if you listen to NPR during your waking hours, while you brush your teeth or drive to work, you know his voice. it is a smooth and low thing, sincere with a hint of wit. he probably has a great laugh, held in check by a calm demeanor or a substantial professionalism. you can hear him every weekday morning, giving you the headlines or introducing correspondents, and you would never imagine that he might be a litte angry these days. okay, maybe not angry, but certainly concerned and rightfully so.
We call him “Mr. President.” It is NPR policy never to refer to an incumbent President by last name only. He is “President Bush” or “Mr. Bush” — but never just “Bush.” Yet he is not a king. He is a citizen temporarily serving us, living in our house, drawing our pay, spending our money and acting in our name. We have the right and, yes, the duty, to expect him to perform at a high standard. If we don’t do this, we’re performing below the standard that should be expected of us.
from a speech made by bob edwards at the university of kentucky. give it a read and see what you think. look at his take on the engineered banning of chicks, the triviality of modern news, the sparcity of presidential new conferences and the way life was just before september 11, 2001. then when you’re done, check and see if you’re not more than just a little angry too.
