Lame A** to Lame Duck

Farewell George Bush (43). You have been monumental failure and it's not just me who thinks so. 98% of historians rate your presidency a failure (see yesterday's Tribune/opinion section for the exact source) and I daresay 98% of Americans feel the same. Your only approvals come from the 2% of filthy rich who got filthier and richer thanks to you. Get busy drafting all of their presidential pardons because, in only weeks, to you- I SAY GOOD BYE. When I voted for Nader in 2004, several people accused me of "wasting" my vote, but it sure as heck doesn't look like such a waste now, does it?

I had a great mentor when I worked at Victoria's Secret. Her name is Julie, and one of the most valuable things she taught me was to differentiate between talents and skills when hiring. A skill is something that one can be taught, like math, or playing piano, or coaching an underperformer. A talent is a natural affinity towards something. I see it all the time teaching piano- while anyone can learn to play, there are always those who have a natural inclination for it. At first I was frustrated by Julie's philosophy-she'd present me with a someone she'd hired based on talent, and then I would whine, "Why not hire someone that I don't have to train from the ground up?" I can tell you now, though, that she was totally right. Although it is nice to have someone who knows the necessary skills for a job (computer programming, graphic design, etc.) if you take a person with talent (logical thinking, artistic nature), within weeks they will be totally outperforming a more experienced person, and by a significant amount.

This is why I voted for Barack Obama. (SIDEBAR: In his defense, he is not a Muslim or a baby killer or other various assertions presented in viral e-mails. I checked your legitimate news sources (try anything with "AP" in the header...) and I don't believe most of what is being circulated via "virals" about him. His official position on abortion is that he personally does not believe in it yet will not try to overturn Roe V. Wade. Also, while John McCain was strangely mute on Prop 8, Obama was FOR proposition 8. He does not support gay marriage, although to be fair, he does support broader rights.) I believe that while John McCain had the skills necessary to be president, Obama has the natural leadership qualities that will make him a more successful president in the long run. Although McCain has some great experience, Obama has a history of being a communicator and a unifier- America could use a little of that right now. At first I had qualms about all the money Obama is proposing we spend on various social programs, now, as the economy has tanked, I've thought to myself, 'Self, I'd like to be on the RECEIVING end of some of these.' Do I think he is going to be the perfect President? Nope, but we all got to be hiring managers yesterday, and America hired for talent. It's a good strategy.