As news of the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives became reality I worried about what a hard road our President may have ahead in 2011.
Then I thought, wait a second, the past 8 years we had a goofy President who probably didn't win his first presidential election if the votes were counted correctly but nonetheless was able to push the Republican agenda through even as our country was attacked on Sep 11, 2001, the subsequent recession, an unpopular War in Iraq and Democratic control of both the House and Senate. Now how was that possible?
I remember viewing The Daily Show during these years and as what has become the Hallmark of the show were they replay clip after clip of Republicans when speaking on whatever topic of the day, all spreading the same message over and over again in complete and utter unity. Right or wrong the Republican party was a well oiled PR machine, and its methodology so simple even George Bush could follow it--create a one line catch phrase, and stick with it.
Fast forward now to listening to our eloquent President Obama speak during his push for Health Care reform in late 2009 and I was left speechless, but not in a good way. Why was it that this man who has penned numerous books and given great speeches when running for the presidency now sounding so confused and off point? Could it be the pressure of becoming the first African American Commander and Chief have taken their toll?
I don't think so, I'm thinking this President took over the post during one of the worst financial crisis in our Country's history, and during a time where we were at War in not one, but two different Countries. And not some ridiculously quick and simple altercation such as Iraq in 1990-91 or Panama in 1989, and I don't mean to say that quick in simple in terms of the valiant soldiers time spent fighting there during those altercations, but in terms of our overall engagement those wars do not resemble what the president inherited in 2009 which are two full fledged Wars. Yet, the President did push through a Health Care Bill, and some Financial Regulatory reform, and most recently backed the repeal of the don't ask don't tell policy in the Military.
So I say 2011, I dedicate to you Mr. President. I toast to a hope that you continue to improve on what you have already accomplished but my greatest hope is that you take all of your linguistic knowledge and put it to more use, for this is what you were put in office to do. You weren't put here to save us and the world from ourselves, but rather to clarify the world so that we can save ourselves as a people. Yes with the power of your pen and with your great oratory delivery craft speeches, give precise, simple and strong explanations of all this Legislative jargon about Health Care reform, Financial Regulatory reform, Economic reform and our Foreign Policy. And do it in a way that we don't look at you with a glassy eye stare and wonder is this the man who wowed us, who inspired us, who united us in a way never before seen on a grass roots level. Learn from your grass roots movement and craft a PR strategy that unites your party under one common goal--give the People of the United States the story straight and simple, and let your faith in us take it from there.
Yes, Mr. President make 2011 the year you return to your writing roots, the skill you have honed for so many years probably beginning as a young boy with your mother having you read some of the great novels of your day. Mr. President take the mounds and mounds of paper Congress will push on you and you will push on Congress, and divide and conquer. Become the Commander and Chief of Information dissemination and clarify for us what we need to know in simple and easily understandable prose you can so finely create, you've done it before and you can do it again!
We still believe in you Mr. President, now put down your Blackberry and pick up your Word Processor and Microphone!
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