THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!

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     This edition of The Controversy celebrates my 250th column since I began writing commentaries for this forum on November 22nd, 2012.

     Tomorrow's date, however, is January 20th, 2017... therefore...this is my final column to be published while President Barack Obama is our nation's leader.  And since my first commentary for The Controversy was titled, Thank you, Mr. President!...I've decided to do that which I have never done before.  I am using the same title for two different columns.

     My inaugural editorial was to express my gratitude to President Obama for his signature piece of legislation...the Affordable Care Act...which allows me to purchase medical health insurance.

     This commentary, though, is purely to thank Mr. Obama for his eight years of distinguished service as the President and Commander-In-Chief of our great nation.  And apparently, with a 60-percent approval rating - according to the ABC News/ Washington Post Poll, released on Wednesday, January 18th - nearly two-thirds of the people in the United States feel much the same way as I do.  Therefore...if I had the pleasure and privilege...to stand behind a podium...to salute and pay tribute to America's 44th President...in person...my speech to President Obama would begin this way.

     "Mr. President...you, sir...are a class act.  You represent the credibility, the dignity, the integrity, the compassion, the grace, the knowledge, the intelligence, the commonsense, the thoughtfulness, the leadership, and the care for all Americans that are necessary for the President and Commander-In-Chief of the United States of America.  Add your sense of humor and your charm, and you, sir, are aces in my book."

     I would go on to say...

     "Mr. President, you are the epitome of each of my sentiments.  And as our President...as my President – along with the First Lady – I applaud you both for your eight years in The White House.  So, Mr. President, thank you very much for your outstanding efforts and your tremendous accomplishments.  It’s a shame that others didn’t recognize how wonderful a President you have been throughout two terms behind The Oval Office desk."

     I would also want President Obama to know...how in many ways...I owe my life to him.

     "Sir...unfortunately, I am a two-time cancer survivor with other medical problems and additional pre-existing conditions.  So, Mr. President...I cannot thank you enough for the Affordable Care Act.  Without it...I would not have health insurance.  I will always be grateful to you for that, sir.  Furthermore, Mr. President...I applaud you and Vice President Joe Biden for everything you are both doing, so that hopefully – thanks to The National Cancer Moonshot Task Force - cancer can once and for all be eliminated."

     I would continue my address to President Obama by saying... 

     "As a patriotic American, it has warmed my heart, Mr. President, that for eight years, I knew that my President has been one I could always respect, honor and admire.  And for that, sir, I thank you very much.  So, God bless you, Mr. President.  And God bless Mrs. Obama, Malia and Sasha.  I wish each of you...all the very best...today and forever.  History will rank you, sir, as one of America’s greatest Presidents...and deservedly so."

      And here is how I would end my speech.

      "Sir...as a devoted American citizen... whose loyalty and allegiance to our magnificent country is unswerving...I am proud...very proud... that Barack Obama has been my President.  You, sir... will certainly be missed.  So in conclusion...all I have left to say...is one more...thank you, Mr. President."

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again."

The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions.  Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin. 

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Photo credits: dailynewsbin.com and netdna-cdn.com (President Barack Obama #1) and azcentral.com and gannett-cdn.com (President Barack Obama #2)

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