LEADERSHIP CULTIVATION

The Best Thing About Mondale and Gore Losing

The best thing about Walter Mondale and Joe Lieberman losing their races to the White House is that we didn't get Geraldine Ferraro and Joe Lieberman as Vice Presidents. I believe that Mondale and Gore would have been good U.S. Presidents if they had gotten the chance to serve. On the other hand, I get a level of satisfaction in knowing that Ferraro and Lieberman did not get close to the seat of power. Unlike the beer commercial that declares "they were who we thought they were", those two certainly were not who we thought they were. 

I didn't recognize the Geraldine Ferraro that showed up during the 2008 Presidential Campaign that pitted Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton. That was a case of former Democratic Vice-Presidential nominees gone wild. And Joe Lieberman?  I have to admit that I never had any passion for that guy, but I did like Al Gore. But with Gore, you would have gotten Lieberman and that quite frankly was worth Gore losing. Lieberman is turning out to be quite the "career politician." He seems to be willing to do or say anything to hold on to his Senate seat. His interference to achieving worthwhile health care reform is unacceptable. Too bad he isn't putting the amount of required effort into passing legitimate health care reform as he is in the global warming initial. I hope that Connecticut can field a credible candidate to run against this wolf sheep's clothing. Nuff said.

President Obama Wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize...Another Proud Moment

The poet Robert Burns wrote that "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray." That astute observation is never more evident than today when despite his many naysayers, President Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The President must be feeling an energy infusion. When President Obama "failed" to deliver the 2016 Olympics to Chicago, his detractors celebrated even though when I last checked, Chicago was still a part of the United States. "Obama was losing his influence in the world", they scoffed. I assume these flag waving critics wanted an exemption for their "uncharacteristic" un-American behavior. When the President showed that he was really serious about tackling the numerous problems that stressed this country like the economy, health care, climate control, and the Iraq War, his critics recoiled even more.  “Wait” they said. To their surprise and apparent disappointment, he was trying to do too much too soon. President Obama was not trying to protect his "rock star" image and it really must have been agonizing for them to watch their "empty suit" myth be so easily dispelled.

Now by awarding him the Nobel Peace prize, members of the global community have given the President a huge pat on the back and encouragement for his attempts to restore a sense of civility and cooperation in the world. So in an encore to the exhilaration I felt on November 4, 2008 with the election of Barack Obama as U. S. President, this is a proud moment for me and no doubt many others who believe that the time for change has come. The President continues to remind us that change will not come easy. Yet even when blowhards like Rush Limbaugh attack him 24/7 on talk radio and television, or during fake demonstrations, or by displaying bad manners during national presidential addresses, I hope that President Obama knows he is not alone and that many more of us have his back. 

Mr. President, we really are proud of you and celebrate this very special moment with you. So press on in your efforts! Keep pressing on! Your labor has not been in vain.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) Calls the U.S. President a Liar...Are You Kidding Me?

There is no hiding place for Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) who called the President of the United States a liar during President Obama's speech to millions of Americans. Are you kidding me?  This lame-brain from my neighboring state of South Carolina went mad-mob town hall style crazy and made a complete fool of himself.  The people who sent this idiot to Congress must be feeling really proud. Surely there was someone else available. Anybody.

As much as anyone, I was surprised when Joe Wilson made his stupid and childish outburst.  Then I became angry.  This guy is a United States Congressman.  I initially had harsh thoughts about the State of South Carolina.  But there are good people in South Carolina.  Joe Wilson stands alone on his own island and rightfully so.  Does anyone expect Wilson to contribute anything of value to a grownup discussion about health care reform?

Joe Wilson and a lot of his Republican colleagues definitely do not have the best interests of everyday Americans without adequate health care at heart. They apparently still harbor too much anger about losing a national election to effectively do their jobs.  This is the mentality that President Obama must defeat in order to bring about health care reform.  Although I know it was not his intention, I think that Joe Wilson with his silliness actually helped the President's cause.  And President Obama impressed me that he is ready to rumble.

The GOP and Their Waterloo Moments

U.S. Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina called President Obama's push for sensible health care reform as his Waterloo moment.  But wait, for Republicans hasn't everything that the President has tried to accomplish been his Waterloo moment? Do we detect a pattern here for the GOP? Oppose everything and if the President fails, make some ridiculous assertion that the President's agenda is facing widespread rejection by the American people.

Surprise, surprise. President Obama who has a lot of fight in him is not rolling over for DeMint as he hasn't for any of his political opponents.  Now it sounds like Sen. DeMint wishes he had chosen his words (or his opponent) more carefully. What's that rule, "to kick butt you have to bring butt." In other words, the good senator from South Carolina should have anticipated that when he threw a punch at this President, this President would punch back. I guess with one South Carolina politician out of the presidential picture, the good senator had hoped to fill the void. Oh well, all is not lost. With a name like DeMint, he can always open up a candy store. However, I would advise him against stocking jawbreakers. Ouch!