Oh contraire mon fraire. You were the one who caused fainting spells on your minions. It was you who said you would heal the planet and tame the rising seas. You set the standard. You made the promises. You would fundamentally change the country (sadly, you have nearly accomplished that one).

It is because of this empty rhetoric that exclusively targeted the grownup children of the country that President Obama should not be allowed a pass on his failings and shortcomings. Remember that everything was going to change in America and the world. Peace was at hand. Poverty would be a thing of the past and the nation would enjoy a new golden era ushered in by a post-partisan, post-historical Obama presidency. Obama possessed within him only the very best qualities of Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy and, oddly enough, Reagan. All because Obama was a fresh face whose mom was a “white woman from Kansas and his father a black African from Kenya” and would be the nation’s first black president.

Would you like to see the bullet proof formula that catapulted him to victory in 2008?

1). Election

2). ???

3). Utopia

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From the UK’s Daily Telegraph:

Can it get any worse for President Obama? Undoubtedly yes. Here are 10 key reasons why the Obama presidency is in serious trouble, and why its prospects are unlikely to improve between now and the November mid-terms.

1. The Obama presidency is out of touch with the American people

In a previous post I noted how the Obama presidency increasingly resembles a modern-day Ancien Régime, extravagant, decaying and out of touch with ordinary Americans. The First Lady’s ill-conceived trip to Spain at a time of widespread economic hardship was symbolic of a White House that barely gives a second thought to public opinion on many issues, and frequently projects a distinctly elitist image. The “let them eat cake” approach didn’t play well over two centuries ago, and it won’t succeed today.

2. Most Americans don’t have confidence in the president’s leadership

This deficit of trust in Obama’s leadership is central to his decline. According to a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll, “nearly six in ten voters say they lack faith in the president to make the right decisions for the country”, and two thirds “say they are disillusioned with or angry about the way the federal government is working.” The poll showed that a staggering 58 per cent of Americans say they do not have confidence in the president’s decision-making, with just 42 per cent saying they do. (more…)

“A House Divided against itself cannot stand.”

When Lincoln prophesied in such terms, he did so to a nation ruptured by the most violent political schism in its History.  Thank providence A. Lincoln possessed the commanding charisma, and granite leadership to galvanize his base at such a time.  The young Republican Party knew no other loyalties and saw no other future than that of a perfect union.

Times change, but politics stay shockingly the same.  Just as important today is a president’s own party support.  This bellwether of presidential stamina has collapsed on our current administration and the inevitable flames of criticism flicker shockingly close to the door of the Oval Office.  The closest to the president have broken rank, even if off the record, and have begun the deconstruction of the agenda of the POTUS.

Krauthammer wisely warned us not to underestimate Barack Obama.  This is sage political advice for such a dynamic political creature as BHO.  However, the abandonment of faith in his followers has the clandestine potential to hemorrhage his agenda.  Just notice the backlash he received this week from his racial fumble.

Let us disseminate the recent revolt against the president by his own party.

“I can’t say that the president is fully behind me…He is not someone who has experienced what I have experienced through life, being a person of color”

Shirley Sherrod

“I never thought I would say this, but even I’m unsure what President Obama really believes.  Instead of outsourcing decisions to Congress, he should spell out his bottom line. That is what leaders are for.”

-Obama Advisor, asked to remain anonymous

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“Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”

True leadership is a rare attribute.  While many people have exhibited an ability to get elected, even to the presidency, that doesn’t make them a great leader.  To demonstrate the point, ask yourself how many great presidents we have had over the last 100 years.  If you count four or less, and you should, then you understand the point.  Based on nearly a year and a half of the Obama Presidency, it is likely he will be closer to the bottom four, instead of the top four, as he demonstrates his leadership by litigation mentality.

Leadership by litigation is reference to his penchant to litigate, not solve problems – to attenuate them, not end them.  Consider that Obama, the attorney, is facing a growing number of crises:  (1) a failing economy, (2) a growing number of terrorist attacks, and (3) the gulf oil crisis.  Each of those crises is getting worse, not better, and it is Obama’s lack of leadership skills that are to blame.

Working backwards, rather than demonstrate action on the gulf oil spill, i.e. approving Bobby Jindal’s request to form barrier islands or to approve the Saudi mid-ocean cleanup method, Obama is stalling on those suggestions and many more – but he is willing to file a lawsuit against BP.

With regard to terrorist attacks, the facts demonstrate that, despite Obama’s talking to the World, the number of domestic attacks rose dramatically.  Obama’s response? – have attorneys prosecute them.  And on the economy, Obama has done nothing more than talk and pander – mostly blaming Business and Bush for the problem but not acting in rational manner – unless you are one of the few people in the world who think that mimicking Greece represents economics.

At the outset of this editorial, I quoted the legendary CEO of International Telephone and Telegraph (ITT) Harold S. Geneen.  He said that “Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.”  That could be a diplomatic way of saying you cannot talk your way out of a challenge – at least not for long – you must act.

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It never ceases to amaze me how differently the Old Media treats Republican presidents compared to how they treat Democrat Presidents during times of unemployment reporting. Today, in the vaunted era of Obama, the unemployment numbers for November 2009 have come out and it shows some of the highest unemployment numbers since the Great Depression. Despite that the Old Media seems to be playing this as a sign of optimism. Such optimism was decidedly not in the cards when that same Old Media was reporting rates during Bush’s years, however.

Let’s take two reports from The New York Times for example. One from September 7, 2002 in Bush’s first term and one from December 4, 2009, early in the Obama presidency.

In 2002, The New York Times reported Bush’s 5.7 percent unemployment rate, noting that it was a drop from 5.9 percent, with the following headline: Unemployment Fell in August, But Drop Is Called Insignificant.

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