ASPIRIN ANYONE?

Bad hangover from this week and college football. Big mob in town and too much tailgating. But my hangover can't be any thing like the one that I am sure is affecting The Leader this monday. It seems as though everyone in the world is prepared to kick him in the head, the latest being his Generals, one of whom is his hand-picked replacement for a four-star he forced into retirement 'cause he wasn't getiin' it done in Afghanistan. So, in the past couple of weeks the poor guy flopped in the UN, got out-speeched by an Israeli, got He With The Hottest First Lady pissed off at him in public (A Frenchman for God Sakes!), messed up at the G-20, got suckered by the Russians, dumped on by the Iranians, stiffed by the Chinese, and of all things, discovered that Lula is a better Ward Healer than he is...not to mention than along with the Olympics the Cubbies aint gonna win nutttin' this year either. Not a good couple of weeks. I'm still waiting for a report from Istanbul but initial impressions seem to be ugly now that we have just gaven up effective control of the IMF who once again is in fairy coo-coo land as to their importance in Great Scheme of Things instead of wondering if their is a real job for any or all of their bureaucrats out there. I wont even mention health care, economic numbers or jobless claims.

I'm not reveling in this because this is not the time to have an embattled CEO. Now I know he's of the opinion that it would be better if We All Just Got Along, but my old friend Jimmy (you remember him?) used to say, "In times like this, a SOB is needed and since I am most qualified, let me assume the role." There is, as the pols like to say, "slippage" and we are not out of the woods by a long shot. My Brit friend who just left explained it rather well. "Charlie," he said. "You understand why we like this guy don't you? It's because all of us out there didn't like being occasionally reminded that you wouldn't mind making things a bit awkward if it suited your purpose and we damn well knew you had the ability to do so." This guy appears neither to have the inclination nor the ability. We like that."

I responded that may be all well and good but that "leader of the Free World" stuff was occasionally useful and told him about my friend, Jimmy.

"Ah yes, old boy, but you see we don't mind waiting for things to work themselves out by themselves."
"Suppose they don't work themselves out very well?"
"Well then, we guess you'll just have to sort it out."
"What!"
'Oh do get along, Charlie, you know that's the way we think and feel. Much more comfortable not focusing on our small inadequacies. And think of it, if it stays mucked up we can blame you as well!"

Thinking of it is making my teeth hurt. I'm going to take another two aspirins. Damn Brits.