Friday, April 26, 2013

A Moment of Silence, Attended by Fanfare

Derangement meets cynicism. From Politico, President Obama and the politics of kitsch:
Tuesday morning, a peculiar announcement trickled out of the White House press office: President Barack Obama would be holding a moment of silence for the victims of the Boston bombings. At the White House. By himself.
No press or other intruders allowed. Except the White House photographer. 
Nothing more than the president's sentiment is necessary, because nothing can exceed it. Perfection cannot be perfected. The tragedy is less significant than the great one's recognition of it. We're way beyond kissing babies in this country. This is getting weird.
So I guess it's inconceivable anyone will sit the One down to explain to him the whole point of a moment of silence is, well, silence. I wonder: what would an Oval Office intervention look like, anyway?

2 comments:

Big Bill said...

I wish someone would take a picture of these photo-ops. Does he have a hairdresser comb his hair? Blot his brow? Does the photographer direct him to stand in front of the American flag, or perhaps in front of the window for better ethereal (perhaps apotheotic) glow? Maybe he tells the president the look in his eyes seemed a "bit angry in the first shot", and "could he make his eyes wetter", or perhaps wrinkle his chin to look moved. Does the president get a contact sheet of all the different moment of silence pictures and get to pick which one he wants circulated to the press? Does his dresser make sure to lay out a humble, but funereal suit? Or maybe tell him to roll down his sleeves and button them ("its a bit too casual, Mr. President")?

Dennis Dale said...

Maybe he should hire this guy.

"...that's it...you're an icon! You're a great, civil-rights icon! Now the Denzel look...knit your brow a little...good, good...you're a runaway slave! You're Morgan Freeman as MLK...oh, you're making me cry, Mr. President, I'm getting that chill-up-the-leg...and one more...and I'm spent."

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