So he's like, "Any year that ends with one less Osama bin Laden is a good year as far as I'm concerned." And I'm like, "Absolutely!" The only thing wrong with that guy sleeping with the fishes is I feel sorry for the fishes!
So then he's like, "Good riddance!" And I'm like, "Absolutely!" And we drink a toast to 2011.
So then he's like, "And Gaddafi -- any year that gets rid of Gaddafi is a good year as far as I'm concerned." And I'm like, "Absolutely!" all over again. And then I'm like, "And Mubarak too!" And he's like, "But Mubarak's still alive," and I'm like, "Yeah, but still... "
So he thinks about it for a sec and then he's like, "Good enough!" and we drink another toast to 2011.
So then he's like, "What about Putin?" and I'm like, "What about Putin?" And he's like, "Well, they didn't get rid of him yet, but they're in the streets complaining about him."
And I'm like, "Yeah, but still... " But he's like, "Any year that's got thousands of Russians in the streets complaining about Putin is a good year as far as I'm concerned." So we drink another toast to 2011. But first we find the vodka.
So then he's like, "Any year Bill Clinton doesn't expect Hillary home for dinner every night is a good year as far as I'm concerned." And I'm like, "Absolutely!" cause it means she gets to go places and say things even when some people in those places don't want to hear them. So we drink a toast to Hillary, and we even drink a toast to Bill, cause if Bill wasn't Bill, she might want to stay home more.
So then he's like, "Any year we get our troops home from Iraq is a good year as far as I'm concerned." And I'm like, "But the Iraqis are still fighting over there," and he's like, "Yeah, but it isn't our fight anymore, that's the main thing." So I think about it for a sec, and I'm like, "Good enough!" and we drink a toast to all the troops coming home after all this time, and another toast to all the troops that never made it home.
That shuts us up for a while, just thinking about stuff.
And then he's changing the subject, and he's like, "Complaining in the streets!" And I'm like, "Occupy!" and he's like, "Any year that's got thousands of Americans in the streets complaining about Wall Street is a good year as far as I'm concerned." And I'm like, "But the whole thing's still rigged against the little guy!" And he's like, "Yeah, but at least they're noticing how rigged it is, and they're getting ticked off about it -- it's a lot better than only talking about cutting things!"
So we drink a toast to noticing, and another toast to getting ticked off. And another toast to changing the conversation from cutting more things to being more fair. And another toast to the greedy ones being so greedy and the crazies being so crazy that everyone had to notice.
So then he's like, "Any year that Obama shows some backbone against the greedies and the crazies is a good year as far as I'm concerned." And I'm like, "Yeah, but it wasn't until December that he finally stood up to them!" and he's like, "December still counts, as long as it happened." And I'm like, "It definitely happened!" So we drink a toast to backbone, and another toast to standing up.
Rick Horowitz is a syndicated columnist. You can write to him at rickhoro@execpc.com.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.