Glib lips sink ships … and countries too – How do you spell L E A D E R S H I P?

2013

My opinion is things are not going well for America. As you can see from the current result of our latest poll, a lot of people agree with me. Even things that appear good are not.

Take unemployment for example. It has been declining gradually, but not because people have more jobs, but because they have stopped looking for work. At the same time part-time work is up; not what we need. Despite trillions being spent over the last five + years the economy is creeping along and most important of all we have failed to address the major problems we face like the deficit, our debt, Social Security, Medicare and more. And let’s not forget amateur night at international diplomacy.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, we hear enough about all these issues; usually in the context of blaming the Republicans as obstructionists or blaming some other entity or group for inaction. We abound in rhetoric to the point we may have redefined the job description of President of the United States; heck it appears even the Russians are applying for the job now.

We have a President who provides us a real life example of the Peter Principle … we rise to our level of incompetence and boy have we seen the examples.

To deal with the debt Obama appoints a commission which presents a comprehensive report that is ignored. He turned over crafting health care reform to Congress and the “committee” promptly gave us a horse in the shape of a camel. He turned creative solutions to Syria over to the Russians and eventually the UN. He finally puts out a proposed budget and you hear … what’s that? You hear no more about it or the ideas within. He draws red lines without knowing what that means or how to deal with it when crossed; act, don’t act, ask permission or jump on somebody else’s idea to save face?

Listening to the talking heads on the Sunday morning shows tells me the level of incompetence goes beyond the head of state. For example, I heard administration officials and supporters say that Putin acted on Syria because he was pushed into it by Obama’s threats of force against Syria. You mean strikes that Obama and Kerry went out of their way to say were “a shot across the bow,” “very, unbelievably limited,” that were to be of short duration and that we had no objective of interfering in the civil war, that’s what motivated Putin, are we talking about the same Putin, does Putin have a naive brother?

Obama certainly has naive advisors some of whom said Obama achieved his goals with the Syrian agreement and claim success in dealing with the chemical weapons. These are likely the same people who already claim success for Obamacare. Putin was motivated to act because he saw an opportunity to raise his and Russia’s international profile, delay for a year any real action against Syria and the chance to outmaneuver a confused and procrastinating President of the United States.

I’m sure there are more examples which I have forgotten, but the point is we have a President who does not lead and I don’t think even knows what leadership means. He is like the parent standing on the sidelines of his son’s little league game screaming and yelling and criticizing the coach, but not volunteering to help himself. Leadership is hard work and unlike being able to vote “present” and thereby remain noncommittal and unaccountable, you must make decisions, stick your neck out and take responsibility.

Yes, Republicans are acting more out of a dislike for Obama than for achieving rational goals best for the Country and yes Congress is mired in incompetence and partisan inaction, but guess what? That’s when leadership from the man in charge, the boss, counts most of all … where the hell is our leader? – I’m resisting saying “on the tenth tee” … Oops

Our dear leaders ability to shout and run apparently does not stop with policy setting. Read this from Politico:

Barack Obama’s got a knack for turning trial balloons into piñatas, and then leaving his allies to pick up the mess.

The pattern: He floats a buddy for a top job early, deliberates long enough for the opposition to gather steam, defends his pal too late to do any good, and then regretfully accepts defeat.

First it was Susan Rice, his choice for secretary of State. Now, Larry Summers has withdrawn from consideration to become the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. Their candidacies were so poorly handled that neither ever made it to the stage of being nominated, much less getting blocked – or voted down – by the Senate.

Now there’s a guy you want in your corner.

Mr Obama, you were a community organizer (not sure how good at it though) so I have a community for you to organize it’s called:

The United States of America

Starting in 2017 you can talk all you want and you will be paid well for doing so, but for now get your hands dirty, take responsibility and lead. Don’t expect us all to want to go where you do, but at least try. At age seventy I still get a chill when I hear the National Anthem, a tear comes to my eye when I say the Pledge of Allegiance or hear Taps played. Mr. President, you seem to be trying your best to take those emotions away.

P.S. I have some good advice for our President from someone I know he admires: