Patricia Ward-Kelly's Letter: The President Is No Gene Kelly - we should send this lady some roses

[malaise]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/opinion/l19dowd.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

I Knew Gene Kelly. The President Is No Gene Kelly.
Published: March 19, 2008

To the Editor:
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Related
Op-Ed Columnist: Soft Shoe in Hard Times (March 16, 2008)

Re “Soft Shoe in Hard Times” (column, March 16):

Surely it must have been a slip for Maureen Dowd to align the artistry of my late husband, Gene Kelly, with the president’s clumsy performances. To suggest that “George Bush has turned into Gene Kelly” represents not only an implausible transformation but a considerable slight. If Gene were in a grave, he would have turned over in it.

When Gene was compared to the grace and agility of Jack Dempsey, Wayne Gretzky and Willie Mays, he was delighted. But to be linked with a clunker — particularly one he would consider inept and demoralizing — would have sent him reeling.

Graduated with a degree in economics from Pitt, Gene was not only a gifted dancer, director and choreographer, he was also a most civilized man. He spoke multiple languages; wrote poetry; studied history; understood the projections of Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. He did the Sunday Times crossword in ink. Exceedingly articulate, Gene often conveyed more through movement than others manage with words.

Sadly, President Bush fails to communicate meaningfully with either. For George Bush to become Gene Kelly would require impossible leaps in creativity, erudition and humility.

Patricia Ward Kelly
Los Angeles, March 16, 2008
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This is brilliant. Lady :yourock:

[niyad]

1. I saw that this morning. can't believe somebody actually comparted idiot-in-chief to

that marvelous hoofer.

little anecdote about gene kelly: when ronnie was first running for president, kelly was asked if he was going to vote for him. the story goes that his response was, "absolutely not. I had to do all the work when he was president of the screen actors guild. not going to do his work as president" (sorry, no link, this was a loooooong time ago)

[Hissyspit]

2. It was Maureen Dowd, and she wasn't really comparing Bush to Kelly. She was saying

that Bush was dancing (reference to the dance he did waiting for McCain) while everything is a mess. And Ward-Kelly knew this. She was just taking advantage of the column to trash Bush and to make sure that everyone knows Gene Kelly would have hated Bush.

Dowd's column here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/opinion/16dowd.html?ex=1363320000&en=f8df283eaf3f96e4&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[malaise]

3. I just love Patricia's letter

Gene would be proud of her.

[JI7]

4. go Patricia