Too Frosty

He warned us, but have we given him a fighting chance?
by
Tom Davidson

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” President-elect Barack Obama said when the majority of the nation elected him on Nov. 5, 2008.
Last night, we deserved a better answer.
I’ll concede I wouldn’t wish the problems he’s facing on anyone, but it was time for President Obama to start acting like he’s a part of the solution to our problems, not an impartial bystander to the doomsday events that have plagued us.
For too long, he’s been a harbinger of bad news instead of being the leader who forges a new path, politics be damned. His cool standoffishness is not what the country needs in a leader right now. I didn’t like Reagan’s politics, but as a leader, he was at least a good actor.
When it came to tragedy or terrorism, the man who busted the air-traffic controllers union, talked our way out of the Cold War, and mourned with us through the Challenger Tragedy, was able to lead with gusto and decisiveness, legalities be damned; Reagan was Presidential.
President Obama’s aloofness is costing him a chance to win over people in the name of a crisis. This is a time for us to band together, as he said when he won our hearts and minds, we Americans “who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states; we are, and always will be, the United States of America,” he told us then.
Really?
I’m sick and tired of the divisiveness of the nation. I don’t believe the “grassroots” support of those singing the Songs of the Doomed is as great as they say it is, but I acknowledge their presence.
I’m also seeing other folks, people who once were gaga for Obama, cool off a bit. They’re no longer flying the “hope and change” flag as prominently.
He warned us this day was coming.
Remember?
“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.”
Thus far it's been a rough-and-tumble time of turmoil. He's gotten the change part right.
My, the changes: The New World Order that's emerging in the wake of an economic Hindenburg. The fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan that is less a war and more a fact of life in this Brave New World – because wars end. The health care reform was so filled with debate that it motivated an unhealthy, New York apple-pie slice of Americans to action and near-constant criticism. They’re led by a motley cast of stentorian talking heads, who pick it apart piece by excruciating piece, in a 24/7 debate that has yet to really end.
He foresaw it, that cold Tuesday in November in Chicago’s Grant Park:
“There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem.”
He was inspiring, then.
Where was the hope when he spoke from the Oval Office Tuesday night? Where’s the man who once aroused a thrill that shot up Chris Matthews’ leg?
He’s a dour man now, saddled with the soiling of the Gulf of Mexico, when he was supposed to be taking a short health-care victory lap, then waiting for the economy to make a great leap forward so people would be inspired to find solutions to our myriad problems.
He knew it wouldn’t be easy.
“But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.”
But is he hearing us? It’s time for him to show us he’s our leader, and thus far, he’s performed like a sports prospect, a number-1 draft pick who’s been given a huge signing bonus, and has so much potential, but hasn’t yet made it.
It’s not over, Mr. President. There’s still time to man the rudder. I still believe that the American ship is unsinkable because the American people won’t stand for it. We’re not like World Cup soccer fans who will settle for a tie.
We’d rather play football with each other, and since it’s the off-season, the political version of the sport is biding our time, but always, we play to win.
So here’s a “yo” to the “Party of No” that it’s time to abide by our calculated leader. Prove him wrong by getting behind him to see if he can inspire us to “join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for (223) years – block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand” or oily for that matter.
Lead us out of it all, Mr. President.