The poet William Stafford set himself the task of writing a poem a day. When someone asked him what he would do when his poem-of-the-day wasn't very good, he replied "I simply lower my standards." In order to increase output, the bar here is set at a low level - the point of this is to have some fun with current events and politics. I welcome contributions and comments. Now you can also follow Doggerelo on Twitter (@doggerelo). Because of continuing medical problems, I'm no longer able to post a poem-a-day. I'll continue to post poems, but at a reduced frequency, so please stay tuned.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Mitt the Decider


Perhaps the Obama campaign is guilty of a cheap shot in questioning whether Mitt Romney would have decided to give the order to go after Osama bin Laden, but in Romney’s response, he makes it seem like the decision was a no-branier.  Romney said that “Of course” he would have ordered the killing of Osama bin Laden and added, gratuitously and distastefully,“Even Jimmy Carter would have given that order.”  Later he added that “any thinking American would have ordered exactly the same thing.” He seems not to realize that many of Obama's advisors, including Vice-President Biden and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, advised against the raid because of the risks involved and the uncertainty as to whether bin Laden was actually present at the site in Abbottabad.  Gates later said "I've worked for a lot of these guys and this is one of the most courageous calls -- decisions -- that I think I've ever seen a president make." 

So, cheap or not, it is reasonable to question whether Romney would have made the same decision – it certainly was not an obvious choice, as Mitt seems to think. 


Of course, Mitt says that he would give
The go-ahead to kill Osama
There’s no one who’d pass up that chance
They’d do just like Obama.

Of course, now that all is clear,
It’s clear just what to do
But when the fog of war’s severe
Decisions might fall through.

Of course, if Mitt’d been President
He’d have attacked Grenada
But he’d have nixed the Bay of Pigs
That plan would come to nada.

Of course, if he’d been Marshall
He’d have come up with the plan
To save all Europe from the aftermath
Of war’s relentless span.

Of course, if he’d been Chamberlain
He’d never leave the Czechs
Alone to face Herr Hilter’s wrath.
He’d fix the past’s defects.

Of course, if he’d been Wilson
He’d have told them at Versailles
“You’ve got to ease up on the Krauts,
The price is much too high.”

Of course, if he’d been Lincoln
He would have freed the slaves
And stayed away from theaters
No matter what the raves.

Of course, if he’d been Bonaparte
He’d never march on Russia
He’d happily stay close to home
And be content with Prussia.

Of course, we could go on and on
About what Mitt would then envision
If he’d known all the facts before
He came to a decision.

Of course, it’s not at all like that
One’s often unaware
Of what the situation is
And there’s no time to spare.

Of course, that’s when it takes real guts
When facts aren’t clear and one perforce
Must grasp the fleeting moment to
Decide…and pray, of course. 

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