In the last few months or so I've heard Matt Damon, Michael Moore, Stephen A. Smith & a few other democratic liberal types all say how disappointed they are in the work of President Barack Obama. All of these people voted for President Obama and are supporters of President Obama. So it made me take a deep look at the last fifteen months of the Obama administration. A closer look. And it was that punch in the gut that you get when you realize that your son is just not cut out for football. The feeling that you get when you finally accept your child's teacher's assessment that he or she needs special education. I took that long hard look at Barack Obama. And I love this man. He's been a beacon of light for me and millions of others. He seems virtuous, honest, and caring. He seems extremely patriotic and he means well with every action and every bill that is passed. But he's just not the guy. This job is going to swallow him alive!
How does this relate to me?
Ever since I was a young teenager; probably around 13, I had this desire to be in management. I always wanted to be in charge. I sold papers, made a system, hired a team of people to help me with my route, and after paying my team, I made no money, but I was happy that I managed a team of kids who handled this huge neighborhood. After awhile, my friends got lazy. They weren't waking up, missing their routes, stealing my money and other shenanigans. Which ultimately caused me to lose my route. But those were my buddies. We laughed and joked about it. Everything in life was good. I still had my friends. Screw the paper route. Later in life, I was in the Navy, as I moved up in the ranks, I was heavily decorated with ribbons and medals for accomplishments. I moved up the ranks pretty fast. But I never led people during my Navy stint. I was always in jobs where I worked alone and required self-motivation and independence.
After my Navy stint I got into management again. adult management; with a national restaurant chain; Italian food. I was an assistant manager. I was responsible for the restaurant operations; front to back. I became good friends with the kitchen staff. Those guys were great and they loved when I work. They could go crazy. The bartender chatted with me all the time, told me all of his life's horror stories, opened up easily. Waitresses loved me, confided in me, cried with me, and I even dated a few of them. I finally left and went into retail. I went to a national video chain. I did quite well there too. Promoted up to district manager of Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Made great friends. A few who are great friends to this day. But I did not get those promotions because of my great leadership skills. I got those promotions because I was a politician. I rubbed elbows and befriended the right people. I was a socialite. And actually, I was a horrible manager of people. I wasn't a leader. I liked people. I wanted friends and lots of them. But I still wanted that executive position. I went from retailer to retailer. Big boxes with big names. You've heard of some; Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Enterprise. Again, I was a great politician, gatherer of people and collector of friends. I finally got tired of trying to lead and motivate people for my success. It was such a stupid concept. Why didn't everyone see the world like I did? Why did I have to motivate people to want success for themselves. I had a plan. So I got fed up with needing people to get me where I needed to be. I wanted to work alone.
Every job that I took after that retail stint; I worked alone. And I was successful. Pharmaceuticals, Business to Business sales, and running my DJ company. I could have lots of friends and depend on none of them for my own success. And that is good for me. I don't have to wait on people to make decisions. I don't have to motivate others. I don't need them to be successful. I can be a nice guy. A politician. And sell my personality.
Here in lies the problem with Barack Obama. His campaign was great! The people loved him. Even the people that said, "he's inexperienced". He wowed us. He had a vision. He wanted change and so did millions of Americans. He wanted to reform health care. He want to please the gay population. He won over middle class whites and affluent blacks. And if this were a dictatorship where he didn't need anyone else to get his agenda done; then we wouldn't be having this discussion. But Barack needs to be liked. He's a socialite. He's gathered many friends in his short political career. He mastered the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People". Then he wrote two books of his own that sold millions and made the New York Times Bestsellers list.
You ever work for those manager's that did what was good for the success and profitability of the store, but most of the people thought that he was an asshole. He or she weren't trying to be popular. They didn't hang out with the crew. They had 8am meetings on Sunday mornings whether you liked it or not. They made a lot of money. They had a lot of company awards and accolades. And they were well respected by their superiors. You hated them while you worked for them. But at your next job, you respected how much you learned from them. You never knew this manager to have many friends. It's a tough place. It's a hard life. But somebody's gotta do it. And it's not Barack Obama.
