LBJ or Gandhi?

I think that by now you know that I am not a political ideologue. I simply wish to make some observations about the status of things in the U.S. as I see them.

Could any one else in the presidency other President Obama do any better? I have no way of knowing. I do ask, however, where are we with the Obama administration and what is the over all strategy?

If I have a concern it is this: does this president have the inner fortitude that, Lincoln, FDR, Truman and LBJ had to get done what each believed believed in?

It appears our president is more Gandhian than Teddy Roosevelt.

If that is correct, is appeasement,consensus building and compromise the correct strategy for where the president said he wanted to go? And how change and hope would be executed?

Read the record to date and decide for yourself. Below are the questions that need be answered:

1) Regulation of the financial industry to prevent future melt downs. Not even close.
In fact the people who led us into the debacle are still in charge: Summers, Bernanke, Geithner etc
2) Stimulus? They have not been able to explain what happened to the original $750 billion dollars. Hint: ask AIG and Goldman Sachs

3) The Wars? Oh me! I predicted in August that by year end these would be Obama's wars. Well, I was wrong, it only took to November for that to happen. Who owns the wars? What are the strategic objectives that require the US to be in either place? What are the exit strategies for either place. This last question is at the heart of the matter.

Today, the administration spun the ultimate disinformation since Bush/Rove: "The president told his security team that the four options they had presented for dealing with Afghanistan are not good enough" Good enough for what? The current Ambassador to Afghanistan said today "send no more troops until Karzai fixes the security and corruption issues in his government and country". Hello? Could any thing be more clear than that?

The spin today is that the Pres is being very careful. BUT THE REALITY MAY BE THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO CONFRONT ISSUES. He seems to think that if he waits and does not confront, he will find a solution without pissing any one off.

Is there a fatal character flaw that needs and wants approval when decisive action is required?

4) Immigration? Off the table

5) The economy. It is all about jobs! To whom is that a mystery? Answer:to the administration.

6) Health care Insurance reform? Without the competitive option and tort reform, the insurance industry gets 40 or so million more subscribers than they had before the reform. Come on, folks! By the way I am not saying who is right or wrong on this issue. Merely an observation that we have not created a situation where the industry needs to worry about their competitive future.

7) Jobs and the Economy? The Washington lobbyist have won again. The entrenched industries have won. 10% unemployment seems to be ok with every one.I have not heard the President say "this is not acceptable. Therefore I am doing the following......" The way FDR would have done and in fact did. The real unemployment number is closer to 18%( please read why else where)The spin is that the unemployed will be with us at least through 2011. Do you think that is acceptable?

And so the record of this presidency unfolds. I am very concerned as I know you are. The question is does "cool' trump effectiveness and execution? Answer: you tell me!