Never . . .

(from (http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fact-check-trump-says-he-passed-more-bills-most-presidents-n771116))
". . . "I will say that never has there been a president - with few exceptions, in the case of FDR he had a major Depression to handle - who's passed more legislation, who's done more things than what we've done," President Donald Trump boasted on Monday morning, touting his executive orders, Supreme Court judge appointment, and rate of bill signing. "We've achieved tremendous success. I think we've been about as active as you can possibly be at a just about record-setting pace.". . .
But a stack of paper does not productivity make: As PolitiFact noted previously, "None of the bills Trump has signed into law are particularly significant.". . . Three of those bills were appointing three members to the Smithsonian's board, another approved a war memorial, a fifth promoted women in entrepreneurship, and a sixth encouraged the display of the American flag on Vietnam War Veterans Day. . . While their bill signings may trail Trump's, many of his predecessors won significant legislative achievements in their first 100 days. . . Obama signed an $800 billion stimulus. Bill Clinton inked the Family Medical Leave Act. Lyndon Johnson championed the stalled Civil Rights Act. John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps. . .A federal appeals court refused to reinstate his (Trump's) travel ban on residents of a group of Muslim-majority nations, dealing his second order barring certain travelers yet another legal blow. He's yet to fully repeal and replace Obamacare or secure funding from Mexico or Congress to begin any kind of meaningful border wall construction. . . . he's had little legislative action on the slew of vague plans he's released on issues like infrastructure and tax reform. . . Most of his agenda remains just that: Plans that have yet to be accomplished. . ."

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Award. . .

The 'most poorly phrased statement' award goes to Donald Rumsfeld.  Speaking on The Today Show
about the Congressional Republicans’ questioning of the events of Sept. 11, 2012 in Benghazi, he said. . .

“If you’re going to put people at risk, you have to try to protect them. . .”

(Seems that in order to achieve the latter, you shouldn't do the former?)

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Academically speaking. . .

. . .Why is WHATSHERNAME songwriting at it's best?

Hard to believe, but this song is over forty (count em, 40) years old! I remember when I first heard it. Not where I was, what I was doing. But really HEARING the song, and (even in my innocent youth- I was about 12) being very moved. And to be moved by such an 'adult' experience, I, even in my youthful innocence, had sincere appreciation for the skillfully conceived and constructed piece of music/lyrics that I had just experienced.

WHATSHERNAME (see my post of May 9th) embodies so much of what I strive to achieve in my songwriting. It captures a real human sentiment accurately and without preachiness, posturing or pretense. (Guess I should call that the three Ps???) A complex life situation is encapsulated in simplicity of presentation, something that on the surface seems (and sounds) easy, but which is, in fact, very difficult to accomplish. Thus is the ART.

The easy, swinging, lounge-type, yet very conversational rhythm belies the doubt and uncertainty that the speaking character is soon to reveal as the two old friends meet, presumably in a bar. Our leading man is very polite, inquiring about his friend's family, possibly mutual friends, and revealingly tells him, "Who me? Oh I'm great." And then under the guise of inquiring ". . . for a friend", our hero gets to the point. "Do you remember. . . a girl that I brought here, before I got married a couple of times at the end. . . " The same relative chord pattern, this too complex while sounding 'easy', accompanies the verse as the tempo decreases and the drama increases leading into the chorus.

The irony in the chorus is brilliantly expressed.
"Whatshername? She hardly knew me;
Now her name means something to me.
I wonder if she ever got over me?"
He can't remember her name (or CAN he?) but he's inquiring of her "for a friend" and he's wondering if SHE ever got over HIM!
(See what I mean by brilliance?)

Then, the crux of the story, our hero says,
"Anyway I should be flattered
For yesterday at least I mattered
Where did it go?"
'For yesterday, at least I MATTERED'

A 'mid-life' crisis probably. A universal sentiment, or doubt at least.

A little rationalization, '. . . all things considered, I've done fairly well. . . ' He confirms his love for his wife and then, during the second chorus indulges in his fantasy once more and concludes.

One gets the feeling that he's not gonna jump off a bridge, he probably won't get drunk that night and continue reminiscing. He'll stay with Ruth and the kids, probably retire to Florida eventually. But one does get the feeling that the memories of his old 'love' will return on a regular basis, as sometimes those memories do.

Such is life.
Wish I could write a song like that!
Cheers Paul! (Noel)

WHATSHERNAME
Stookey/Dixon/Kniss- Neworld Media Music Publishers ASCAP
(from Album 1700 by Peter, Paul and Mary)


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