Sometimes a comedian’s act is accompanied by a small band. We see this quite often on late-night television programs here in the U.S.A. The drummer in the band accentuates the comedian’s “punch line” with a roll on the snare drum, followed by a single bass drum thump, and a stab at the cymbal. If you listen carefully, the effect sounds like “Captain Ja-Boom Tisch.” Say that a few times out loud and you will hear the drummer’s “raspberry.”
President Obama is the personification of that drummer’s flourish: “Captain Ja-Boom Tisch.” Yesterday, at his news conference, he tried to explain an economic principle. He struggled to put the concept into words because, frankly, he doesn’t understand economic concepts. As my friend said, "Listening to him explaining economics is like listening to my old lady explaining how a nuclear reactor works."
Captain Ja-Boom Tisch reminds me of a young man I met years ago who was attempting to teach industrial hydraulic maintenance procedures to a group of grizzled, old maintenance men. He kept saying things to the men that were patently false or absurd. The men hooted at his foolish suggestions. Finally, a colleague told him to sit down. “You’re embarrassing yourself,” he said.
Yeah. Captain Ja-Boom Tisch. Economist extra ordinaire. Have a seat right here, Mr. President.
No comments:
Post a Comment