America Loses an Icon

Well, death seems to be running rampant this week, First Michael Jackson, then Farrah Fawcett, and now add to the list Billy Mays of OxiClean pitchman fame.  Reading about Billy today and seeing what he went through to get to where he was was pretty amazing.  This man had an amazing skill for pitching products, using his voice and enthusiasm as tools to reach out to crowds of people.  He did it so well he ended up reaching out to an entire nation with them.

In a way he reminds of the President of the United States.  I’m not singling out Obama here, but all the other Presidents I remember from my life time also (which in my case dates back to Ford). Billy and “the Prezes” both told us on and on, over and over again about their wonderful ideas that will make our lives so much better and easier.  They were all on our televisions making promises and trying to be our friends.

Seems pretty obvious to me that Billy beat the Prezes hands down.  We ALL liked Billy, or at the very least (for people that do not know who he was) we all liked people that possessed his energy and integrity.  The Prezboys, not so much.  The ideas Billy presented to us have done far more for most of us than any the Prezes presented.  Seriously, I have a bottle of Orange cleaner in the cupboard right now that I constantly use for cleaning my kitchen and bathroom, the stuff works wonders!  And Billy brought it to us, loud and proud!  And while I never bought Shammys, gel inserts, or a Soft Buns cushion, I’m sure there are thousands, if not millions, of Americans out there that would swear by them.

I challenge anyone to tell me anything that a President did for you that has actually helped you that much; unless you were given some kind of Presidential pardon from killing you’re abusive (but now conveniently dead) husband, you can’t do it.  And hey I’m not knocking it, the bastard husband probably deserved what he got.

So truth be told, we are talking about a man who outdid great (well, ok maybe not GREAT, but elected!) world leaders.  So Billy, rest in peace my friend; and while you are resting, I have to go clean my kitchen, so thanks one more time from me to you.

And not just from me Billy, from all of America!