I know I have sent you several emails where I have had fun at your expense. I
only did that because I knew what a wonderful sense of humor you have, always
poking fun at yourself. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed those
self-deprecating parodies about how you are the greatest at this or the most
brilliant at that. They have been absolutely hilarious. Thank you so much.
But now that you're actually leaving office -- you are leaving, right? -- I
thought I should get a little more serious. In so many ways, you have reflected
who we Americans are. Remember Al Capp's General Bullmoose and "What's good for
General Bullmoose is good for the U.S.A."? You have embodied that slogan, but
gone well beyond it as well. You have shown us that in many respects -- some
say too many -- we really are you and you are us.
You and we believe it was only our industriousness and our brilliance that led
to our success as individuals and as a nation. You and we have been oblivious
to the consequences of our actions and to how others throughout the world see
us. You, individually, and we, internationally, both think that laws and norms
do not apply to us. You have been our mirror; Pogo was right. So as you leave,
don't think of yourself as a total failure. You may well have taught us some
valuable lessons.
In retirement, you will now finally have time to play golf. And just like O.J.,
still hunting for the real killers while playing golf, may you, as you play,
hunt for your humanity.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Yours,
Chuck Turchick
Minneapolis, Minnesota