The odds that this relative newcomer to this blood sport would win the quarterback slot of his team were terrible. The New York Times and the Washington Post, along with other odds makers, gave him a less than 1 in 10 chance of winning. The media pros and other like-minded people had not only lambasted him every way imaginable, they also likened him to a fool and a foul-mouthed guy. Then, the unthinkable happened. He won! People gasped. People fainted, and some had to go into psychotherapy, or so it had been reported.
Now that the first quarter of the game is almost over the media and many other opponents are still condemning him and speaking of his "unfitness" for the job. But, as they continue to boo him loudly from the stands and the sidelines, our quarterback continues with successes, large and small. It may be a yard or two. Some darn good passes here and there. But the "boo fans" continue to try to distract him after just about every play. To be sure, he gets flagged often for his offensive language and name calling. (Perhaps growing up in the Bronx could be part of the reason.) But the official scorekeepers know that he has made some really impressive gains -- consumer confidence at nearly an all time high, unemployment at nearly an historic low, IRAs jumping, on average, about 25 percent this quarter, 2 million new jobs -- and opponents sucking air, including the Democratic National Committee. Soon, we will likely see major tax decreases. Yet, the boo birds will continue to boo and oppose every attempt by our quarterback to gain ground for all of us.
What will be his opponents’ platform come next fall? Well, I would guess they will quote the late Nancy Reagan with the slogan, "Simply Say No."
I wonder what the next three quarters will bring? Hang on to your seat, my friends.
Fulton Gallagher
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