(that Bush didn’t).
1. His intelligence is painfully apparent. This is one smart cookie, someone whose innate brainpower and absorption of education manifests in how he reacts and responds to everything from national calamity to an appearance on Letterman. I trust his brain. Most of his recent predecessors displayed no such ability.
2. His tough upbringing is an asset. There’s something to be said for anyone who overcomes adversity and disadvantage. In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, columnist Joe Queenan described him as “raised by a single mother and grandparents, born with no discernible financial advantages, clocked Hilary Clinton, clocked John McCain, and got himself elected the first African-American in a country that was still lynching black people when he was a child.” He has the right stuff, possessing the creativity, willpower, and moxie to rise above difficult circumstances. Understanding that, for some, life’s challenges are invisible, Obama’s clear path to achievement is impressive.
3. He has good chemistry. Obama is a natural. He projects it in every move he makes and every step he takes. Forgetting politics, there are very few presidents since Kennedy who felt this right. I have a new nominee for The Great Communicator.
4. He sees the problems. Better, he is willing to address them head on, forgetting ideology and politics (as much as that is possible). This presidency is less about Obama and more about America.
5. He speaks English. I understand what he says. He doesn’t fumble with language. He is articulate and direct, even without a teleprompter.
Admittedly these five attributes won’t, in and of themselves, get us to the Promised Land, but they definitely improve the odds.
It strikes me that Obama's continuing deferral on a decision for Afghanistan and his hand-off to congress on health care fly directly in the face of his willingness to address problems head on. This guy doesn't want to get his hands dirty. Its one thing to get elected; another to lead. Just ask Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: tom | November 03, 2009 at 03:46 PM
Love these empty ad hominem attacks. "Ryan" and "Paul." Obama is all about ego? OK, and if he is, that has WHAT ramifications for his domestic and international policies exactly?
Maybe your inability to extract meaning from anything our elected president says is more about your disinterest in actually paying attention. You've clearly grown accustomed to policy positions that fit on a bumpersticker.
re: "Worst president in history" -- luckily history isn't as impatient or as prejudiced as you are. The rest of us will likely give President Obama some time and some respect, as befits the office.
Or maybe you think the office has just been too debased to not give the new guy a chance?
I wish you wingnuts would just be honest and cop to hating Obama no matter what he says or does. You'd get a lot more respect just keeping your mouth closed and maybe cultivating a legitimate political platform. Maybe you have something actually intelligent to say regarding health care reform, or SEC regulation, or Afghanistan? But the more you spout this nonsense, the more you sound like the birthers, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and all the other extremists who nauseate most average Americans. You're in for a bitter 7 more years, my friends.
Posted by: Jerry Case | November 02, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Aren't you the funny little cool aid drinker? You and your ilk would lead us to oblivion if we let you (but we won't).
Posted by: Paul | October 27, 2009 at 06:32 PM
Right-wing Republicans and Conservatives will hate this because you're absolutely correct. Now they're all acting like the unpopular kids being jealous of the smart football player in high school. Right-wingers (Pharisees) will do anything to bring President Obama down even if it as the expense and good of all US citizens--not the rich and powerful, insurance companies or special interest groups. We the people....that's what this country is about...not "We the insurance companies and religious right...."
Posted by: Rebecca | October 27, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Kudos for a well-written article. I do believe that President Obama has "what it takes" to bring this country back together. The fact that he had made bi-partisan appointments points to the fact that the prefers the best-qualified person for the job.
For those "non-believers", please let me know of any president who doesn't use written scripts . . . and don't say Palin as that woman has no command of the English language whatsoever.
One final point, who held office the past 8 years? Which President was aware of the issues on Wall Street and the financial sector and did nothing? Who got the US into yet another war? Hint . . . initials are GW.
'nuf said.
Posted by: Maxine | October 27, 2009 at 04:31 PM
Funny, I was thinking the exact opposite - on almost all counts (clearly some elements of #2 are true)...generally I tend to agree with this authors opinions, but in this case, it is simply "Loose Change I cannot believe in."
Posted by: Ron in Alexandria, MN | October 27, 2009 at 02:00 PM
This is satire correct??
3. He is not good without a fully written script.
4. This is 100% about himself, 0% about America. This is 100% about his ego.
5. See point #3, he is not articulate. If you ask him about any of his policies it is a 5 minute campaign speech in which no one learns anything.
From a business standpoint he is the worst thing to happen to America since Jimmy Carter....except Jimmy fault was he was passive and trying to be a nice guy....Obama's is ego is too big to realize he is not helping the people he "thinks" he wants to help. In the end he should go down in history as our worse president. I personally thought it would take many more years to make Bush look good...but congratulations it only took 10 months!
Posted by: Ryan | October 27, 2009 at 01:55 PM