Fear of Forearms

Back during my "early retirement" phase, when I was working a full-time job that felt quite a bit like a part-time job, I'll admit that I had quite a few opportunities to enjoy a leisurely lunch at home.  I'd leisurely make my lunch, put it on a plate, and sit down at the kitchen island to enjoy it.  Sometimes, I'd even turn on the TV.  Most of the time, I'd tune in to HGTV, hoping to get lucky and find an episode of House Hunters International.

Now that I've got a real job again, I don't have that luxury.  That's actually a good thing.  Today, though, I was working from home.  I headed downstairs to the basement before 7AM.  Before I knew it, it was Noon and I didn't have a call scheduled.  I decided that I needed a break.  So, I went upstairs, heated up some leftover carbonara and decided to actually switch on the TV while eating it.

As old habits die hard, I headed straight for channel 170 and HGTV.  They were showing an episode of House Hunters (not quite the big leagues like House Hunters International).  I watched it for 30 seconds, but quickly decided I didn't like the couple (call me a snob but they were very unkempt) or the location (somewhere in rural Connecticut).  So, I headed over to CNN.

I was just in time to see a news story covering a Mitt Romney campaign appearance.  There was Mitt.  His hair, as always, was perfect.  He had on suit pants and nice shoes.  He was wearing a starched white shirt and tie.  And, of course, his shirt sleeves were rolled up.

Whenever I see a politician with his shirt sleeves rolled up, it sends one very clear signal to me -- he's about to give me a load of crap.  Not just a small load, either.  He's going to back a dump truck up to my driveway and drop off a steaming pile.  Then he's going to drive away, leaving me with the mess.

I know what they're trying to do.  They're trying to say "Look at me.  I get it.  I'm a regular guy.  I feel your pain."  Really?  I see your shirtsleeves rolled up and, somehow, I'm going to buy alll the nonsense your spewing?  That's all it takes?  I don't think so.

I don't just want to pick on Romney, though.  Obama does it all the time, as well.  They all do.  Just watch the news.  It's ridiculous.  Who decided that the secret to convincing the American public that you're the man for the job is to show us your forearms?  Why not just wear a short sleeve shirt, for God's sake?

This is one time I'd ask people to learn something from Nancy Pelosi and Michele Bachmann.  Somehow, they got elected without rolling up their shirt sleeves.  I don't know how they did it.  But, I wish they'd share their secret.