The never ending gyrations of an inept Congress and a newly inaugurated President have created a tumultuous roller coaster ride of emotions for the American public. Speaking personally, my emotions range from amusement to concern and usually end up in annoyance bordering on anger. We all are trying to figure out just who is in charge in our nation's capitol. President Obama has thus far been unable to adjust to his new role as our President. In my opinion, especially if you listened to his speech on Thursday night to the Democratic Party retreat, he acts and sounds as though he believes that he is still on the campaign trail. The Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid is lost at sea. I cannot remember when I've ever observed a more inept leader in the United States Senate. The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, believes that the entire nation speaks with one voice and is in total concurrence with her views on social reform and economic policies. She is either deluded or, she needs to get out more often and visit "flyover country" instead of flying in her personal jet between Washington DC and San Francisco.
Leaders have a responsibility to provide a steady hand in an unsteady world. These three individuals constantly remind me of the childhood story , Chicken Little. I am growing weary of being told that our economic end is near and that unless we act hastily, we are doomed to fall off an economic precipice from which we will never be able to climb out of. Political leaders have a responsibility to present an aura of steadiness and self control during turbulent times. They must also only enact policies or actions based on thoroughly developed courses of actions. Haste leads to ineffective use of time and resources. What if Winston Churchill had presented an image of doom and gloom to the British citizenry during the dark hours of the Battle of Britain? Would the British have been able to overcome the Germans? Maybe, but more importantly, Churchill instinctively knew that he had to present a public image of stern steadiness in horrific times and he encouraged the British to stand tall and join with one another in their efforts to defend their shores. Are the economic times tough? Of course, only a total moron would be oblivious to this reality however; our response as a nation to this dilemma is what matters. Nations in strife tend to assume the personality of their executive in chief. Do you think a NFL football coach for the losing team in a Superbowl tells his team at halftime, "Well, we're losing and I don't see a positive outcome in the second half."? Naturally he doesn't do this; instead, he will use positive reinforcement to correct mistakes made in the first half and encourage his team to believe in themselves and the possibility of their winning the game. Where is the positive encouragement coming from President Obama, House Speaker Pelosi or, Majority Leader Reid?
Leaders cannot delude their citizenry with false hope however; they need to light the way through rough terrain. I'm still waiting for the soft glow of optimism to rise from Washington DC. President Obama promised, though I must admit I didn't believe him and I did not give him my vote; a new age of compromise and conciliation in the Beltway. Thus far, I can only see the political trenches being dug deeper and the philosophical ramparts becoming more impregnable. As my title suggests, the classic comic routine of Abbot and Costello describing baseball has become the political reality of Washington DC. Maybe President Obama is incapable of leadership after all; he voted "present" on numerous occasions at the state and federal levels which, in my view, demonstrates an incapability to make a hard choice on vital and or, sensitive issues. Hopefully, he will soon realize that his current duty position does not allow him the luxury of such avoidance tactics. He would do well to step up to the plate and take charge in a truly bipartisan manner. Talk is cheap, now is the time for well thought out action!
De Oppresso Liber
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