When I hear State of the Union speeches I always come away with a cynical attitude about politicians and the President didn’t let me down last night. He was supposed to talk about the state of the union but we got another campaign speech. Of course, he concluded on a high note about how great we are as a people in difficult times, but continues to be tone deaf to what the people are telling him. He forges ahead with his big government programs and his rhetoric does not match his actions.
We still have a President in a state of denial that he can ever be wrong in anything he does, while he makes me dizzy with programs and initiatives that do little to affect a “change we can count on”. Asking Republicans (or anyone) to give him some ideas on healthcare was disingenuous, saying things were “a mess when I walked in the door”, talking about more exports when he has pursued protectionist trade policies (the Columbia free trade pact has been on his desk for a year), and now saying he’s for nuclear energy and off-shore drilling while pushing windmills and solar for years, is an insult to our intelligence.
In terms of national security (which was hardly mentioned in his speech), he talked about swift action against terrorists, disrupting terror plots, and taking credit for ending the Iraq war. All of this was another affront to an informed public. I was glad to hear that Michelle and Joe Biden are working together on helping military families. Now I understand why Michelle needs 22 aides when all the previous First Ladies had one.
Then he had the audacity to talk about putting all earmarks on the Internet, when he signed a stimulus bill with almost 9,000 earmarks, more of the hypocrisy that is a trademark of his presidency. Not to mention his scolding of the Supreme Court for “opening the floodgates” to corporate and foreign campaign contributions; after he just raised more money in history for his recent presidential campaign while the current rules were in effect and won’t tell us where all that money came from.
By contrast, the Republican response by Bob McDonald, the newly elected governor from Virginia, was well organized, concise, and focused on the issues that concern voters as evidenced in the recent Massachusetts special election. No heart-tugging platitudes or a lengthy list of initiatives, McDonald said it very clearly, “the Federal Government is doing too much”, illustrating the disconnect between Obama and the people.
If you ever had any doubt that Obama is an ideologue leftist who thinks government can create jobs, prevent poverty, and spend your money with abandon, you should be convinced after this speech. Given the poor performance of this administration, this President continues to push his progressive agenda despite putting this country on the brink of insolvency, and severely weakening our national security by giving foreign combatants and terrorists the civil rights of American citizens. One of the basic tenets of elite liberals is that the public is stupid or just doesn’t have the time or desire to become politically informed. This speech was an excellent example of that.
Obama will eventually pay for this condescending address to all the informed voters of this nation.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
In America: The People Talk
The results in Massachusetts last night illustrate a point I’ve been making for some time in this corner. The people eventually call the shots and if you have an arrogant President and Congress who think they know what’s best for you and then proceed on a path completely out of sync with what you want, the ballot box is how we do it in America. I’m just surprised it came this fast, even before the 2010 mid-term elections in November. We’ve seen it in Virginia, New Jersey, and now Massachusetts. Two of those states are so blue that this result is an utter rebuke of Mr. Obama’s policies and those of the Democratic controlled Congress by their own constituents.
We are a centrist country and move left or right of that periodically. If either party allows extremists to get control, the inevitable happens. The Democratic Party is currently controlled by the radical left. This President has deceived the voters by campaigning as a moderate, broken most of his promises in his first year, and has laden himself with advisors and staff that promote socialist, radical, and even Communistic approaches to government.
From this we can only conclude that Obama believes these theories and plans to follow this path, as illustrated by his track record, education, associates, and friends. For a long time most Democrats have been in denial. They have followed him down this path because his story was truly an American one; he is youthful, eloquent, and an African-American. Truly a statement of how far we have come as a nation. Too bad he is arrogant, aloof, close-minded, and a poor leader. Yes, he seems like a nice person with a lovely family, but these are dangerous times and there are serious questions about his leadership and the outlandish dealings in Congress.
The people are tired of corruption, self- serving special interests, back room deals, and creating legislation on the fly. They don’t want big government that tells you what car to buy, how to heat your house, what you can eat, what kind of medical treatment you deserve, and what your salary should be. An administration that believes it is solely the economy causing the tea-party demonstrations of “angry red-necks”, is in total disconnect its the people.
Will the results in Massachusetts finally get Washington to listen? Not likely, but I believe Obamacare is dead and we will eventually get bi-partisan healthcare reform and it will be much better than this deplorable legislation that is currently on the table. If not, a lot of Democrats will be out of work in November.
We are a centrist country and move left or right of that periodically. If either party allows extremists to get control, the inevitable happens. The Democratic Party is currently controlled by the radical left. This President has deceived the voters by campaigning as a moderate, broken most of his promises in his first year, and has laden himself with advisors and staff that promote socialist, radical, and even Communistic approaches to government.
