I wrote the following syndicated column June 15, 2010. I repost it here, to ask if Obama has done anything since I wrote this to convince you that he is worthy of another term? What leadership qualities has he shown since this was written that indicates he understands what We the People want and expect in a president? What qualities has he shown that he intends to listen to We the People or that he even cares what we think? Then ask yourself if this is the man you want back in the White House?
Leadership isn’t something a person proclaims – it is the character a person shows. It is understood as an individual’s capacity to lead. It is the ability to maintain and increase/improve during good times. It is the ability to reassure and make disciplined, cogent decisions in difficult times.
Mark Shead, referencing the book, “Leadership Challenge,” by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, writes that the “five most important leadership traits” (Leadership501.com; June 10, 2010) are that a leader be honest, forward-thinking, competent, inspiring and intelligent. Obama can proclaim himself a leader all he wants, but, apart from assuming the title by way of beguiled voters, I argue he personifies none of those qualities in sufficient enough measure to warrant either our respect or our trust.
Pursuant to honesty, he has broken his campaign promises, primary of which was his repeated promise that families making less than $250,000 a year would see no form of tax increase. He broke his pledge of transparency from his first week in office, and everyone remembers his promise to hold legislation hearings on C-SPAN. Constraints of space prohibit a complete listing of his lies, but suffice it to say, as did Richard Baehr, “his entire campaign was built on lies” (“Obama’s Campaign Built on Lies”; AmericanThinker.com; Oct. 21, 2008).
The ultimate expose on the radical nature of our 44th president: “The Manchurian President: Barack Obama’s Ties to Communists, Socialists and Other Anti-American Extremists”
And the lies continue. Consider that he is spending more money than Tiger Woods earns for winning a tournament to keep his records and background secret. As I have often said – the only reason people hide things is because they have something to hide, and because they are liars and cheats – a saying that has been proven true time and time again.
Obama’s administrative agenda can hardly be called forward-thinking – whether one calls it secular-socialism, progressivism or just plain old socialism, it doesn’t work. The world has had over a century of examples showing the epic failures of his government model. It is a cataclysmic example of economic failure. See “Citizens of Subjects: Keynesian Economics” (Lance Fairchok; AmericanThinker.com; May 18, 2010).
Nowhere is his lack of competence more on display than with his handling of the BP oil spill along the Gulf coast. His lack of action and leadership is hurting the people of that area. He has to date refused to meet with the CEO of BP since the disaster began on April 22, but he did consult with James Cameron, a movie director best-known for producing fantasy films. (Albeit we now hear there is a meeting supposedly scheduled for tomorrow with BP executives.)
“Three days after the explosion … in the Gulf … the Dutch government offered to help. It was willing to provide ships outfitted with oil-skimming booms and it proposed a plan for building sand barriers to protect sensitive marshlands. The response from the Obama administration … [was] thanks, but no thanks. … What’s wrong with accepting outside help [from the pre-eminent country in the world when it comes to being] experienced with building dikes and managing water” (“U.S. and BP slow to accept Dutch expertise”; Loren Steffy; Houston Chronicle; June 8, 2010).
That’s either incompetence or ataraxia, unless Joan Swirsky is more correct than we can begin to imagine. (See: “The Obama disaster machine: unfortunate coincidence or malevolently premeditated”; RightSideNews.com; June 9, 2010.)
What type of inspiration does Obama convey? Military officers under his command refuse to obey his orders, choosing rather to face a court-martial. It goes without saying how conservatives feel about him, but even his liberal base is disillusioned and uninspired by him. Earlier this year, George Soros said he “was dissatisfied with Obama.” Anthony Romero, the ACLU chief, was recently quoted as saying he was “disgusted with Obama.”
Pursuant to his alleged intelligence, I hate to disillusion Paul McCartney, but having visited a library doesn’t make one an intellect. Neither does supposedly having been part of Harvard’s Law Review. Pursuant to his intellect and ability to grow and mature into a leader, I strongly suggest reading Robin of Berkeley’s article, “A Shrink Asks: What’s Wrong with Obama?” the last eight paragraphs of which are an absolutely chilling analysis.
A few more observations of a true leader are: A true leader doesn’t blame others and/or make excuses. They don’t bemoan misfortune – they find ways to overcome it. A true leader doesn’t have to tell you he’s the man and/or resort to theatrical behavior. You can sense the leadership qualities in them.
Obama is an epic pretender who has never run anything in his dysfunctional life, and it’s up to us to stop him from running our country into the ground.
Mychal rocks!
I read the article that Mychal referred to, “the Berkeley article, A shrink asks, What’s wrong with Obama.” Well, I’m feeling sick to my stomach more than ever. I never believed his 2008 compaign speeches (a better life because of spreading the wealth, etc.), never did trust him because of all his prolific promises, and my gut instinct’s were somethings not right. And now we’re learning more and more, something is very wrong with this guy.
wendy: her article is eye opening…
I am stunned how he has pulled the wool over the eyes of the people.
They swallow the lies, double-talk and even when he is leering at the people, they still like him and will vote for him again. Why is it the majority don’t see where he is taking this country??
