Americans and a slap in the face to our troops’ families.”  Honestly, what more could Bush do?  Did people expect Bush to pick up a weapon and fight on the front lines?  It was just another easy attack by the media, especially since Bush did not actually give up golfing until October 13, 2003.  It has been recorded that Bush only played 24 rounds of golf during his 8 year tenure.

As for Obama playing golf, he has gotten more than plenty of praises for it.  The Washington Post posted an article on June 9, 2009 with the headline that read “Just the Sport for A Leader Most Driven.”  Obama has played 11 rounds of golf since taking office 6 months ago.  Obama has more on his plate right now than Bush did 6 years ago.  With all the threats from Iran and North Korea along with the wars we are already fighting, he still finds time to grab his clubs and hit the course.  

Our media should be fair and balanced, but of course they give all of their efforts to praise Obama.  The hypocrisy is becoming even more sickening.  I honestly do not think that a President playing golf should even be considered as a media topic.  I am sure that being our nation’s leader is a pretty stressful and hectic job, and they should be allowed to take a vacation or time out of their busy schedules to relax and clear their heads.  Constantly being under stress starts clouding your judgement and we do not need a leader who breaks downs during a critical time.  It is good that the media stands behind our president, but shouldn’t it stand behind ALL of our presidents? I am also curious as to why Obama gets a lot of credit?  

http://thenationalscene.com/media-critical-obamas-golf-trips-par/comment-page-1/#comment-76

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/nation/media-cheers-obamas-golf-outings-but-used-to-criticized-bushs-trips-to-the-course

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/15/georgebush.usa

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/13/bush-i-gave-up-golf-for-t_n_101595.html

http://forthardknox.com/2009/06/25/golf-obama-vs-bush/

During an interview with CNBC, a fly persistently flew around the President’s head. Naturally, President Obama shooed it away, but it kept coming back. So the President decided to swat and kill the pest. It was a nice slap, especially since he got the little bugger on the first attempt. Now PETA is disappointed with the President for not showing “compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals.” As for future encounters with the common house fly, PETA is sending the Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher so that no more flies will be killed by Obama’s wrath.

I really think PETA is going overboard with being kind to all living things, but at least they did not resort to their radical measures that are most commonly associated with the organization. House flies are not endangered and would be dead within 20 or 30 days anyway. Also, the President was trying to have a serious interview and having a fly buzzing around your head would be very distracting. Although I do not agree with the President on most things, I do have agree that was an impressive swat.