From this we can only conclude that Obama believes these theories and plans to follow this path, as illustrated by his track record, education, associates, and friends. For a long time most Democrats have been in denial. They have followed him down this path because his story was truly an American one; he is youthful, eloquent, and an African-American. Truly a statement of how far we have come as a nation. Too bad he is arrogant, aloof, close-minded, and a poor leader. Yes, he seems like a nice person with a lovely family, but these are dangerous times and there are serious questions about his leadership and the outlandish dealings in Congress.
The people are tired of corruption, self- serving special interests, back room deals, and creating legislation on the fly. They don’t want big government that tells you what car to buy, how to heat your house, what you can eat, what kind of medical treatment you deserve, and what your salary should be. An administration that believes it is solely the economy causing the tea-party demonstrations of “angry red-necks”, is in total disconnect its the people.
Will the results in Massachusetts finally get Washington to listen? Not likely, but I believe Obamacare is dead and we will eventually get bi-partisan healthcare reform and it will be much better than this deplorable legislation that is currently on the table. If not, a lot of Democrats will be out of work in November.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
An Economic or Leadership Crisis?
As President Obama concludes his first year in office, I attempted to evaluate his leadership skills since that is a key characteristic of great Presidents. Also, as a student of Leadership, it’s clear that successful leaders are different and have different strengths and skill sets. One thing is sure, however, most are charismatic and eloquent speakers and can mesmerize their audience by their commanding presence and message. Think of Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton; but even Hitler, Castro, and Chavez have that skill, so this attribute is important but not essential for great leaders.
What do people expect from their leaders? Usually, the following four things:
1. Purpose, Direction, Meaning
2. Trust
3. Optimism
4. Action and Positive Results
In delivering these things, the methods and tactics a leader uses are critical and separate the great ones from the mediocre.
Characteristics of Great Leaders
• Leaders have vision and develop a plan to implement that vision. They don’t make promises before they determine if the plan is feasible or achievable. Plans help them make go-no go decisions.
Think about GITMO and campaign promises.
• Leaders never look for blame in others. They are accountable and take action to make changes to correct poor implementation.
Think the Christmas Day bomber, Bush policies.
• Leaders never blame their predecessors for their problems or what they “inherited”.
Think the Bush policies, the recession, Iraq.
• Leaders admit when they make mistakes and don’t let their ego get in the way.
Think GITMO, Iran Policy, Stimulus, Healthcare, deficits, unemployment.
• Leaders encourage debate and try to reach compromise or a consensus among their managers or constituency.
Think healthcare debate, cap & trade, global warming scandal, Pelosi & Reid, Congress.
• Leaders don’t take credit for achievement, they know their limitations and look to give credit.
Think economic recovery.
• Well lead organizations are coordinated and provide a consistent message.
Think Robert Gibbs, Janet Napolitano, Joe Biden, Pelosi and Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and the Czars.
• Leaders do not deride their organization in public or apologize for its behavior. This will demoralize their employees or constituents.
Think European Tour, Nobel Speech, Copenhagen Climate Conference, Latin American Conference Speech, Reagan’s quote “that shining city on the hill”.
• Leaders will support and come to the defense of their allies and not worry about offending their enemies.
Think Israel, Iranian demonstrators, Columbia, South Korea, former Soviet nations, Eastern Europe, Poland missile defense, Honduras.
• Leaders never come to conclusions, particularly in public, until they know all the facts.
Think the Christmas Day bomber, Louis Gates affair, Fort Hood shootings.
• Oh Yes! Leaders never say “knock on wood”.
Now I would like you to grade our President……… Enough said!
What do people expect from their leaders? Usually, the following four things:
1. Purpose, Direction, Meaning
2. Trust
3. Optimism
4. Action and Positive Results
In delivering these things, the methods and tactics a leader uses are critical and separate the great ones from the mediocre.
Characteristics of Great Leaders
• Leaders have vision and develop a plan to implement that vision. They don’t make promises before they determine if the plan is feasible or achievable. Plans help them make go-no go decisions.
Think about GITMO and campaign promises.
• Leaders never look for blame in others. They are accountable and take action to make changes to correct poor implementation.
Think the Christmas Day bomber, Bush policies.
• Leaders never blame their predecessors for their problems or what they “inherited”.
Think the Bush policies, the recession, Iraq.
• Leaders admit when they make mistakes and don’t let their ego get in the way.
Think GITMO, Iran Policy, Stimulus, Healthcare, deficits, unemployment.