Barb~ some do see where he is taking this country and they are called Communists and Socialists. And, some people like living off of the ‘System.’ They don’t want to work but want your bucks and mine to survive. And, some simply like Obama for the color of his skin. They have no idea what Communism means.
marilyn: well said…
barb: they are willfully blind…but there are those who are in lockstep w/ his marxist-leninist policies…
Obama is exactly what we get when the Constitution is not followed. “No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the Unied States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.” Obama, not being a natural born citizen, was sworn into Office with the Oath of Affirmation….peserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So far, he is not a natural born Citizen and he has not protected and defended the Constitution. That is more than enough to deflate his ego and put him on the streets of Jakarta, if they will have him. As Mychal has said, there are so many infractions of the U.S. Laws and the Constitution that not all can be listed in such a short space. We know that Obama by-passes the Congress and uses Executive Orders to further ‘his agenda’ corruptness of the United States. He has insulted the Supreme Court of this Land by questioning their legality to judge his ObamaCare. How very arrogant! He has given Alaskan islands (United States) to Russia – those islands are laden with oil. Now, Obama is “dividing” the Oceans for UN. If he thinks he is Moses, I have news for him. The over-used noun, Narcissist, must be used again because that is exactly what we have to deal with. He can survive as long as people adore and applaud him but if anyone disapproves, his ego is instantly deflated. He thrives on adoration and applause. He sulks if he doesn’t get his way. He came from a very mixed couple but their one thing in common was the Communist doctrine. Muslim stitched into it and we have a person totally ineligible to be the “leader” or “Representative” of this Free Country called The United States of America. The longer he stays this year, the more damage will be done. There will be one crisis after another. Even presidential voting time will end up being a crisis time. It will take a great deal of “unchanging” to ever get America back on its feet.” 1. Acknowledge the inspiration of the Founders. 2. Reinstate Consitutional Principles in our Government. 3. Revive Morality in our lives, in our businesses and in our country.” Freedom is not Free. There will always be some idiot lurking in the corner, wanting to “change” the American Stystem. I was asked what I thought envy meant. To the best of my knowledge, it appears that other countries ‘envy’ the United States and that is why so many people want to migrate (emigrate) to America. That would be my definition of ‘envy.’
marilyn: thk you much…very thoughtful reply…
I’m just not getting the whole “leadership” thing in a representative government. I’ve heard too many of these slime bags, including our president, talking about “leading” us in the “right” direction. Whenever I hear about “leadership” I immediately think about all the “nudging” going on as well. We must all be “led” by the nose, and “nudged” (read ordered around) through legislation. All so that we can all be equal(?) and as one with the world citizens and the planet.
So, why even bother with a representative government when all they want to do is LEAD us. Personally *I* don’t want a leader. I don’t need one, and I resent the implications of current “leadership.” It seems like tyranny to me. I want a REPRESENTATIVE, who is doing what WE want, not trying to lead us willy nilly into some Hell on earth.
j-m: good question…and great answer to your own question…
As a Marine leader, I have a past and in it are both good fitness reports, and those which, read alone, suggest I was of no value at all. Were I running for office, I would either have to hide my past, or be prepared to explain why many Marine officers and senior enlisted went out of their way to get me, and use me, for good and honest purpose, because they found my leadership style conducive to their ideas and their goals, while so many others found my form and style so offensive to their ways, they fired me, as soon as they could gin up “cause”, and as one who makes waves, I always provided cause.
In my case, those who sought me were combat experienced Marines who needed real leadership around them, having missions to accomplish and knowing what it takes to get them done. Those who found cause to fire me were of a mind my focus on combat preparedness was over the top, and not reflective of the duties they had experienced, and I was often considered a “cowboy”, by the many who had never been to war.
Were I running, I would easily open my record, and debate the personal issues which certainly would arise. I know my ways were right, I was right, and those who had not had my experiences, had forgotten what the purpose of the Corps was.
Having been a recruiter as well, I know full and well why sotero/obama’s past is hidden: he has no life experience, only the teachings and propaganda of communism, and its only real purpose is for the destruction of a functional society, that it may be enticed to bring its self down, and make taking control and ruling, easy.
The simple fact that putting Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dorns names on the background check would disqualify him for enlisting in any armed service shows exactly why his past is covered. If we can see openly, his disqualification for being a private in the Army or a Seaman in the Navy, he obviously has far more disturbing history that is hidden.
Had we a government “under the rule of law”, he would not have made it to the Senate, based on the election games he played securing the Illinois seat.
I truly hope the vast majority of all who voted for him will seriously look at his record with an open mind, but just in looking in my own family, I know it is highly unlikely, and those who will state his actual achievements will be predominantly those intent on conserving our Nation. It is my personal belief he is the first president to outdo FDR in the deliberate destruction of our first principles and the foundation of our Nation, and has proven to be the worst president we have ever had, by enormous amounts.
I believe the simple fact he began violating his stances on his first day in office was grounds to call for impeachment, President Washington’s many statements that nothing is of greater importance than the moral standards of those we elect, being the right cause for such, because his first lies prove his incapacity to be honest, and that is an absolute necessity for serving.
John McClain
GySgt, USMC, ret.
Vanceboro, NC
john mcclain: your last paragraph nails it…I would add he was never fit for office to begin with…
Obama has an Achilles heel – his eligibility. I know everyone is tired of hearing “birther” conspiracy talk, but just when has Obama been transparent about his past? Several documents released are fraudulent. And no one knows for certain where he was born without official documents that can be verified as genuine by forensic experts. That is still shrouded in mystery and secrecy. No one, I repeat, no one knows if he is even an American citizen. He was an Indonesian citizen in his early years. There has to be a record of his becoming an American citizen again, IF that ever happened. Many imposters have achieved incredible things with fraudulent credentials or just plain bluff. He has the complete support and backing of the Communist Party, so there is every possibility that he got to be where he is by deception and fraud.
bordercollieman: his achilles’ heel is his narcissism…and given the right setting it will be his downfall…
All true, and worst of all he is a morally bankrupt impersonator claiming to be Christian and defender of the little people simply to garner support for his continued arrogant rule over them.
bill sr: can’t argue w/ your assessment…