Make way for SENATOR Obama

On November 4, 2008, almost 70 Million Americans cast their ballots for the Democratic candidate, Senator Barack Obama, to become the next President of the United States. Many of these people chose Obama's messages of change and put in this new President, their hopes and dreams of a better day in America.

And we got the man we wanted. The problem, however, has been this. In his attempts to "build consensus", Obama has proven to be not the Presidential leader, but rather the 101st Senator from "America". His leadership on positions and issues has not come with clear messages to his party on what he'd like to pass. Rather, he's allowed the Max Baucus's and Kent Conrads to dominate the dialogue, and has catered to Ben Nelson's every need, in order to get a watered down version of whatever legislation he was originally seeking.

And Conrad, Nelson, Bayh, and Baucus have been more than happy with the circumstances--giving them the platform and clout they seek to gain fundraising for their next campaigns, appear to be "moderates" with their majority Red-state constituencies.

The problem with the current situation, however, is that Obama has a real agenda, but he's not articulated the specifics of the deals. Recently, he "wimped out" on his movement towards normalizing relations with Cuba, continuing the current relationship status for another year. Clearly this was a backpedal on an issue that would have caused waves with certain elements of the population. Why do we keep a draconian policy in place when the benefits of such actions have far outlived their usefulness? Are we anticipating an imminent attack from Havana on our shores, and all that stands in the way is that darn trade embargo?

Spare me the lecture on Castro's role in the Cuban missile crisis, or Grenada, or even Nicaragua. Clearly isolating him hasn't stopped his influence on the Hugo Chavez's of the world, and at 80+ years old, I don't think there's an imminent plan on his horizon to take over Costa Rica, or Alabama, or whatever.

Yet Obama made the move that most SENATORS would make--consensus, and give a little to get a little. No movement on this issue means keeping it off the table, while you fight for health care.

But his moves on Health Care, and even on the Stimulus, for that matter, were bold initiatives that required someone to stand up and say "this is my position! Here's why it helps the Most Americans! etc, etc". Instead Obama put the legislation ideas forward, and then let Rahm Emmanuel twist the arms, let Max Baucus and Kent Conrad drive the deal cutting where they are bargaining basically against themselves. Obama has yet to make the case to the American people that he should get his way, all soaring rhetoric to the contrary.

Without someone to stand up and say "here's what I believe in!", the only other voices out there that can be heard are the Glenn Becks, and Birthers, and the rest of the nut-jobs who need access only to a bull-horn, a cell phone camera, or a Fox News Correspondent.

Despite endless press conferences, Obama looks ever more ineffectual, ever more meek, and ever more timid in his approach to issues. We see it in business all the time. Someone gets promoted into a new role, and perhaps they are smart enough, but don't yet believe in their message, or leadership skills. They appear timid, and allow stronger personalities around them to dominate initially. It's sad, really, because Obama is the best orator in the game. The best player on the court. But he is like the kid brother who has outgrown his father, but still loses the head-to-head matches because he lets his father psyche him out.

Obama seems to be confused at this vitriol from the Republicans, and as the Independents of the nation watch to see how he reacts, they are increasingly dismayed at his lack of sturdiness. He seems easily knocked off message. Unable to do much more than deliver a line. If John Boehner, Joe Wilson, or Glen Beck can do that to Obama, what could Putin do? It's an answer the Obama camp had better come up with quick.

All that being said, I still think as President, Obama has made a lot of strategically excellent decisions. A year after Lehman Brothers collapsing, we are in much better shape economically, and fiscally, than I ever thought we'd be. Yes, we are in a deficit hole that's exceptionally large, but the alternative of depression and deflation is not the kind of movie I'd want to see. I think March of 2009 was enough of a preview for my liking.

In the end, Obama has failed to take leadership positions on major policy initiatives, from Afghanistan and Iraq, to global warming, to energy. He's tried hard, and advanced 8 efforts at the same time, but nothing has actually come to pass that would offer real change. It's like my boss tells me, "I'd rather have 100% of 3 things done than 3% of 100 things done." The point is, Obama needs to choose some initiatives, push his agenda, and get it done. The nice guy, "let the Congress sort it out" approach has led to speculation on Death Panels, socialism, and all the rest.

This Senatorial approach to running the Executive Branch has left his party confused and leaderless, and emboldened the minority party into stalmateing every initiative, or crippling them. This is the definition of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on each legislative initiative. If Obama isn't careful, he will end up with the albatross around his neck of another nice guy but ineffectual leader--Jimmy Carter.

The Modern Republican Party

It's been an interesting time to watch politics. Not for the hot races (although there are a couple). But for the action in the protests, and the town halls. I've been scratching my head trying to understand the appeal of people like Sarah Palin, Glen Beck, Mike Huckabee, and even a Rush Limbaugh.

I'm not sure I'll ever get the appeal of their ideology, but I think I'm starting to understand why they are the face of the Republican Party these days.

