Inaction Man

Welcome to Obama's world of positive inaction. Have we all been hope-a-doped?

I like the idea of parallel universes. I like the idea that there are an infinite number of other worlds out there where anything and everything we could possibly imagine actually happens. Somewhere in the limitless expanse of time and space, for example, we each get a turn at being Cary Grant (even if that means we all get to be Pauly Shore as well).

These days I'm getting to wonder if there's a parallel universe somewhere in which President Barack Obama is actually doing stuff. It might seem far-fetched, but it's theoretically possible...

In our universe, when Bush was president, it was easy to stereotype him as an inarticulate moron. Same for Clinton who was portrayed as a hillbilly sophisticate with outsized appetites for fast food and fat chicks. But until now, there's been reticence amongst comedy writers to characterize Obama as the likable man of inaction he's turned out to be. But now SNL has made the leap:

"The most recent example came this past weekend when Fred Armisen, as President Obama, chided "those on the right" for saying that he was "turning this great country into something that resembles the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany."

Not true, said Armisen as Obama.

"When you look at my record," he said, "it's very clear what I've done so far -- and that is nothing.""

The sad truth is that comedic stereotypes are born out of truths. And SNL's Obama is no exception.

Obama talks a good talk and behaves like the most intelligent, statesmanlike prez we've had in decades. But he's done f*** all. We still have Gitmo, Iraq and crap healthcare. No issue has proved too important to side-step.

God knows, the idea of electing McCain instead of Obama would have been like pressing a giant pillow into America's face, but is there a parallel universe out there where voters weren't screwed either way?