There have only been, two other examples of presidents in the last 100 years, who have had to face the kinds of dire economic challenges, Obama confronted when he was elected. And they were Roosevelt and Reagan.
It is a pity, that the nation is reacting to his success, like a patient who was rushed to the hospital dying of a heart attack, had successful open heart surgery and is now upset about the bill.
But the only person to blame is Obama. While he has done, more than a successful job of being an executive officer of the government for the last two years, he has ironically failed at leadership and communication. I say, ironically, because the narrative when he was elected, was he would be great as the latter and inexperienced at the former.
Why Obama, has failed to use to use his communication and oratory skills effectively, is beyond me. Roosevelt had fire side chats. Reagan used oval office speeches. While Obama, like the outgoing BP CEO, seems relatively disattached.
Where is the great communicator we saw in the 2008 campaign?
The country needs him to step up his game. All of the crazy rhetoric of congressional and senate races by Republicans, are seeded by the fertile soil Obama laid fallow.
The fact of the matter, is that, our country is facing only two decisions this fall. Forget about the individual races and who are the candidates. The decision in November is to vote for Democrats who can allow Obama to govern or vote for Republicans to grind the government to a halt. We can all argue about Obama's decisions, but things are getting done. A Republican victory in November means nothing will get done.
Obama needs to speak to the nation. He must clearly present where the economy was at the end of 2008, where it is today and where it will be in the next two years; while reminding the nation of what would have happened, if the patient was allowed to die at the hospital because the patient did not want to pay the bill.
Obama needs to stop being tactical, trying to individually prop up weak Democratic candidates and reacting to the bait of the "Party of No" made up of xenophobes such as Limbaugh, Palin, Beck and Rand Paul.
He needs to realize that November is not a fight between Democrats and Fox News. It is rather a mandate of him vs. peoples perceptions of him. His best defense is to play offense. And in politics, who ever sets the agenda, wins.
Nothing short, of a choice between hope of progress and no hope of progress is at stake this November. And there is only one person who can stand up for hope. Ironically, that person, needs to inner channel the 2008 candidate, who ran on one word - "Hope".
- John Jazwiec
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