A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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By now we all recognize that the current occupant of the Oval Office is definitely NOT a type "A" personality.
For a time, the President -- and his family -- were enjoying, on average, a vacation a month at taxpayer expense.
In a December, 2011, ABC News interview, Mr. Obama told Barbara Walters, “There is a deep down, underneath all the work I do, I think there’s a laziness in me. It’s probably from, you know, growing up in Hawaii, and it’s sunny outside and sitting on the beach.” SOURCE: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/13/the-true-confessions-of-a-lazy-president/#ixzz2TmHB242p
Obama's work ethic HAS been called into question from time to time. Of course, the
person having the temerity to mention it is instantly hammered by the President's "Press Phalanx."
But it remains a nagging point of interest what with well over a hundred rounds of golf under his belt and all the vacations and traveling, making campaign speeches -- even when he is not a candidate -- plus all the travel he does to fundraisers, etc..
It all begs the question: Who's minding the store?
You'd think that with the country in the mess it's in, the Chief Executive would be hard at work making a yeoman's attempt to solve the nation's problems and get the country back on course.
Nope! Ain't happening.
So -- who IS running things? Darned if I know!
When there is good news to report it seems everyone in the West Wing is ready and willing to step forward and take credit. But -- when something goes wrong, nobody knows anything about anything -- period. Funny how that works, eh?
I mean, consider the Benghazi mess. Nobody even knows where the President was! Well, they won't admit it if they do. Of course, all this just makes me wonder -- even more -- where the hell WAS the President, anyway?
So far as the mess with the AP telephones and the IRS strong arming conservative groups, nobody at the White House knows anything.
So what do they do all day, huh? I mean besides planing menus, and scheduling fund raisers for the President, and speaking engagements, that sort of thing, do they ever get around to running the government?
In an article at The Washington Times written by Eric Golub the point is made thusly: "Conversations must begin honestly. It is perfectly legitimate to analyze leaders with critical lenses. People fight and die for this freedom.
Times are serious, and Obama may not be. The question of whether Obama is lazy evokes everything from discomfort to rage. Yet asking and answering questions provokes “national conversations” that President Obama cherishes. SOURCE: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/jan/7/president-obama-lazy/#ixzz2TmNjMZZh
Mr. Golub goes on in the same article to note the following: "Not one example exists of anything significant happening specifically because of intense Obama engagement and effort." Mr. Golub continues: "Obama loves speaking but appears to loathe governing. Speaking is glamorous. Governing is boring and tedious. He constantly tells everybody else to 'get to work' while he is AWOL. SOURCE: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/jan/7/president-obama-lazy/#ixzz2TmP086lb
Mr. Golub concludes his column with this: "It insults millions of hard-working Americans of all races to give him unearned credit. Once the platitudes are removed, supporters will not find a single policy accomplishment in his entire first term that has anything to do with him.
Others did the heavy lifting while he took credit and deflected blame.
This does not make him a bad guy. It just makes him unmotivated, or in simpler terms, lazy." SOURCE: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tygrrrr-express/2013/jan/7/president-obama-lazy/#ixzz2TmR4Iym
Mr. Obama has proven that America really doesn't NEED a President. Heck, we could have someone sent over from "central casting" to fill the slot for photo ops, and such. The Press Secretary could handle press conferences -- as he does nearly every day, anyway. And there are any number of polished public speakers in the cabinet.
Maybe we have reached a point in the evolution of the country at which we ought to reevaluate the importance of the Executive Branch of the government. Maybe we ought to change the office of the Presidency to merely a ceremonial post -- I mean, now that we know we don't really NEED a President -- thanks to Obama.
© J. D. Longstreet
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