Senioritis is a magnificent thing. You work hard for three years and then completely mail it in for the final one because it’s so close to being done.

According to Wikipedia, it is “typically said to include slowness, procrastination, apathy regarding (school) work and a tendency toward truancy. Many students find themselves in a type of lame duck situation: their plans are made and a new chapter in their life is about to begin, so finishing the current chapter (the current term separating them from graduation) becomes just a formality.”

I’m not here to discuss my own senioritis, though. There’s someone else who is much more notably experiencing senioritis as he approaches the final year of a four-year institution and a major turning point in his life: President George W. Bush.

On Monday, Bush controversially erased the prison sentence of Dick Cheney’s former aide, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. Clearly his relationship with Bush was a key factor here and clearly this move is susceptible to criticism about Bush’s use of the justice system.

Political pundits say this move was to appease a portion of his conservative constituency who had been angered by him and his representation of the party over the past few years. Supposedly this move was a carefully drawn out plan to mend some of the broken ties he’s had.

Somehow, I doubt that’s it. It’s not Bush’s track record that evokes this attitude, but rather the obviousness of the reaction he’s getting.

This is one of the most blatant instances of handing out ammunition for his opponents and critics in the history of his presidency. He’s approached the point where he doesn’t care any more. Enter senioritis.

It’s not exactly revolutionary for a president to senior it up in his last 18 months. Former President Bill Clinton did almost exactly the same thing in 2001 with a controversial pardon.

I wouldn’t say I am personally bothered by presidential senioritis. From my stand point, it’s all kind of funny. It’s funny just to think about, really.

All the same, let’s examine the Bush situation further. As mentioned, senioritis includes slowness, procrastination, apathy and truancy. I’ve never known Bush to skip out on anything, so I guess truancy doesn’t apply, but clearly apathy is taking over.

Slowness and procrastination, well, uhh, I guess one doesn’t have to be in one’s fourth year to experience those.

The Wikipedia entry also mentions that students find themselves in a “lame duck situation.” Isn’t “lame duck” a political term? According to the same site, lame duck executives, particularly U.S. Presidents, are “notorious for issuing a series of executive orders or making appointments during their last days that they would not otherwise have made if it would have influenced the vote against them.” The parallel between the two is clear.

But wait. The definition there says “last days,” not “last 18 months.”

How interesting. Something tells me the best is yet to come from the Bush administration. Uh oh.

- Paul Rehm is a columnist for the Red & Black.