Sometimes the news outlets in other parts of the world have the greatest ease in calling attention to some things that American news organizations consider taboo.
The UK Times Online proceeds to point out the obvious. Obama Stumbles.
Nobody who heard him addressing a joint session of the House and Senate on Tuesday could doubt that Barack Obama can speak.
But increasingly the question being asked of the new President is: can he manage?
Mr. Obama in his recent speech on Capitol Hill
“Now is the time,” he said lulling his congressional audience, “to act boldly and wisely…”
The world remains awaiting to see what kind of action he will take.
What unnerves it even more is that when he has acted, his judgment has not always matched the sturdiness of his campaign rhetoric, let alone its slick, skilful execution. He has been ambushed in traps too often of his own making.
Yes, these would be Obama’s own creations. The President Knew About The Problems Yet He Still Nominated Them Anyway. He championed them nonetheless.
- Two nominees for Secretary of Commerce that withdrew. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, after investigation for pay to play corruption schemes. Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, after ideological differences surfaced. Washington Governor Gary Locke has now stepped up to the embarrassingly open plate.
- Nominee for Health and Human Services that withdrew. Senator Tom Daschle after unpaid taxes surfaced.
- Nominee for Secretary of Treasury who actually took the position after failure to pay taxes. Timothy Geithner.
- Nominee for Obama’s new position, Chief Performance Officer that withdrew. Nancy Killefer, for failure to pay taxes.
Serious lack of judgment.
- Obama thought no one would question his judgment because of his popularity?
- Obama thought they were not significant problems and they should not be disqualifying?
Remember. Obama himself admitted this clearly. Fox News.
“I consider this a mistake on my part, one that I intend to fix and correct and make sure that we’re not screwing up again,” Obama said.
“We can’t send a message to the American people that we’ve got two sets of rules — one for prominent people and one for ordinary people,” Obama said, defending his administration’s standards.
But Hail To The Chief for expecting Wall Street to swallow hard and whole the bank rescue plan, and then watching Wall Street tumble resoundingly fast when the details were glaringly absent.
Mr Obama’s has also been bruised by his inexperience with the ways of Wall Street. The President assiduously, and unwisely, stoked expectations for his Treasury Secretary’s bank rescue plan.
Diplomacy and integrity is quite startlingly absent when it comes down to ambassadorships. Such is the case with General Anthony Zinni, former top commander in the Middle East. He was chummied up by both Vice President Joe Biden and National Security Adviser James L. Jones, and even thanked by Biden for accepting the position of Ambassador to Iraq. Suddenly, the position went to someone else, and Zinni was left hanging high and dry. No phone call. Nothing. Later, just a consolation prize of Ambassador to Saudi Arabia instead, which was unceremoniously declined with,
“I told them to stick it where the sun don’t shine.”
The appropriately appalled Zinni remarked,
“No one even bothered to call me. This is Leadership 101.”
Obama. Pretty words to cover up a serious lack of judgment, management, and experience. Something a seasoned veteran would probably easily glide through.
Actions speak louder than words.
See:
- http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article5804745.ece
- http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/01/bill_richardson_withdraws_as_c.html
- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500008,00.html
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/02/AR2009020202970.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
- http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/01/13/geithners-tax-headaches/
- http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2009/02/three_strikes_killefers_out.html
