Pray for a real leader to emerge

Only a few months ago our big problem was high unemployment. Obama took his usual “no problem for a stepper like me” approach and threw billions of dollars at the problem. Guess what, the level of unemployment stayed high. Even worse, a gloomy slow growth scenario gradually unfolded. The U.S. and the European Union began to fear a global financial crisis. Stock markets around the world plummeted. Many economists talk openly of a double dip recession, coupled with increased inflation. Suddenly, no citizen feels secure. It becomes easy to see eerie comparisons to the 1930s.

The rest of the world also has serious problems. The Arab Spring continues its struggle to take a breath of democracy. Syrian protesters are shot by the hundreds. Libya’s rebels are literally at war against Gaddhafi. Rockets are fired at Israel. Thousands starve in Somalia. The leaders of Iran and Venezuela act like crazed bullies desperately seeking recognition. Macho Putin reacts to Obama’s “reset” by calling America a “parasite.”

In the U.S., it is obvious to all (except maybe Nancy and Harry) that the free spending habits of the government have created a real debt crisis. Over the years, we have built an entitlement society that may warm liberal hearts, but we simply can’t afford. Besides that, it produces a “why work?” mentality among its beneficiaries. Many cities and states have huge deficits. Even a basic reality check says something drastic must be done! Yet, the American political system is paralyzed and cannot act.

So, the American people face a crisis of historical proportions. The country faced similar threatening scenarios in the mid -1860s, the 1930s, and in World War II. Under strong leadership our people rose to overcome the challenge. In fact, the country emerged even stronger. All the American people need is a leader who can marshal a national response.

Unfortunately, the country now faces these new threats without any sign of effective leadership.Our President blames Congress while mouthing cheap political noises. If he does occasionally take an action, it is designed to protect his dwindling base. And, of course, he talks and talks and talks long after all have learned that his words are completely meaningless. His latest farcical action was to have constructed a million dollar “rock star” bus to take he and his teleprompter on a political swing through the Midwest states. Then, to cap off his non-performing ways he goes on yet another “golf before country” vacation. Talk about “fiddling while Rome burns.”

Recently, Obama has been labeled a “joke,” a “loser”, “hopelessly over his head’, “worse than Jimmy Carter”. My favorite label is “intellectual wimp.” Even formerly loyal supporters find themselves wishing they had backed Hillary. Some call for a Democratic Primary to select a candidate for 2012. His approval ratings sink to new low levels. His endless words cast blame on others. They provide zero leadership. The problems persist without any sign of correction. Yet another political speech only feeds the problem.

One thing for sure, if the right leader emerges in 2012, the American people will respond as they always have to solve the problem. We should all hope and pray for that to happen. The need is desperate.

My Idea of a President

Like most people, I have a vision of acceptable Presidential behavior.

For starters, my President should display a minimum amount of “class.” He should make it clear he stands above the political norm. He would never openly employ cheap political tricks to make a point over the opposition. He would always remind us that he is acting in the best interests of the country, not his political party. In no case, would he ever, ever criticize the members of the opposition by name.

My President would display big servings of plain old “apple pie” Americanism. He would make it clear he believes our country is exceptional, and he will fight to defend all it stands for. My President would believe that we may have national misgivings, but they are far outweighed by our contributions to world society. Under my President’s leadership, the world would know they can rely on our moral compass in difficult situations.

While he goes about doing great things for the country, he would display a casual sense of humility. This is not about him. It is all about presiding over a great country as it fulfills its destiny. Our country is the exceptional entity, not him. He merely presides over it.

My President would not tell me every minute of every day how smart he is. If he were really smart, he would realize his job is not about “smarts.” Instead, My President would rely on character, courage, and a desire to continually project the strong moral foundation of America to the world.

My President would realize that this great country was built on creating an environment that allows anyone to succeed. Making citizens dependent on government handouts destroys that incentive and causes the national foundation to crumble. Punishing the successful is the flip side of that travesty. America is not Europe. Income redistribution is anathema to my President.

I only realize I have these Presidential expectations when they get violated. Sadly, Barack Obama fails every aspect of my Presidential test. Under this President, alarm bells have been ringing off the wall signaling levels of violation never reached before.