The grueling 2008 presidential campaign and was full of surprises. I don’t think there’s ever been such a dynamic campaign season in past history. We saw the coronation of Hillary Clinton fizzle as the junior senator from Illinois with a thin resume, Barack H. Obama, charmed and talked his way into the White House.
In the beginning it was all about the Iraq War and by association, the War on Terror. This was an easy shot for Obama, just keep talking about the “unjust” war and voters will gravitate toward the candidate. It was a good strategy and it made sense politically, but more importantly it was working. But as luck would have it, subsequently the economy faltered and everybody’s eyes were on Wall Street.
In my view candidate Obama was ready to deal with the War in Iraq, but clueless about saving the economy. I’m starting to believe that his team made extra efforts in strategizing the anti-war platform without paying much attention to the economy, thinking that the War would dominate headlines throughout the campaign season and that the War would be Americans’ #1 concern.
Ooooops. Big oooooops.
America won the Iraq War, albeit with great casualties — not just the fallen soldiers, but also for some politicians. Obama swears in as President in January, and now he’s faced with a much tougher issue: the economic recession. This problem cannot be tackled by withdrawing troops or cutting military spending. This problem requires seasoned, talented cabinet members, and it is fought with policies and negotiations instead of bullets and tanks.
I believe he saw the presidency as a career goal and nothing else. He cares not for America, but for his own fame. How else could you explain his obsessive and excessive use of the Teleprompter? Or appearing on TV shows? Or calling prime time press conferences? It seems that this man worries more about his own image and polling numbers than anything else. Has he realized yet that sometimes doing the right thing isn’t popular?
President Ronald Reagan was a citizen’s president and a great communicator. Obama definitely inspires to be like Reagan, but he is struggling big time. Both are charismatic, charming, great orators. So what made Reagan so effective but Obama so jaded?
It’s something deep within, my friends. Reagan was truly passionate about defeating communism, defending America, and inspiring Americans. And Obama? He looks like a college student hoping to pass a public speaking course.
