"Wouldja Make Up Your Mind?"

I left for work this morning absolutely puzzled! And I haven't become less puzzled as the day has passed. So maybe someone can help me understand this.

You will all recall the eternal presidential campaign we have all just suffered through. How could we possibly forget? There was so much news coverage--we had a constant IV drip of it. I, for one, was so relieved when it was over. We then had a relatively peaceful couple of months. Then President-elect Obama became a little more press-shy during this time period. Sarah Palin faded into the background and John McCain seemed to disappear. It was pretty nice!

Well, I remember news pundits complaining that the president-elect had become less forthcoming. He sort of backed away from the bright lights. He almost shunned the press on more than one occasion. I remember him basically telling them to back off, that he was not going to share with them. His grass-roots supporters seemed to be hungry for him to tell them what to do next, but not much was said.

All of that changed with the inauguration. There was such fanfare and days-and-days of news coverage. The press was in hog-heaven! I actually enjoyed every minute of it. There was a feeling of elation. Since the inauguration, President Obama has rolled up his sleeves and has gone to work. He is trying very hard to produce the changes he promised during the campaign. You see him constantly on the news. CNN talks of nothing else. He's been interviewed by a myriad of big-name "interviewers" -- Anderson Cooper, Charlie Gibson, Katie Couric, etc. etc. etc. He really wants the American public to understand what he's trying to do and how he wants to do it. He wants the workings of Washington to be transparent and understandable. I actually heard him say he made a mistake in choosing the wrong candidates for positions (i.e. Daschle). Imagine that! I don't recall anything like it in all the years I've been aware of politics. I find it refreshing.

So this is why I'm puzzled. NOW, the news pundits are complaining that he is too much "out there." They think he's too much in the public eye. I heard one newswoman say that he was destroying the "mystique" of the presidency. She said that President Obama should NEVER apologize or admit he was wrong. HUH????? I thought we were tired of secrecy. I thought we were tired of not understanding what was going on or why? I thought we were interested in what is being done to solve the dire problems this country is facing. I thought we were invested. Apparently, the press doesn't think we're smart enough to handle it all. Maybe the President speaking directly to us makes them less valuable?

I, for one, am so relieved to have a president who is thoughtful, careful, well-spoken, intelligent, and seemingly up-front and honest. I guess time will tell in the end. I appreciate his candor and his desire for people like me to know and understand what's going on, what he believes should be done and why. Even if you don't agree with his policies, you have to appreciate the way he is handling the terribly difficult job he has. He seems to be more "real" than any president I can recall.

OK, so I've gone on way too long. I've been thinking about this all day and had to get it off my chest. There now----I feel much better!