OBAMA RULES WITH CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE

Good old Joe Scarborough (MSNBC Moring Joe) was almost apoplectic this morning over Obama’s press conference yesterday morning. The President very effectively chastised the Republicans for their obstructionism and their threat to do harm to the Country over the budget ceiling. First, he addressed the tragic shooting the Washington D. C. Naval yard—more gun violence. Apparently, what upset Joe was that the president had the audacity to talk about two different subjects at the same time. He was offended by the idea that Obama was worried by the threat to shut down the government when there was an active shooting investigation going on. As always, Joe brought up the tired old trope, “If Bush would have done that there would have been a torrent of criticisms in the media”. He repeatedly used “W” as an identifier for the past President saying if “W” did this or “W” said that.

He knew Obama hit a home run with that conference; the audience was huge and his message to the American people was as biting for Republicans as it was clear. What Joe was doing was trying to counter the success of the news conference by stirring up a little more unfounded hate by attacking at the level of the “birther” logic—using counter arguments that have no substance.

The contrast between Obama and the past president was dramatic. Obama can “walk and chew gum” unlike “W”, who happens to be Joe’s hero. The ability of this White House to face all the deep difficult problems amazes me. The idea that the president went to the American people over the lack of jobs, the fake budget crisis, the Republican caused failing infrastructure, the disparity between the working class and the rich, Syria crisis, and over Larry Summers nomination as Federal Reserve Chair was remarkable. The Affordable Health Care Law will be Obama’s signature success, which is the equivalent of the FDR success in 1935 with Social Security Legislation. You know these programs benefit the people because the GOP hates them so much.

Obama’s success with Syria is only one example of what a good leader can do. His change from past “tough guy, empire building” United States foreign policy is welcomed by the world. He has State Department and Department of Defense leadership to do that: Kerry, Hagel, Susan Rice, and Samantha Power. He floated the names of possible appointees for the Fed Reserve Chair; the congress and the American people had their input; now he will decide.  

Obama is ruling the United States as a democracy; he rules with the consent of the people for the benefit of the people. He is as far from being a Marlborough cowboy on a big awe inspiring horse as you can get; Obama is not a John Wayne. Of course, the charge that he is not a leader raised its ugly head but also reminded us that “W”, the “decider”, would not have gone to those he governed; all Bush needed was to hear from Cheney and the neo-cons. As an ugly reminder of the difference between Bush and Obama style of governance, look at the secret formation and operation of the Energy Task Force during the Bush years—a disaster for everyone but the big oil companies; even the small oil companies suffered. 

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