There is no current Republican Politician in the government that really represents and articulates the Conservative point of view these days. It's brutal. No wonder the Conservative heartland looks to the Hannitys, Roves, and Cheneys for leadership. I tried to take a real, hard look at the current leadership, and I almost felt like Alexander the Great, who cried when he recognized there were no more worlds to conquer. Unlike Alexander, I DO think the Republican Party will endure, and I agree with the odds makers giving them a 1 in 3 chance of taking back the House in 2010. However, if they do, this current crop of leaders isn't exactly the stuff of legends.

Mitch McConnell--about as inspirational as Harry Reid. He's been somewhat effective in blocking some Democratic policy, but for the most part, has not been able to stop the Obama freight train. And lets face it, he's been the leader of a shrinking party since he took over. He barely won his own state in re-election, and if the Republicans took over the Senate in 2010, perhaps its time to look to someone like John Thune for a makeover of the face of the party.

John Boehner--Speaking of faces of the party. What color is the sun in Ohio anyway? Why is he always orange? The guy cries on the floor, and whines and complains like a teenager. Seriously, if you took some of his speeches and put them in Miley Cyrus's mouth, they would sound like, well a typical teenager. Which leads to Boehner's #2...

Eric Cantor--About as appealing as watching toast on television. He's no Gingrich or Delay in the making. Civil, soft-spoken, and, well, he reminds me a little of Harry Reid as well. Or perhaps Tom Daschle.

John Kyl--This guy is no Conservative. He's no great leader. But he backs it up by being uninteresting on the stump too.

What is a Conservative to do? There really is NO ONE who represents their ideology in the top echelons of the Party. Michael Steele? Forget it! For people who are true believers, the only outlet for their frustration are the Palins, Huckabees, Mark Levins, and others on the Right. It's comfort food, as much as MSNBC is for Liberals.

I can't fault people for wanting to listen to what they want to listen to. But I do find it interesting that, with the death of Kennedy, the Liberals feel that their great leader is gone. They now know what Conservatives have been feeling like since 1/20/09, and in many ways, since 1989, when Reagan rode off into the sunset. Unfortunately for the Conservative Right, it won't change much for 14 more months. Fortunately for Conservatives, current trends are their friends. So keep your chin up, and get out and vote for candidates that support your vision for the world. Lots of races to win. Things can change. Ask the Liberals who were so destitute after 2004...

America the Crazy

When did America turn into Crazyland? Somehow, growing up, I don't recall the fact that Ronald Reagan talking to kids about his jelly bean jonzes, or Nancy Reagan asking drug addicts to "just say no" were causes for such moral and ethical outrage. Perhaps a few good-natured jabs at the notion that a message from Nancy Reagan would really lead a crack-head to give up the pipe just because the first lady said so, were about the most an indignant left wing could muster.

So now, a sitting President isn't allowed to address the students of America to work hard, stay in school, and help the President think of ways to achieve full graduation rates by 2020?

Spare me the details of his "socialist agendas". The man won an overwhelming victory on election night, and he is our President. He was elected to try to fix the economy, health care, and our status in the world. Unlike our previous President, he has a more pro-active approach to all three. I'm not suggesting I agree with all of his moves thusfar, but I appreciate the fact that he's trying to help the country out of a recession, two wars, and a faltering health care system, that is crippling our competitiveness in the world.

I can understand criticism of his policies, and even people who have an issue with his stance on certain issues. But let's be clear. This is NOT a man interested in turning to a Communist style of Government. This is not a Nazi. This man has done nothing to indicate that he's going to "Bring the crazy".

Introducing concepts like "death panels", public school socialism indoctrination, and the like just sounds nuts. I used to think that people like this were just the fringe of society. I still hope that's true.

However, I'm hearing it more and more in my conversations with people "in the streets", and in restaurants, the office hallways, and the like. And it has to end. This is our President, and he's qualified, and has stood in the national public spotlight for years now. I would suggest that none of his efforts to try to fix what has ailed America has been an abject failure.

But what has been a failure has been a lack of leadership for the common sense cause. No one has stood up to some of these people and said, "that's just nuts!" And they should. No one is suggesting death panels. No one is suggesting Obama wants to indoctrinate your son or daughter into being a Hitler Youth. People have been watching movies for so long, they seem to have forgotten what reality is.

People out of work? "that's all the illegal's fault"
Got no health insurance? "can't have health care for all! That would be wrong!"
Looking to reduce dependence on foreign oil? "drill baby, drill"

We've become the land of the uneducated, the land of the fat, lazy, stupid, jingoistic, "me first" ,"FU!" bullies. It's time for the people of common sense in this country to stand up and say "ENOUGH!!!"

