花街报读评 - 1

The Willy Loman Presidency - 

President O8 was described as having a Laurel and Hardy Presidency (WSJ, 9/12/2013) as a result of the screwed up Syria act between he and Secretary of State Swift Boat Kerry. Perhaps he can also be described as the Willy Loman of Presidents, Willy being the main character in Arthur Miller's famous play, Death of a Salesman. In the play and at Willy's funeral a neighbor gave the following epitaph：

"Willy was a salesman, and for a salesman, there is no rock bottom to the life. He don't put a bolt to a nut, he doesn't tell you the law or give you medicine. He's a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back — that's an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you're finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory."

O8's only qualifications for the job was his smile and shoeshine and we and the world are not smiling back. His earthquake has arrived.