• Leaders encourage debate and try to reach compromise or a consensus among their managers or constituency.
Think healthcare debate, cap & trade, global warming scandal, Pelosi & Reid, Congress.
• Leaders don’t take credit for achievement, they know their limitations and look to give credit.
Think economic recovery.
• Well lead organizations are coordinated and provide a consistent message.
Think Robert Gibbs, Janet Napolitano, Joe Biden, Pelosi and Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and the Czars.
• Leaders do not deride their organization in public or apologize for its behavior. This will demoralize their employees or constituents.
Think European Tour, Nobel Speech, Copenhagen Climate Conference, Latin American Conference Speech, Reagan’s quote “that shining city on the hill”.
• Leaders will support and come to the defense of their allies and not worry about offending their enemies.
Think Israel, Iranian demonstrators, Columbia, South Korea, former Soviet nations, Eastern Europe, Poland missile defense, Honduras.
• Leaders never come to conclusions, particularly in public, until they know all the facts.
Think the Christmas Day bomber, Louis Gates affair, Fort Hood shootings.
• Oh Yes! Leaders never say “knock on wood”.
Now I would like you to grade our President……… Enough said!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The Decadent Decade
I am writing this post on New Year’s Day 2010 at the end of a turbulent decade that started with the Y2k uncertainty of the previous computer decade and ends with another uncertainty of greater magnitude: The economic viability of the United States.
After realizing that Y2k was an overblown concern, we continued on a spending binge of great proportions as we ran up the largest consumer debt in our history and started a 10-year housing boom that was encouraged by our politicians, relished by lenders, and virtually ignored by our Federal Reserve which kept interest rates at record low levels and fueled the fire.
In the midst of this excess, we were savagely attacked by a cowardly enemy hell bent on killing Americans for religious reasons. We lost over 3,000 innocent civilians in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania on one day in September of 2001. We became engaged in a war with an invisible enemy that can’t be identified by a uniform, a country, or a government; only a concept called radical Jihad. This is an enemy with no great army or high-tech weapons, but one that uses human suicide bombers, women and children as human shields, and puts no value on life or human rights. No country other than the United States by the shear force of its values, its will, and its extensive wealth, can fight this evil. We will be in this war for many years and we will eventually prevail, but future generations will have to shed their blood again to preserve the American dream.
Then, like a flash, we end the decade with an economic meltdown unlike anything we’ve seen since the Great Depression, a fitting end to a decade of financial excesses and greed.
In my life of 7 1/2 decades, I may not see the end of another decade, but one thing I do know for sure; no matter how politically divided we may seem to be, the freedom to express our opinions without retribution, to welcome all diverse cultures to our shores, and our dedication to human rights and the value of the individual, will permit us to survive and flourish in the decades ahead regardless of the challenges that are put before us.
I want to wish all of you who read this column a Happy and Healthy New Year. I will continue to inform you as best I can on the important issues of the day, and trust you will use your right to be heard, so that you can impact the future destiny of this great country in a positive way.
After realizing that Y2k was an overblown concern, we continued on a spending binge of great proportions as we ran up the largest consumer debt in our history and started a 10-year housing boom that was encouraged by our politicians, relished by lenders, and virtually ignored by our Federal Reserve which kept interest rates at record low levels and fueled the fire.
In the midst of this excess, we were savagely attacked by a cowardly enemy hell bent on killing Americans for religious reasons. We lost over 3,000 innocent civilians in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania on one day in September of 2001. We became engaged in a war with an invisible enemy that can’t be identified by a uniform, a country, or a government; only a concept called radical Jihad. This is an enemy with no great army or high-tech weapons, but one that uses human suicide bombers, women and children as human shields, and puts no value on life or human rights. No country other than the United States by the shear force of its values, its will, and its extensive wealth, can fight this evil. We will be in this war for many years and we will eventually prevail, but future generations will have to shed their blood again to preserve the American dream.
Then, like a flash, we end the decade with an economic meltdown unlike anything we’ve seen since the Great Depression, a fitting end to a decade of financial excesses and greed.
In my life of 7 1/2 decades, I may not see the end of another decade, but one thing I do know for sure; no matter how politically divided we may seem to be, the freedom to express our opinions without retribution, to welcome all diverse cultures to our shores, and our dedication to human rights and the value of the individual, will permit us to survive and flourish in the decades ahead regardless of the challenges that are put before us.
I want to wish all of you who read this column a Happy and Healthy New Year. I will continue to inform you as best I can on the important issues of the day, and trust you will use your right to be heard, so that you can impact the future destiny of this great country in a positive way.
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