Henry Rollins: Led Zeppelin, All Powerful

Two nights ago, I was sitting in front of my speakers listening to a very clean pressing of Led Zeppelin's altogether perfect Led Zeppelin II, which I have been listening to since I was in ninth grade and which is still working for me. One of the best parts is that there is not a lot of overdubbing, besides the regular doubling of vocals and guitar and some basic old-school tape manipulation on "Whole Lotta Love." But past that, it's just an incredibly good band doing their thing right down the barrel. It is a testament to how little you need when you are the real thing.

Listening to this album made me think of the following: During President Obama's excellent acceptance speech a few weeks back, he said: "In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward."

This struck me as odd. Perhaps the president was trying to be polite in an effort to show Mitt Romney how a real leader does things? Why would he want to engage with the ex-governor again? I know I had my fill.

Yet true to his word the president sent out the invite and Mr. Romney took him up on it and went to the White House for lunch. A few days afterward, I had an idea as to perhaps why this meeting took place. I looked around on the Internet and saw others had this same conclusion. Our president is a very, very intelligent man who plays the long game on an intensely complex and dynamic level, as Speaker John Boehner is learning.

I think that the president wanted Mr. Romney to get up real close to the presidential experience. Basically: Enjoy the chili, check out the digs, take a good look around, realize this is as close as you are ever going to get to being president -- and then get the fuck out.