Posted by
Richmond Reader on Saturday, October 24, 2009 7:02:22 AM
As the war between the White House and Fox News draws on, one must wonder if this is the consequence of electing as president a man with so little executive experience. The behavior of the president and the White House seems peevish, childish, and distinctly UNpresidential.
Now I did not support President Bush on all the things he did. But I think even those who despised the man must admit that his whole demeanor in the job had the proper air of regal leadership. In other words, with President Bush, it was never about him. And so when the wild eyed haters of the left attacked him with all their might, he reacted by smiling wryly, and affirming the great strength of American democracy-free speech.
President Obama is an incredible public speaker. He is about the best campaigner I have ever seen. But unfortunately, he seems completely over his head in the world of governance. He attacks people who disagree with him, and as shown by his actions on Fox News, takes it all personally. President Bush was smeared just about every night by the whole cast of MSNBC. From Chris Mathews, to Keith Olberman to Rachel Maddow and many others, President Bush was made into the enemy of the state.
But in keeping with his character, President Bush never even acknowledged their existence. He moved forward, doing what he believed to be in the country's best interest. He was never distracted by the inevitable dissent that is wholly part of the political process. He had a sense of humor about it, but never took it personally, and always rised above the fray. This is how a chief executive is supposed to act.
With President Obama, it is all about him, and those who disagree are the enemy. In so many instances, President Obama has demeaned the sacred office he holds, by making it about him. A black professor from Harvard is arrested, he attacks the Cambridge Police. The beer summit which followed was another act of embarrassingly UNpresidential vanity.
One of the rules of decorum that the President has never even recognized is that presidents pay homage and respect to all other presidents. When President Reagan too office, did he ever mention the name or administration of Jimmy Carter? Of course not, it would have been far beneath him and the office to do so. Bill Clinton never mentioned George H. W. Bush after taking office either. This is in keeping with the protocol.
President Obama has been tearing apart his predecessor in virtually every venue, ever since his inaugural address. He has gone on a world wide apology tour, speaking of all the bad things President Bush did (Which probably sealed the deal on the Nobel Peace Prize). To make matters worse, he then lets his attorney general begin a criminal probe of the CIA, seeking to prosecute CIA members who were doing their jobs honorably, in defense of this country. Obama is seeking to criminalize policy differences he has with his predecessor. His crowing glory will be the televised "perp walk" he gets when the first indictment is handed down.
MSNBC will open champaign, and the Nobel committee will think seriously about a second Peace Prize for President Obama.
But is this Presidential behavior? I think not. My next blog will take this theme even further. Thanks for reading.