Goodbye, Genius

So our almost-gone president is giving his final address to the nation. Here are some thoughts, as he speaks...

Here he is, getting a hand from some people who like him.

Same smug smirk as always, hopefully for one of the last times.

He's got a thankful heart, so that's nice. His right eye is a little squinty. Now he's giving thanks to some people. Oh! Including me! And my prayers!

And here comes the 9/11 talk. I'm glad he remembers this. He keeps saying, "I remember." Yeah, I remember, too, and I remember that you're a douche.

No debate about the results? Not so sure about that one, buddy boy.

Freedom is a gift from Almighty God, and we all believe it. He said so.

This is all rather smug. He's doing a good job of not sounding defensive of just how big a disaster his presidency has been, but instead of defensive, he's smug. "Man, I'm great." Or rather, he's defensive without sounding too defensive.

I agree he made tough decisions, which he said I should agree with. I just think his tough decisions were very poor ones. Almost entirely.

Threats from a broad? Which broad? How can we stop her??

When he pauses and closes his mouth, his nostrils flare a little. That must be a tell of some sort.

He sees character in some of the people he invited to the White House and one guy who couldn't make it.

"I have been blessed to represent" this country. And we've been cursed to have you.

OK, so he's done. A pretty short, bland, and smug speech.

Shields and Yarnell are back on PBS! Hello, boys, haven't seen you since the election. Yarnell (David Brooks) thinks that his superficial confidence was there immediately, but his profound confidence came over time. Mark Shields thinks that Reagan had confidence without arrogance, while Dubya has mostly just arrogance (my paraphrase, of course).

Shields and Yarnell are talking about how likable Dubya is personally, personal acts of generosity, and all that. But how much worse the country is now than when he took office is unmistakable. So people don't like him.

OK, report over. Now, if only the presidency would finally be over, too. Five days, people. Five long days...