I dreamed last night that the president came to visit me. It was strange to see him suddenly in the doorway.
For a moment, excitement gripped me. Maybe I had won an award for some achievement. Then no. He had come to impose the premiership on me.
""Excuse me, Mr. Rivlin," I replied in a daze, "Why me?!""
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""Because there are no other volunteers," His Honor replied with a fatherly smile.
Me: "Sorry, I'm not worthy of the high position. It's too heavy for me.".
The President: "You can try. We practice.".
Me: "No way, I'm weak at crisis management. I need some sleep.".
The President: "You are an expert on Israeli society. We are desperate for second-rate solutions.".
Me: "And the world around us? That's not my expertise.".
The President: "I'm satisfied with an expert on Israelis.".
Me: "This expertise doesn't add up. Most heads of government have walked more or less the same political paths. Most of them maneuvered more or less within the same framework of pressures, resources and values. Likud, Labor, Begin, Rabin, Barak, Bibi - it doesn't really matter. Except for the extreme fringes, most of us think in the same patterns and conventions, are sensitive to the same things and strive for the same basic goals.".
The President: "We need a refresh up there.".
Me: "Netanyahu is no longer good in your eyes"?
The President: "He's tired of the job, the man doesn't rest for a moment. Even Sarah doesn't want it anymore.".
Me: "Did you try in the opposition?"
The President: "Bozi evaded and there is no point in exaggerating about Ms. Galon's image.".
Me: "Try the popular media. There are celebrities and opinion leaders whose confidence is like Protective Edge, their criticism is sharp, and their outlook is strategic.".
The President: "I tried in that direction too. Amnon Abramowitz, Raviv Drucker, Nachum Barnea, all refused the offer. Look at how Lapid has dropped in the polls. They know how to criticize. Transportation is not exactly their cup of espresso.".
Me: "You can just give up.".
The President: "Stay only with a government"?!
Me: "It is common today to flatten pyramids and hierarchies. Effective work teams are preferable to charismatic leaders.".
The President: "Did you fall on your head? Look what's happening with the limited cabinet. A presidential regime with extensive powers is already preferable.".
Me: "You found the solution. The polls show that the public loves you.".
The President: "But they will hate me as a leading leader.".
Me: "You can try. We're practicing.".
