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The Boundlessness of Crazy
Absolutely crazy.
The world changed forever after the horrific attacks occurring on 9/11. In fact, it’s surreal just how much the world seemed to change on a dime following that heart-wrenching September morning. But that’s a much longer post for another day. Along with New York City, Washington D.C. forever altered its security protocols, procedures and precautions after that day. Traveling to, driving and walking around our nation’s capital pre-9/11 and post 9/11 have been starkly different experiences. The former felt relatively open and relaxing while the latter has felt armed and distant.
And that’s okay, because we are not fighting another country, but Islamic extremists who cowardly attack using disguised guerrilla warfare. The war is not with the collective, but the individual. Accordingly, the proper defense demands acute awareness at all times.
Or so we thought.
Reading reports and watching videos that reenacted the White House intruder’s path has been mind-boggling. How in the hell did this happen? It’s more difficult to steal a book at Barnes and Noble than it is to enter the front door of The White House with a knife in hand and then run from room to room looking for the President of the United States of America. Think about that! The intruder, Omar Gonzalez, was one turn away from the stairs that lead up to the first family’s living quarters.
So, somebody in the secret service please remind us: If you’re not even going to lock the front door or even guard the outer perimeter of The White House, the most important building and symbol in the nation, then what’s been with all the extra security all these years? This is just another instance of when people are again forced to answer the question of, “can you believe this happened?” with “actually, yes, yes I can.” I was in Washington, D.C. this past Monday afternoon and stood with a group of tourists behind extra barricades to The White House across the street from the iconic St. Johns Church. Looking around, it’s still inconceivable how someone could jump the fence, run across the lawn and then into The White House.
And this is only the tip of the iceberg with the Secret Service and this is all combined with the myriad of domestic and global events the past few years that are causing the world to spin out of control with increasing lack of trust in vital institutions and people. But if this of all things happened, what can we possibly expect to take place next? The world continues to get more and more nonsensical. Things are just crazy.
Absolutely crazy.
The Art of Compromise
Donald Trump offers to get the American public inside the White House for tours during the next several months while the person who sits at the head of the table is President Barack Obama. What?
A recent Newt Gingrich tweet read, “Donald trump should offer to pay for the white house tours. He can afford it and it would show who cares more for American students.”
CNN reported that while taking part in an interview over the phone with Fox & Friends, “The Donald” responded to the tweet with, “I think it’s so nice of Newt to suggest that.” He added, “But it sounds reasonable to me. Why not?”
Donald Trump, who repeatedly criticizes the president, is willing to write checks for $74,000/week, or $2 million for the necessary seven months (according to the U.S. Secret Service), to the United States government. The federal government is run by the same President Obama who, in response to enduring Trump’s constant critiques, made direct and equally cheeky retorts to the aforementioned billionaire business mogul at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2011. This seemingly bizarre offer would mean that the American people could again visit and regularly take tours of the White House currently occupied by a man Trump politically opposes in Mr. Obama.
As a famous Ohioan once said, “Only in America!”
Despite any preconceived notions people may have towards Mr. Trump, they do have to applaud his offer. He is willing to spend his own money earned in the private sector to fund the over-spent and temper tantrum throwing public sector for the good of the country. It is strange though how he puts his name over everything since he wasn’t the one who actually built his company over all these years…the nerve right!
“It’s certainly not a lot of money. The big thing is that the country is going to lose a trillion dollars this year,” he said. “Closing the White House tours is not exactly the biggest thing on the agenda.”
Picture Donald Trump funding the White House tours and for his second act sets-up signs, posters and advertisements of all shapes and sizes around the entire perimeter of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue promoting, “White House Tours, courtesy of Donald Trump.” There would be gold for as far as the eye can see with John Rich, Omarosa and Bret Michaels handing out Trump gift bags while happily mingling with the visitors.
It would be “terrific!” (It could even become the season finale of the next Celebrity Apprentice…ratings-ratings-ratings!)
Trump, who has built an empire synonymous with opulence, extravagance and the color gold, would give back to the American public on vacation in our nation’s capital and countless 8th graders on their annual class trips the joy of experiencing “the people’s house.”
Actually, this would provide America’s students with a great lesson combining political science with physics: one political stunt will generate an equal and opposite political stunt.
Forget dinners, this would get President Obama to sincerely negotiate with the Republicans. Americans would win with paid-for White House tours and the president would finally witness firsthand the power and positive influence of the private sector.
Donald Trump for the win.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 