Give It A Rest

By now, most of you have seen or heard about the above picture of President Obama with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Even though this picture was taken days ago, it's still being discussed in the papers and on cable news shows. I suppose American poverty, the devastation of HIV/AIDS in American cities, our failure of our kids by giving them a poor educational system and a host of other legitimate topics that need attention weren't tantalizing enough.

Republican leaders and strategists would have me believe that this picture is nearly akin to showing a child porn because Chavez called former President Bush "the devil." SO WHAT??!?! You know how many Americans have either called him the devil or at the very least thought he was Satan's spawn? I know he's neither. He just sniffed too much glue as a kid and possibly got tangled in the seat belts on the short bus thereby cutting off oxygen to the brain a little too long. I'm sure he's been a called a lot worse, maybe even by his own family. His father always looks annoyed by him.

Before you believe the hype, let me remind you of a few things:

1. Chavez didn't call ALL Americans the devil, ONLY Bush.
2. If Obama continues the same America-Knows-Best-So-Play-By-Our-Rules-Or-Else policy as every other president then, how far will we really get in true diplomacy?
3. When American gas prices were so high and many needy families couldn't afford to heat their homes in the winter months a few years back, Venezuelan oil was offered to them at a 40% discount. This was more than their own nation provided by way of relief.
4. Some critics said that the handshake was okay, but Obama shouldn't have smiled. What the pluck?! So I'm gonna frown and shake your hand? To exchange a handshake is to exchange a pleasantry. So I'll be gracious and extend my hand, but I'll scowl the whole time so you know I don't really want to do this? Why bother?
5. Republicans lost, they're unhappy about their loss, the head of the RNC is a blabbering idiot, and their current "stars" are Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal and Meghan McCain. That should say enough.

I could go on but my lunch is over so, I'll end it here.