• I'm for a PUBLIC OPTION. It helps insure more people, and makes us competitive with the rest of the world again.
• I'm FOR a Cleaner environment, and if Cap and Trade is better than what we have today, SO BE IT!
• I'm FOR another Stimulus, because I think the one we have had so far IS helping.
• I'm FOR more spending on Education. Because people should understand that things like Science and Evolution are real. Certain aspects of their explainations are subject to debate, but their theories are rooted in fact, study, trial and error, and have a foundation for support. People need to learn these things, or America will be marginalized from the rest of the world.
• I'm FOR pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, because we can do no more good in either place. If you disagree, convince ME that all of our money spent over there couldn't have been better spent on the poor, uneducated, or otherwise disadvantaged we have here in America.
• I'm FOR a lower corporate tax rate, as long as we also eliminate many of the existing loopholes currently being exploited today.
• I'm FOR Free Trade, because import tarriffs are the fastest way to shut down our economy.
• I'm AGAINST people who have clearly malevolent intentions towards our President, and hide it under false pretenses (ie. carrying guns to town hall meetings, calling Obama a "Hitlerite" or "Marxist". These are just code words.)
• I'm AGAINST people screaming in town hall meetings, as if the bully credo really works (might makes right!). If it does end up working, it will be a truly sad day for America, because we will take our place with a long line of countries that have succumbed to fear and intimidation.
• I'm AGAINST doing nothing, and waiting for the market to fix things.
• I'm AGAINST the endless commentary railing that "I want my country back!" For most of us, we're glad to finally have OUR country back...from the lunatic fringe that brought us the likes of Tom Tancredo, Mike Huckabee, and Sarah Palin in the last election cycle.

and I'm FOR whatever works. But right now, we need to be trying these things, not shutting them all off in favor of a Laffer Curve Theory that hasn't proven any more apt at economic recovery in the 80's than Clinton's tax increases did in the 90's.

I'm FOR electric cars, increasing legal immigration, and pragmatic solutions to what ails us today. Perhaps increased taxes on Social Security and Medicare. Or perhaps raising the age of recipients instead. If opening the fed window to all home owners to refinance their homes at 4% is an option, we ought to pursue it.

Don't like what I'm for? Don't worry. It's not like a single thing I've pushed has actually been passed into law. We've got far bigger issues to worry about. After all, Obama may want to go to a 7-11 tomorrow, or something, and we can't possibly have THAT! We need to boycott 7-11's! And why 7-11s? Does Obama have something against Cumberland Farms!? Or County Fairs!? I KNEW he was a Socialist...

Can America BUY its way to a better future?

Here we are, about 8 months into the new Obama administration, and much is different in the Obama approach to American values, our world relations, and economic strategy. The Obama team has tried a number of things to work on everything from health care, to the economy, to the environment, and foreign affairs. I think the best we can say about most of these efforts is that they have not yielded immediate success. None are abject failures at this point either, but one program did seem to yield an unforeseen success--cash for clunkers.

Why was this program so successful? I think the answer is obvious. People in America today need REAL incentives to behave in a manner that is different from their status quo. Just about everyone wants a cleaner environment, less dependence on foreign oil, even universal health care that is first rate, affordable, and less costly. Everyone wants a balanced budget. Everyone wants peace in the world.

Okay, perhaps not 100% of Americans, but I don't think that these goals are particularly partisan in nature. The fact is, though, that most Americans aren't as partisan as the media makes them out to be. Most Americans will do just about anything offered, as long as it makes common sense, and it's either economically neutral, or benefits them.

So, back to cash for clunkers. A 10% incentive to trade in my old gas guzzler for a shiny, new fuel efficient car? Now THAT's an incentive! The problem with previous attempts has been that the incentives were too small, too hard to figure out, and on items with price tags too large to begin with. Am I really going to go solar if you offer me a discount, but only if I go with pre-approved installers, and only if I'm in a certain tax bracket, and I buy over a certain amount, and the certainty of the benefits might be 20 years from now, and...

I think an America that uses less imported oil in its cars, more efficient appliances in its homes, develops alternative energy sources that are cost competitive and efficient, goes to schools that are equipped and able to teach, and has health care that's affordable for all, is within reach. But perhaps we have learned that there is a way to do it after all. So let's see what we can learn from "cash for clunkers".

For starters, why not continue the program? I admit, recycling the entire US auto fleet into cars that get 10 MPG more than their predecessors really only translates into about 10-20 days of less fuel per YEAR than today. Not great. However, electric cars are on the way, and perhaps a $10k per vehicle incentive on Nissan or Chevy electric cars is achievable in the near future.

And can we do better than a $50-$200 credit for efficient appliances? What about helping people who want to install solar panels achieve a break even point on costs that is 5 years or less? Costs on solar installations have dropped dramatically, and a kick start on solar could really take a bite out of our dependence on home heating oil, and other costs.

And what about health care. I have been clear about supporting a public option. But more importantly, I'd really like to see a reduction in costs. I have incentives in my health plan (meager, but incentives nevertheless) to remain healthy. I can achieve up to $340/year in "gift certificates" by doing things to stay healthy (visit the dentist, get a checkup, exercise, etc). I'd love to see such incentives for more Americans. I'd love to see a $500 credit for a yearly checkup in which people's weight went DOWN from year to year.

I have offered a few options here. What we now have in America is a country used to being paid for behavior. So rather than lament such an environment, let's embrace it, and start thinking about way to use it to our advantage. To those of you who cry "socialism", I ask you whether Ford Motor Company, or its workers are crying about increased production, and sales. I'd make a point to you that we are already in the wealth redistribution business in so many ways in America. It's time to think about how to at least do it in such a way as to incent good behavior, and give people a way to find some additional bucks in their own pockets, rather than the governments. At the end of the day, we're all trying to get to the same place.