"Didn't you know your daddy's the best shot in the county?"

[Empowerer]

The events of the last week remind me of the scene in To Kill a Mockingbird in which Atticus Finch comes home with the sheriff to deal with a rabid, mad dog coming up the street. The sheriff hands his rifle to Atticus and says, "I'd feel a lot better if you did it." Scout shouts out, "Oh, no Mr. Tate! He can't shoot!!!"

Atticus takes the gun and kills the dog with one shot. In the film, the look on Scout's and Jem's faces are priceless - they are absolutely stunned, mouths hanging open, looking at the dog and then at Atticus like they've never seen him before. A speechless Jem just gulps and can't say a word. Sheriff Tate says, "What's the matter boy? Cat got your tongue? Didn't you know your Daddy's the best shot in the county?"

It's a wonderful scene that reminds me so much of how children often think their parents are complete incompetents - that they couldn't possibly have any knowledge or understanding or insight or experience that goes beyond the limited view the children have of them.

Barack Obama stepped up last week - once again - as our Atticus Finch and did what many people thought was far beyond his abilities. And I tend to think that lots of folks - including some of those he'll be negotiating with on certain domestic issues in the coming weeks - took a big gulp and just stared in shock, like Jem and Scout, and will have a different view of the man they're dealing with. It probably won't change things monumentally, but I believe it certainly has shifted things a little.

They're not dealing with just anybody . . . they're up against the best shot in the county.

[dhill926]

1. nice post..........n/t

[Pirate Smile]

2. K & R

[FSogol]

3. K & R. n/t

[Diamonique]

4. Love this analogy! nt

[AtomicKitten]

5. I always knew he had it in him. He demonstrated it early in his presidency.

[GeorgeGist]

6. Fiction

[Enrique]

7. this sounds like something Peggy Noonan might write

about Bush or Reagan. :crazy:

[lillypaddle]

8. Great analogy

K&R

[Keith Bee]

9. Correction: Best shot in the COUNTrY

K&R