I have discussed in the past my misgivings about the President's leadership style. I have been critical of his seeming inability to enter the fray on any debate. There is a major debate brewing over the raising of the National Debt Ceiling, and the implications of this debate could be catastrophic. As part of this debate Republican Rep. Eric Cantor (VA) and Sen. John Kyl (AZ) walked out on the bi-partisan talks in what was apparently a politically staged event. The budget talks led by Vice President Joe Biden are trying to reach a bi-partisan solution to the impending budget crisis. There is roughly 6 weeks left to address the budget and debt crisis, but Republicans still feel it necessary to do some political posturing on an issue that could potentially destroy the world economy. The impact on the anemic recovery in America would be equally devastating, if the country defaults on its debts. In a recent poll I saw this morning, 41% of Americans say DO NOT raise the debt ceiling, 38% say DO raise it. Clearly the people of this nation have no clue the impact of not raising the debt ceiling, and the Tea Party crowd in particular doesn't seem to understand the gravity of following this path. The Republicans are juggling with fire on this issue, and to let it deteriorate into some kind of ideological pissing contest is nothing short of irresponsible. The question then becomes why do they feel so emboldened to push the envelope on this vital and very dangerous issue?
While the walk-out of Cantor and Kyl this week was staged or not, it did force the President to step into argument. The Problem: He should have been there to begin with. I'm sure Vice President Biden is perfectly capable of leading the budget talks, but with the World and American economies in the balance, if the President shouldn't be involved in this conversation I don't know who should? Many pundits make excuses for Obama, that he is a delegator, and that his style simply keeps him out of these, or any debates. While this may be, the criticism that he leads from behind becomes more and more true. He is the Commander-in-Chief, not the Delegator-in-Chief. In the current state of national affairs, we need a leader who knows how to put the hammer down when issues demand it.
Everyone would like to have bi-partisan solutions to all our major governmental problems, but that is not a pragmatic vision in the current political atmosphere. The Republican Party is increasingly becoming entrenched by a supply side, hard right wing philosophy that leaves little, if any room for compromise. This is not an issue The President and the Democrats can cave on. We have given enough! An agreement that holds Democratic concessions, and keeps the Republican ramparts against tax increases for the rich and corporations is unacceptable, PERIOD!
The greater peril for the President, aside from potential economic devastation, is that his continued failure to stand firm against the right is having a tangible erosion of support on his base ( It certainly is with me ). While this group will find no comfort in a highly flawed option on the right, they may become so disaffected that come November 2012 they simply sit home. It is encouraging that the Republican field is so weak, however if the economy implodes and Republicans can pin the failure on President Obama, it may put re-election for him out of reach. The Debt Crisis ( Which is a creation of Republican administrations and lawmakers ) could very easily be just another argument that Republicans high jack to the detriment of Democrats and the nation as a whole. Why? Because Republicans don't need facts to prove their points. They have become experts at creating arguments that don't hold water, but are cheesecake for an ignorant, misinformed, electorate that is way to quick to gobble up the steady stream of lies the right now puts out on a regular basis. If the President and Democratic leaders shrink from the upcoming budget battle and debt crisis, the consequences will be long lasting, and far reaching. If the President fails here, my trust in his ability to be an effective leader going forward will be shaken to my core. This is a major turning point that will show us just what the President is made of... lets hope it's not rubber.
While the walk-out of Cantor and Kyl this week was staged or not, it did force the President to step into argument. The Problem: He should have been there to begin with. I'm sure Vice President Biden is perfectly capable of leading the budget talks, but with the World and American economies in the balance, if the President shouldn't be involved in this conversation I don't know who should? Many pundits make excuses for Obama, that he is a delegator, and that his style simply keeps him out of these, or any debates. While this may be, the criticism that he leads from behind becomes more and more true. He is the Commander-in-Chief, not the Delegator-in-Chief. In the current state of national affairs, we need a leader who knows how to put the hammer down when issues demand it.
Everyone would like to have bi-partisan solutions to all our major governmental problems, but that is not a pragmatic vision in the current political atmosphere. The Republican Party is increasingly becoming entrenched by a supply side, hard right wing philosophy that leaves little, if any room for compromise. This is not an issue The President and the Democrats can cave on. We have given enough! An agreement that holds Democratic concessions, and keeps the Republican ramparts against tax increases for the rich and corporations is unacceptable, PERIOD!
The greater peril for the President, aside from potential economic devastation, is that his continued failure to stand firm against the right is having a tangible erosion of support on his base ( It certainly is with me ). While this group will find no comfort in a highly flawed option on the right, they may become so disaffected that come November 2012 they simply sit home. It is encouraging that the Republican field is so weak, however if the economy implodes and Republicans can pin the failure on President Obama, it may put re-election for him out of reach. The Debt Crisis ( Which is a creation of Republican administrations and lawmakers ) could very easily be just another argument that Republicans high jack to the detriment of Democrats and the nation as a whole. Why? Because Republicans don't need facts to prove their points. They have become experts at creating arguments that don't hold water, but are cheesecake for an ignorant, misinformed, electorate that is way to quick to gobble up the steady stream of lies the right now puts out on a regular basis. If the President and Democratic leaders shrink from the upcoming budget battle and debt crisis, the consequences will be long lasting, and far reaching. If the President fails here, my trust in his ability to be an effective leader going forward will be shaken to my core. This is a major turning point that will show us just what the President is made of... lets hope it's not rubber.
