Grading on the curve

When Oprah asked Obama how he graded his first year in office, he gave himself a “good, solid B-plus.”

Remember that time in high school after you played a really great game or gave an outstanding performance in a concert or play? Later in life, do you recall how proud you felt after closing an important business deal or finishing a home remodeling project? After one of those glorious moments perhaps someone asked how you felt about your achievement, and you modestly said, “Well, I guess I did OK.” Of course, you hoped they would respond with, “No, you did great!”

Most of us understand that it’s natural to show some humility when we are proud of an achievement, simply because it’s better to receive praise from others than to heap it upon yourself. But this isn’t the case for arrogant narcissists, who put a lot of effort into patting themselves on the back and also expect a steady stream of praise from their sycophants. 

Thus it must have galled Obama when few rose up to correct his self-bestowed B-plus. He probably expected us to gush on about how he deserves an A-plus, and he no doubt expected to hear someone like Chris Matthews suggest “President for life.” At the very least, he likely felt that someone should have praised him for his humility.

Well, thank goodness for Arnold Schwarzenegger who, perhaps showing signs of steroidal dementia, weighed in with his assessment, awarding Obama “a straight-A for effort.”

This led me to think about Obama’s marvelous work during the past year. Who can forget the Great Apology Tour, with its scenes of our President bowing to various tinhorn leaders and never missing a chance to denigrate our country? How about his incessant stream of lies about the economy, health care, and his predecessors? And remember his promise last February to boldly fight and win the “essential war” in Afghanistan? No way would he make the “mistakes of his predecessor” by fighting the “wrong war in Iraq.” Then came months of fiddling in the White House while our troops sat confused in harm’s way. Finally this military genius told the Taliban to go hide somewhere for 18 months so we can pretend to fight them before withdrawing.

I could go on and on, but just these few highlights of Obama’s first year are enough to convince me that Arnold is right. Our fearless leader does indeed deserve an A. But instead of a straight A, I would give him an A-double-s.