Chief among my concerns about President Obama has been his style of leadership, or complete and utter lack thereof. He delegates when he should set the agenda. He leads from behind instead of pulling the wagon. He compromises with an opposition to whom "compromise" is a four letter word. And of course, he walks softly, and carries the proverbial small stick when it comes to calling out the GOP on their foolishness.[2] Like hair loss in women, he's one great big ball of disappointment. Yesterday was practically a textbook example in Obama's own patented brand of leadership #fail.
The House on Tuesday rejected a bipartisan Senate compromise to extend a payroll tax cut for two months, along with unemployment benefits, plunging Washington on the eve of Christmas into uncertainty about the fate of the tax cut enjoyed by 160 million workers.So, essentially, by pulling their typical d*ck move, all in the name of rewarding special interests with permission to build a gas line to Canada, the GOP is holding up the extension of a payroll tax holiday, which could take money out of the pockets of Real Americans in a few weeks. Public opinion polls show Real Americans are solidly behind Obama on this issue, and many within the GOP were for this issue before they were against it. Obama's own approval rating is now back around 50%, which probably says more about the circus tent of GOP 2012 contenders than anything he's done personally. If there's any time to call the GOP out on their BS in the most damning, and public of manners, this would be it. So what does Obama do?!?
On a vote of 229 to 193, the House set aside the Senate bill and requested a formal conference with the Senate, setting up a showdown with the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Obama, who has demanded that the House approve the short-term plan now to avoid a Jan. 1 tax hike.
Seven Republicans voted against defeating the Senate bill and sending the legislation to conference. Democrats, who have pushed for the full-year payroll tax cut for months, say Congress should accept the temporary measure now and return in January to solve an impasse over how to extend the cut for the full year.
The Senate deal would also postpone a scheduled cut in reimbursement rates for doctors who treat Medicare patients.
Shortly after the House vote, Obama made a statement calling on House Republicans to “do the right thing” and “put politics aside” to vote on the Senate bill."Do the right thing"?
“Let’s not play brinksmanship. The American people are weary of it. They’re tired of it,” Obama declared. “I’m calling on the speaker and the House Republican leadership to bring up the Senate bill for a vote.”
"Calling on the speaker and GOP leadership"?
"Brinksmanship"?
What. The. F*ck?!?
Seriously, if there's a time when Obama would be totally justified in dropping an expletive, this would be it. But in his typical reserved, rehearsed fashion, he just says more even-keeled baloney about "bipartisanship" and "putting politics aside". Who exactly does he think he's up against? This isn't like playing Sasha and Malia in a friendly game of Wii Tennis, this is fullscale retail politricks. Kindly calling on the GOP to "take up a vote" and "do the right thing" is like asking T-Pain to kindly stop using AutoTune. It's not going to happen, my friend.
Whatever happened to driving over to Capitol Hill and bustin' some heads open? How about threatening to withhold the salaries of Congress until this gets done? Maybe threatening to force the Senate to return and no vacations till this gets resolved?!?[3] Where is the passion for the plight of millions of Americans who will see their paychecks shrink because the GOP is playing political chicken with a completely unrelated issue of special interest?
Where is the fire, damnit?!?
Of course, I've answered my own question, and have nobody to blame but myself. Common sense would have shown that at no point in Obama's bio or professional history has he been the type to confront, clap back, or call someone out. History would have also shown that the GOP is more than willing to do all the above, and then some, even when the facts don't back up their assertions.
Obama isn't a fighter, Obama is Young Berg.[4]
In a perfect world, the GOP would just snatch his chain and the rest of us would be spared the residual damage. In the real world, Obama's lack of fight will probably mean a few less dollars in our pockets very soon, and an closer than it needs to be presidential election next November.
Grow a pair (or two) Barry. I'm just sayin'.
Question: Who's to blame for Obama's lack of leadership? Obama himself, or us for stupidly assuming he'd somehow morph into a fighter once he took office?
[1] Dear Obama Campaign, please stop calling me asking for donations. Thank you.
[2] I don't have the time to list all the examples of where/how his leadership has been lacking. Click on that "The Negro Prez" tag and get familiar before you come at me sideways.
[3] No, I don't know if this is legal or Constitutional. I don't care. Nor do the American People. Do it anyway.
[4] In case you missed that one... here. Play catch up.
