Where's Waldo? President Obama is a Follower, Not a Leader

FRIDAY, MARCH 04, 2011

Political Pistachio

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Where's Waldo? According to Washington Post writer Ruth Marcus, he's nowhere to be found when it comes to the most important issues. When the President of the United States refuses to lead, one wonders if he is capable of leading.

In her column, "Obama's 'Where's Waldo?' presidency," Ruth Marcus (who, might I remind you, is not a conservative writer in the least) complains that Barry Obama is "a strangely passive president." She sees Obama as reluctant to be involved in the details of the health care debate, silent on the debate over entitlement reform, lacks leadership skills in the face of the Libya situation, and has not spoke up in a leadership manner on the Wisconsin labor battle. But in addition to all of these "beefs" with Obama, her biggest problem with the man-child in the White House is his "slipperiness" on economic matters, which includes refusing to specify what parts of his deficit commission's recommendations he agrees with.

With the Republicans in control of the House of Representative, faced with a strong opposition, Ruth Marcus is also bothered by the fact that Obama has been acting like a "passive bystander" in the current budget battle with House Republicans.

He's unclear about spending cuts, and Marcus writes that, "He is, too often, more reactive than inspirational, more cautious than forceful."

What did she expect from a follower whose primary experience is community organizing?

Obama's policies have failed, and to repair his image, he has gone back into campaign mode, while ignoring the criticisms of his failed actions. Despite his failure to recognize such, the economy is stuck in low gear, unemployment is high, taxes are on the climb, and spending levels are beyond ridiculous.

MSNBC, bothered by the fact that a non-conservative writer like Ruth Marcus would dare criticize the messiah, called her in for an interview. Savannah Gurthrie asked, "Ruth, you're getting a lot of attention for saying this is a 'Where's Waldo Presidency.' Do you think the president's deliberately staying out of sight on important issues?"

Marcus responded, "I agree with him on the goals. It's a question of tactics and strategy, and on each one the White House can give you very complex and sometimes convincing explanation. 'Well, it doesn't make sense to weigh in at this point because this consideration and we don't want to spend our political capital here because this is (a) more important goal,' but when you connect the dots and you step back and you look at the totality, the White House has this bully pulpit and it is choosing not to use it. In fact, its strategy more often than not to is step back."

He's in campaign mode, my dear. The idiotic policies can't be defended, so the aim of the propaganda is to convince the people to support him for other reasons, while hating the opposition (as they did with Bush).

"Where's the president?"

Marcus also said on the MSNBC show, "I would argue with that job description. Sometimes their job is to be the mediator, but the president is... They don't call him 'the mediator of the free world,' they call him 'the leader of the free world.' For a reason. He is the person to whom congressional Democrats look. There's a lot of frustration about where's the White House on the continuing resolution."

The leftists are not happy with Obama, but based on the way Marcus was treated by MSNBC, it seems the main-extreme media is even more unhappy with Ruth Marcus for daring to criticize their man-child in the White House.

Remember, leftists don't tend to be principles driven. They are collectivists. They are supposed to go along with the hive, goose-stepping along because they were told to, while keeping their individual opinions to themselves.

Ruth Marcus has broke with the line of sheep going over the cliff.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Obama's 'Where's Waldo?' presidency - Washington Post