Bush Speaks Loudly And Carries A Small Stick
What important business did President Bush conduct this weekend? He waved a small stick – a conductor’s baton — while pretending to conduct a symphony orchestra:
JoAnn Falletta was doing what a conductor should — concentrating on the orchestra in front of her. No wonder it took her a few seconds on Sunday to realize someone behind her was motioning for a try.
“Smiling at me kind of devilishly,” Falletta said.
She gave him her baton and stepped aside.
Gesturing exuberantly, the president led the orchestra during part of its performance of “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The article goes on to quote Falletta as saying Bush knew the score and conducted with “panache.”
Gimme a break! Marches like this Sousa perennial barely need a conductor — just somebody to signal the piece’s beginning and end.
On the other hand, Bush’s conducting had to be better than his dancing.
Full disclosure: I played oboe under JoAnn Falletta’s baton many years ago, when she was assistant conductor of the Nassau Symphony Orchestra in Long Island, New York, and I was its principal oboist.
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And now some links, for your reading (and viewing) pleasure:
* Monica Goodling’s ‘Church Chats’ With DOJ Applicants
* Bill Maher’s New Rules
* people’s 50 sexiest candidates
* Gonzo-a-Go-Go
* Iraqi Parliament Sets Timetable For Withdrawal … For Themselves!
* Air America’s Champaign Flight Crashes
* Worldwide Opinions
* Carnival of Commentary
* Carnival of Principled Government (in the form of a fun quiz)
UPDATE: My latest limerick contest is over and the winners list and winning entries are here. Another limerick writing contest will be coming soon on my other blog. [tags]Bush Conducts, JoAnn Falletta, Stars And Stripes Forever, Bush Conducting Orchestra, Conductor’s Baton, Bush Dancing, Nassau Symphony Orchestra, Long Island, New York, Symphony Music, principal oboist[/tags]
