Barack Obama and the Democratic Party took control of Congress in 2008 with a mandate from the American people and a brilliant opportunity to change America for the better. Then something happened, or -- didn't happen. They failed to seize the moment and now find that their agenda is unraveling and heading downhill. A lack of strong leadership and an inability to convince the American people of the value of their agenda has eroded their power and put them on the defensive. They have been unable to recover.
Strong leadership is what makes things happen, the force leading to success and achievement. Whether it's in the field of business, education, medicine, theology, or even sports, there is no substitute for leadership. Sure, it's people who get things done, but it's leaders who project the vision and provide the motivation. That's a tried-and-true recipe for success but that concept has never caught on with this president nor with those he picked to assist him in addressing America's critical problems.
While Professor Obama and his class of confused and wayward Democrats continue to wander in the ethical wasteland of Washington, there is a monumental electoral tsunami that is forming on the horizon, heading directly for them and threatening their control over Congress. That rapidly approaching tidal wave of dissatisfaction is scheduled to hit with its full force on November 2, 2010.
This president cannot continue to blandly repeat "We must create jobs" or "jobs are America's number one priority." Please, tell us something new. Create what jobs? Create them how? No, those same old, worn out generalities are falling on deaf ears. Americans want to know exactly how he intends to create those millions of needed jobs. What new industries will be created? How does he plan to stop the outsourcing of jobs to foreign nations and return them to America? So far lots of questions and no real answers.
In a better late than never attempt to save his weakened party from an election disaster, the president has proposed a $50 billion program for investment in America's infrastructure; roads, railways and runways. That's fine and good but just how hard will he fight to get the legislation enacted? Is he finally willing to go to the mat with the opposition by initiating a very bold and extensive nationwide campaign to get Americans solidly behind him? His track record of fighting for such initiatives is dismal indeed so we need not get our hopes up too high.
Our founders faced tremendous obstacles and great danger, but they persisted and America gained its independence. President Abraham Lincoln was faced with the disintegration of our nation but he met the challenge. He led the nation through its greatest internal crisis -- the Civil War -- to preserve the Union. FDR came into office with the ravages of the Great Depression all around him; did he throw up his hands and give up in frustration? No, he developed a series of economic programs -- the New Deal -- that provided relief for the unemployed and poor, paved the way for a recovery of the economy to normal levels, and brought reform to the financial system to prevent a repeat Depression.
An article by Martin Kelly, "Significant New Deal Programs to Combat the Great Depression" included these positive, constructive actions taken during those tenuous times by President Franklin D. Roosevelt:
*CCC - Civilian Conservation
Corps: created in 1933 to combat
unemployment.
*FHA - Federal Housing Administration: a government
agency to combat the housing crisis of the Great Depression.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
