After watching President Obama's "Not Exactly The State of the Union" speech last night, I couldn't have been more struck by the contrast between the man behind the podium and the man who just left Washington with his tail between his legs after eight years of the Reign of Error ©. To put it in very simple terms, Barack Obama is a leader- think JFK- where George W. Bush was a placeholder- think Gerald Ford. Where Bush was comfortable speaking only in broad Conservative platitudes, Obama actually seems comfortable with the nuts and bolts of policy initiatives. Not only that, he seems able to explain them in terms that are at the same time easily understandable and inspiring. So this is what leadership is supposed to feel like?? Who knew?
I can't sit here and tell you that President Obama will fix all of the problems facing this country. That seems unlikely, give the load of horse--t left behind by the previous cabal of neoConservative thugs, but it seems clear that any failures won't be from lack of effort. The man can LEAD, and I really get the sense that Americans want him to succeed...and why wouldn't they? After the failures, gross ineptitude, and criminal incompetence of the past eight years, we're in the mood for some good news. It's not Obama's fault that George W. Bush and his cronies left the cupboard bare. Sadly, most of his first term will be taken up with damage control and cleanup.
There's still a lot of time left, and a lot could happen...but I find it difficult not to be optimistic. Finally, there's someone at the helm who not only acts as if he belongs there...it's no act. If Republicans can manage to pull their anteriors from their posteriors long enough to stop being the party of obstructionism, we might just be able to put things back together. No, I don't know what the future holds, but with the leadership currently in place, I have to think that we've got a fighting chance...in spite of the mess left behind by the previous cabal of criminal greedheads Administration.
Finally a President who gives a (&^%....
