OBAMARAMA

President Obama is a good man. I don't think anybody doubts that. Is he a good president? That's a question that doesn't have an answer yet. If it were up to me I would stop all future elections and let Obama hold the reins of this country for as long as he's wants to. I see no politician today who is as intelligent, charismatic, or sincere. Now his sincerity is shaped by Obama the savvy politician, but I believe there's a heart and a soul leading his every decision. Can he lead us out of the mess that the Bush administration left behind? In the beginning, not without creating his own mess. That's been quite evident lately. The kid's still learning. But he's a quick study and my money's on him.

Though a savvy politician he still doesn't have enough experience to take on the old politics. That takes more than intelligence and a smooth tongue. Power is what's respected on Capital Hill, and although he's the president, most of the power is still in old alliances. He has to trade his intelligence for a horse traders sensibility. Obama knows this. That's why he hired so many politicians from the Clinton years. They know the game, they've played it before. But knowing the game isn't the same as knowing how to play the game well. Lyndon Johnson knew the game backwards and forwards. He got things done. Obama may be the more cultured individual, but Johnson is the better politician. He got things done. Like Obama he got stuck with an unpopular war and instead of getting out he stepped into quicksand, but other than that, his years in the White House are bright with achievements.

Another thing Obama has to learn is how to truly lead. He's a good organizer, but that's not the same as leading. He constantly has to explain what he's trying to accomplish because his actions aren't clear. He's become the salesman of his own policies instead of the initiator. At least that how it seems. He might have a firm hand behind the scenes but in public what we see is a charismatic person talking about what he wants to accomplish with sincere fervor, but there isn't much fervor in his actions. And if he listens to the people, they're confused, and more than a little worried that the path he's taking us on may be leading us over a cliff.

The people are confused by the new health care policies, the new fiscal policies, they're confused about just about everything. That's why a leader has to step in and take charge. Make things clear. Who's in charge of this country? The banks take our money, and then thumb their noses at us as they go back to the business of sucking on the big money-tit and not thinking of the country at all. The government is making changes so credit card companies can no longer gouge its customers, so the credit card companies are gouging their customers before the new laws take effect, and the government isn't stopping them. So, what good are the changes? This country is lauded as having a government for the people, by the people, but now it seems the people are just patsies to be used like toilet paper by by those with any level of power. Lobbyists are still pushing their wares to get an edge, get things their way. They know the game. They play it well. Obama is a quick study. I hope he's quick enough. This country is slowly sinking because of the stupidity of the last administration. Let's hope the intelligence of the new one doesn't get mired in playing the wrong game with good intentions, because of ignorance as to how the game is really played.