george w. bush, visionary? (*cough*)

In January of 2004, George W. Bush leveled with America in his State of the Union address. We were confronted by massive job loss, a rapidly increasing deficit, and the ever present specter of terrorism. I and 50% of the United States watched our televisions and listened to our radio, mocking the absurd cheerful 3rd grade painting of the nation that was complete with rainbows and butterfiles, that Bush painted around us. Little did we know, 11 months later, that he was right. He said the economy was going to get better, good people were working hard, it was hard work, and then a grim look came over his face.

The despair that was conveyed by his ruffled brow could only spell one thing. disaster.

To help children make right choices, they need good examples. Athletics play such an important role in our society, but, unfortunately, some in professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message -- that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now. -January 2004- GWBUSH

How did he know? 11 months after he addressed the nation, how did he know that America would be faced with such a crisis that even legend Hank Aaron would turn his back and refuse to bring dignity to it? Amidst intelligence reform, and a growing death toll in Iraq, Barry Bonds "unknowingly" used steroids.

Today the Whitehouse spoke out, for once they saw the problem and attacked it with the ferocity that one would unleash upon Osama Bin Laden.

“The president believes it’s important for Major League Baseball management and the player’s union to act by taking strong steps to address the problem,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. “Professional baseball players are people our children look up to. Players who use drugs undermine the efforts of parents and coaches to send the right message to our children.”"

From MSNBC.comBaseball commissioner Bud Selig repeatedly has called for more frequent testing and harsher penalties for steroid use, stepping up the intensity following reports of grand jury testimony by sluggers Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield.

It doesn't trouble America that CIA agents identities are revealed to the world. It doesn't trouble America that it is a given that private grand jury testimony is regularly leaked to the press. What troubles America, and it's nice that the president knows what we care about, is that 703 homeruns as of the end of 2004 season were aided by performance enhancing drugs. For shame, John Kerry should have tiraded about OJ Simpson and Ricky Williams, that could have pushed him over in Ohio and Florida.