It would be if that was the problem but the problem is not the president’s identification of the most pressing problems or his new or original policies the problem is his style.
A cool and cerebral president is a welcome relief in the areas of international relations and public discourse. However, in the area of public policy and getting legislation passed this has proven not to be such a good thing.
Basically, this administration's way of pushing policy is to say they want something, rely on the legislative branch to craft a bill and then either embrace it or slink away from it if the end result is unpopular....It sometime seems like the leadership part is being left to others.
Say what you want about George Bush but if he wanted something no matter how evil and twisted it was he was there every step of the way talking to the general public and pushing bills through congress.
I think President Obama really has to work on using the heft that goes along with the office of the president less sparingly....He needs to use the bully pulpit more aggressively....He doesn't have to be more emotional necessarily he just has to be determined and not so removed....He cannot take anything for granted.
I've read that President Obama did not answer Sarah Palin's accusation about death panels immediately because he thought it was too ridiculous to be believed....Shades of Michael Dukakis there.
President Obama is right to focus on major substantiative policy changes in areas such as health care or bank regulation….This is the time for Roosevelt type action in reaction to a public crisis not Bill Clinton-type incrementalism.
But bold actions call for bold words….It is time for President Obama to answer back every charge and to personally manage legislation through the house and senate….It is time for a hands on president.
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