Much has been made of President Obama's leadership, especially in light of the current crisis in the Gulf. Now, while its true that a lot of the criticism is, so much opportunistic rhetoric from the other side - designed to pounce on a president, whenever he's vulnerable, to make the all important political hay. Its just as true that, as we have seen this crisis grow older and were able to simply, look at the facts on the ground (or in the sea) and see that even those on the same side were starting to raise issues with the initial handling of the crisis by the President, then it becomes more legitimate to question his leadership.
But, even then, we're only able to pick on things that appear problematic, in a Leader's inability to lead. One might argue that apologizing to adversaries (as well as friends) and bowing to Saudi kings, is showing the opposite of leadership and further, may embolden terrorists to strike us, here at home. But, that becomes subjective. You can attempt to link Obama's actions to giving rise to the Christmas Day bomber, Nidal Hassan or the Time Square bomber. But these things might have happened anyway. Objectively, Obama's actions can't be directly tied to these events occurring and what's left is a series of odd choices and behavior, we'd certainly wish, not to see from our President.
In comparing two crises, Bush's Katrina and Obama's Gulf Spill - Both presidents took extreme heat, fairly and unfairly, for being slow to respond. The difference I see, from those two checkpoints is that for Bush and his Administration, they put their heads down and tried to make right all the things that appeared wrong in their initial response. Forging ahead while being beaten about the head and body, by their detractors and supporters, alike. A Katrina beat down, from which that Administration would never truly recover. Unlike the Obama Administration, the Bush strategy didn't become two-fold. On one hand, ensure that everything is being done that can be done - and on the other, try to convey being in charge while, with equal force, attempting to maintain political cover in word and deed, that the demon of this disaster is the dreaded oil company and not them. And of course, a healthy dash of "Blame Bush", for good measure.
With an evident inability of Obama, to view a larger picture - perhaps the Vision Thing, that Bush 41 spoke of in olden days, the President's choices to secure all blame to BP, as well as things such as: perpetuating images of keeping the foot on the throat of BP and kicking asses...letting it be known that if BP's CEO, Tony Hayward worked for him, he'd be fired. For dispatching Attorney General Holder to the scene, so early in this process, to hang the threat of potentially devastating legal action, over the head of BP, while it's in the midst of trying to stop a cataclysmic oil spill, that could be just as devastating to its own survival as it may be to the survival of the Gulf Coast... None of these actions are helpful to the monumental task at hand but, even worse, these rookie, short-sighted lapses in true leadership can be traced to the injuring of our strongest and biggest ally and partner, Britain, as well as hurt us right here in the US, with lost jobs from drilling moratoriums, etc. Why wouldn't it be logical to think that if you slam a British company that is so important to its own country as well as, in this case, the exposure of British pension funds to BP, that as President, you can cause all kinds of bad things to happen. (the economy, jobs of its citizens and the overall, financial well-being of both our countries) BIG PICTURE! You know..we sort of pay a president to be able to think these kind of things through.
Not Obama's clinically detached thinking process that everyone just loved, during the campaign. Lately, that and $3.95, will get you a cup of coffee. But, a President and/or his administration's talent in calculating their words...their actions, based on world realities that intend to produce results, beneficial for our country and the countries of our closest friends.
So too, has the President and the Administration, misinterpreted the calls for him to emote, in this time of crisis. Probably not the best word and totally over-used but, I sense where this call comes from. Its from something within us all, that whispers to us, that we haven't seen this before in a president. Its a bit strange to all of us. Further, the Administration mischaracterizes this call to mean that, somehow, we want this President to engage in some form of method acting, to placate the American public, for the emotions we're feeling. Its not at all. And, its also telling, that the Administration views it this way because, I think it truly believes, that any display of emotion, from this President, would be play-acting and not really genuine at all.
Say what you will of George W. But, in the first days following the attacks, on 911, when he addressed the nation on TV for the first time - though conveying national strength and the will to persevere, through this unthinkable crisis, visited on our Country...when you looked at his face, you saw a president who was as rocked to the core as we were. In that moment, he was us. And, in the days that followed, when the shock began to wear away and was replaced by defiance and a bit of anger, across the Country - the President was feeling those same feelings, right along with us. It was a connection to the people he was charged to lead, that brought us out of that National catastrophe. A catastrophe, we were led out of, that also brought with it, the biggest financial hit this country had absorbed, that wasn't related to a Depression. Some of Obama's actions may bring on unnecessary, financial consequences to the region, the country and beyond - that are totally avoidable. Not leading...
A President's connection to the citizens, all the citizens, especially in times of crisis, cannot be underestimated as being perhaps, the crucial element, in the his success of leadership. This innate connection, cannot be flipped on and off, like a light switch. It just has to be there. And with Obama...there's no there, there. A year-and-a-half in and this reality is seeping into the hearts and minds, of even his most strident supporters. No one is asking Obama to lead, only with his heart. But, we may be realizing, as a nation - that the evidence is growing that maybe, the heart of a Leader, does not beat within him.
The final thing that comes to mind - and this is my own speculation but, is brought about, by the feeling that Obama's disconnect, goes far beyond, just that of him and to the country he leads. Its how we've literally watched our Presidents, grow old and gray, right before our very eyes, from the sheer weight and enormity of the jobs they held. I somehow, have a sneaking suspicion, that when Obama emerges from his presidency...he will come out of it as handsome and as youthful as he was, on his Inauguration Day.
