Stan Geiger

Obama's Yawner

I tried to watch the Obama Show the other night. Seriously, I tried. But I'm afraid I dosed off before the end came. Maybe I've sat through too many platitude fests. They offer nothing to me anymore.

The media, and much of the public, seem to hold Obama up as some kind of intellectual giant and great speech maker. I find him neither. I find him boring.

Obama has this thing he does that really annoys me. He makes a statement then stands with his nose in the air as he receives his applause. That's body language. That's body language that says this: I'm better than you. I'm the great one, with wisdom unfathomable to the mere mortal. Do as I say without question.

I hate that.

Part of the show, of course, had to do with the two clapping monkeys seated behind the prez. I found them somewhat annoying as well. They smiled, applauded, got up and sat down, all the while, no doubt, thinking only of the taxpayer-provided after-party, complete with French champagne and caviar.

Obama made one comment, before my nap, that caught my attention. He said it was time for colleges and universities to "get serious" about making higher education more affordable. That brief statement---though 20 years overdue---was appreciated.

The problem is, the president is calling for the hogs to withdraw from the feeding trough voluntarily. And that ain't gonna happen.

Professors, administrators and coaches aren't going to give up fat salaries and lavish benefits just because somebody shoots some lip; they aren't going to give up the good life just to bring tuition into line with reason. They will have to be forced.

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