Obama's New 'Bucket' Attitude
One of the most ironic things about U.S. presidents is how soon after they get comfortable with the job that it's over.
That's a happy thought to those who can't wait to see President Barack Obama go -- as the ranks of hopeful Republican candidates grow well past a dozen.
But the president's attitude? "Bucket."
That's what he said with a shrug, you may remember, during his comedic speech at this spring's White House Correspondents dinner, broadcast live on C-SPAN.
"After the midterm elections, my advisers asked me, 'Mr. President, do you have a bucket list?' " he mockingly recalled. "And I said, 'Well, I have something that rhymes with bucket list.' "
As the audience laughed, the president clarified: "Take executive action on immigration? Bucket! New climate regulations? Bucket! It's the right thing to do...."
Flash forward and, with tongue only slightly in cheek, it is easy to view recent days as the Bucket Period of the Obama presidency.
You could hear it, for example, in his blunt rebuke of a heckler who was trying to shout him down at a White House reception.
"Hey, listen, you're in my house," he said, clearly annoyed. "... You're not going to get a good response from me by interrupting me like this...."
"As a general rule, I am just fine with a few hecklers," the president continued, lightening up a bit. "But not when I'm up in the house. My attitude is if you're eating the hors d'oeuvres ... and drinkin' the booze. ... I know that's right. Anyway, where was I?"
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