He's not equipped to fight his adversaries. The republican party is ruthless. And not only them, but also, fight against the popularity of Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, Wilkow, Levin, and Murdoch. They want him gone. He never stood a chance. While he should have been spending 15 months pushing forward his agenda, instead, he spent this time trying to get along with his enemies and out manuever the media pundits. He's tried to get tough a few times by publicly insulting and challenging the republicans, but it was all seen as posturing. He's not that guy. When there are riots in the streets, he's the guy saying, "can't we all just get along?" Barack Obama has compromised so many times on so many issues that he can't even remember what his original agenda was. Gays are mad. Middle class workers are mad. Unions are mad. Democrats are mad, Independents are mad. Barack Obama is still campaigning. "Gimme time. I will not surrender. We still have work to do. Gimme time. Be my friend." It's just sad. He has to learn like I learned. He will be a far better ex-president than he is a president. Because it takes iron-clad balls to be a president and stand in the face of adversity and take it, digest it, and spit it back in their faces.
Barack Obama take my advice. Don't run again. Serve the people that you intended to serve outside of Washington. Become an activist. Lead the ACLU. Practice law with Michelle, who once said, "it's the first time in my adult life that i've been proud to be an American". I wonder how she feels now? Barack, lead a cause to help the poor and disenfranchised. You can be a hero. But you cannot be a leader. This is the tagline on his Presidential nominee resume:
"Advocate for decisive change and action to restore the political, economic, military and social landscape and dominance of the United States as a global leader. Well-respected for political judgement, integrity, ethical behavior, passion and commitment to American citizens"
Barack, you can't do those things in Washington, you have to do them outside of Washington. That's what Bill Clinton is doing.
Chris, you may be right, but I hope you're wrong. Personally, I understand where you (and many others) are coming from, but I think you may be jumping off the bandwagon a little too soon on this. It took a lot longer than 15 months to create the problems this administration inherited. It should be no great surprise that it will take longer than that to resolve them. You, like myself, saw Obama as Superman and while we may not have expected it, we wanted to believe he'd be leaping tall buildings in a single bound on day one. That's asking a lot. If you want him to be Superman, let him grow into his position and learn how to use the office to fix this country. He needs our support. You can't reasonable expect instant gratification with national politics - this is no big box store.
ReplyDeleteAKJ, I hear what you're saying. The problem is that in a 4 year presidency, it's better to have a lot of small victories than big one. Because while you're focusing on the big one, everyone is wondering what you're doing. Example: As opposed to restructuring health care in one reform bill, he could have passed small bills along the way without trying to pass one large reform with 30 changes. He could have moved along the Gay agenda. Small effort. Some things in Washington work like this. Say it and it's done. That's why Presidents have veto power. Some issues aren't up for discussion. It takes a leader to know when to pull the trigger without a bunch of debates and discussion. It takes a leader to know when some issues need to be discussed. And how to separate the two. And not over a beer.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea - pick someone dynamic to go in there with the idea that he'll shake things up and make real changes and then have him just pull back and go along with the status quo because it's easier.
ReplyDeleteI STRONGLY disagree with your premise that it is better for him to make trivial progress because the current system makes it difficult to bring about substantial change.
The president's job is not to worry whether you feel or anyone else feels that he's accomplishing things on your timetable, but rather to do what is best for the country. The reason the healthcare system is in this current abysmal state is because of this politics as usual bs.
Perhaps Obama will fail to make any lasting, substantial change, but I'd rather see him fail while trying instead of giving up as you seem to have already given up on him.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt
AKJ, great quote by the way. I totally get your point. I haven't totally given up on him.
ReplyDeleteHere is my major point. There are certain attributes that make up quality leaders. These attributes have been detailed throughout history. So I don't need to go into what those attributes are. With PBO, I'm not seeing the attributes. In fact, every opportunity that he's had to display leadership quality, he's come up short. In which he's been parodied for more than a few times. From the NY fly over to the Professor Gates Beer Summit to moving forward on "global warming" issues without addressing European concern for faulty evidence (that, he totally ignored).
I love Barack Obama. I just think he's in over his head and his resume will be better served by doing something in the public servant arena.
Nice post and great blog Chris. You should post more often. According to Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges "THE DEATH OF THE LIBERAL CLASS, Obama raised $600 million in campaign contributions most of which came from Corporate America.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Corp. America is Washingtons pimp and the boys in Washington are giving themselves the illusion that they are 'running shit' They are not. Corporate America and the pharmacudical industry in particular is running the show. Hope and Change? Pleasssseeeee.