Peter Golenbock Books

As I watched the concert in front of the Lincoln Memorial yesterday, I couldn’t help but wonder what Jackie Robinson would have thought and felt. Jackie, who died a young man in 1972, was frustrated and angry all his life at the slothful pace of the civil rights movement. Before he died he made a speech saying how happy he would be to see a black man managing a major league baseball team or even coaching at third base. None were. It’s been a scant 27 years since then, and in large part because of eight years of a disastrous presidency run by a Yalie drunk, know-nothing frat boy turned born again warrior, this country was in such bad shape economically, morally, and spiritually that beleaguered Americans had no choice but to vote for the smartest person in the room as its next president. That person just happened to be black. Under George W. Bush both of my Republican friends lost close to half the value of their hard-earned investments. Nevertheless, they find every reason to blame everyone but George W. Bush. (”He kept us safe.”) I hope they show their appreciation when Obama figures out a way to get us out of his mess and restores their fortunes.