On Regrets

Bob Woodward was told he “would regret” disagreeing with the President. In context, it appears regretfulness would wash over Woodward, because the Presidential flack thought Mr. Woodward was wrong and once exposed, the error would lead to sorrow in the sensitive soul of Woodward.

Readers know Woodward has survived many such episodes and appears flourishing.

The President never won an election with my vote, but I do not see any reason for the Woodward family to live in terror as a result of a blustering bureaucrat. What else do bureaucrats do but bluster? Has any man died of it?

If bluster killed, every State of the Union would be mass murder. How often have politicians threatened us with ruin if we did not follow their program?

A looming Night of Regrets sounds more like the result of a RomCom marathon than a threat. The President is, after all, not Tsar and so his ability to punish is limited. Loss of favor is a threat, but not a fatal one. Presidents could break the law, perhaps, but Woodward did not suggest that the flunky, the habit of calling everyone a “senior advisor” is unfit for republics, made any such suggestion.

In fact, the advisor was apologizing for raising his voice. When did reporters become so delicate? Isn’t it the stuff of every political story that Presidents and reporters  class? I have read tougher emails than the one sent to Woodward from church boards to pastors.

In fact, as a member of the loyal opposition I find the entire affair disappointing: economic advisors promising regret ar just not up to historic standards.  Teddy Roosevelt didn’t send a flunky to promise regrets to reporters if they disagreed. He told reporters that if they reported on what he said to them he would call them “damn liars.” There seems more dignity in being called a “damn lier” by the leader of the Republic than his worrying about my experiencing regrets.

Having read Woodward for years, I can say his career often has been regrettable. If he begins to have regrets, this seems mostly positive.