Is "Presidenting" as Hard as Will Ferrell Says It Is?

Remember the Saturday Night Live skit from December 2000, just after the US Supreme Court appointed George W. Bush president? SNL's gore (played by Darrell Hammond) sits down with SNL's Bush (played by Will Ferrell) at a Chili's in Washington DC. Bush can't decide what to order (or maybe he just can't pronounce what he's trying to order) and he remarks, "Arghhh, presidenting is hard!!!"

If you don't remember this skit, don't worry. There won't be a quiz. I mention it mostly because I was recently named one of three presidents of the University of Iowa's Association of Graduate Students in English ... or AGSE if you will. (Congratulations to my two co-presidents, Anna Stenson and Stephanie Blalock.)

This much appreciate piece of good news reminded me of a favorite Calvin and Hobbes comic from long ago. Calvin's father, in a classically futile move, tries to award Calvin an allowance, explaining up front that authority and responsibility go hand in hand. Observe:

Is it odd that being named president reminded me of Calvin's devilish reaction? No. It simply points to humanity's occasionally Machiavellian nature. Power corrupts.

Luckily for anyone concerned, I resemble Calvin in several ways. Like a young boy with a quarter, the power I wield is minuscule. I have no nominating powers, no veto authority, no wiretapping privileges, no personalized escort or entourage. No finger on the button. No interns. I've never claimed to be the decider, and the buck, if it stops at all, stops far, far away from my desk.

In all seriousness, I look forward to the position. Hopefully it won't interfere with my long established commitment to aloofness, laziness, procrastination, whimsical tomfoolery, and head-in-the-clouds foolishness.