LEADERSHIP CULTIVATION

President Obama Works For Mid-Term Surprise

President Obama is fighting back against his Republican troublemakers and has gotten his supporters "fired up and ready to go." It's this President Obama we need to re-ignite and lead the charge for the change we need to change America. It's this Obama that will once again beguile his competitors and keep this nation on a forward progress track that thwarts the return the GOP seeks of a return to their failed policies that put this country in the mess that it is in. 

The President warned that change would not be easy and it has been just that with Republicans being hell-bent on denying the President a victory on any solution he brings forward. Although progress has been slow, I think the media and pollsters have miscalculated the true mood of the majority of voters in this country in their prediction of wide-sweeping GOP victories in the mid-terms. Let me be the first to say they we supporters of real change have not been drinking the kool-aid. We may have taken a nap because of the toughness of the fight to elect Mr. Obama in the first place, but we are now awakened. And quite frankly, we don't intend to sit these elections out because they are just too important. 

There is a surprise coming in November when voters will soundly reject the GOP politics of no progress. Maybe then, Republicans will stop their stupidity and their selfish 24/7 campaigning and honestly work to dig America out of the hole that their leadership put it in. We can only hope. 

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.

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.

GOP Staging "Spontaneous" Protests to Healthcare Reform...Really?

Democrats are claiming that GOP operatives are staging fake spontaneous outbursts during town hall meetings held to talk about health care reform.  Wow imagine that, the GOP playing games with health care reform.  I find myself being redundant by asking the question, where is the surprise...isn't that what the GOP does? More pressing questions are why do Americans tolerate such theatrics and where does the GOP find these members of the so-called "country first" crowd who reveal by their actions that they care about anything but the best interests of Americans or America. Millions of Americans suffer daily from not having adequate or any health care and this bunch of clowns only care about playing and winning at political games.  It just boggles the mind that these shenanigans are allowed to work. The GOP is counting on that trend to continue so that they can accomplish their stated mission to prevent President Obama from being successful at any cost.

Republicans are consistent with their efforts to be obstructionists. Sensible people must be just as consistent with their efforts to stand up for righteousness and fight, fight, fight for what we know is right. Are we our brother's keepers? I think so. Political detractors call that Socialism. I call it being sensitive to the plight of others and caring about those who may be less fortunate.  I listened to an interesting conversation on the radio the other day where it was stated that most Americans are satisfied with their current health care coverage or the current health care system.  If that's true, the "satisfied" referred to must be those who have never been unemployed and uninsured or never been denied coverage or payment of an insurance claim because of a "pre-existing medical condition." Satisfied? I don't think so.  Can we have a better health care system?  Yes we can. Will it be easy to accomplish? No it will not because preservers of the status quo never sleep. Americans who want an improved health care system must not let sleep either!

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Blue Dog Democrats or Just Plain Yellow on Health Care Reform?

President Obama must be thinking "Ain't this a Beeswax" in reference to some Democrats collaborating with the GOP to try and derail the President's intent to bring much needed health care reform to America. Talk about working across the aisle. At a minimum, the President must be hearing in his head the old O'Jays hit, "Back Stabbers." One has to wonder about the motivation of these so-called Blue Dog Democrats who side with the obstructionists Republicans. The Republicans have made no secret of their wish to challenge the President for the sake of the exercise. Isn't that what they do? However I am particularly offended and irritated by Democrats who may be wolves in sheep's clothing. Maybe these Democrats should change their name from Blue Dog to Old Yellow with apologies to the real Old Yeller.  That description or just plain yellow seems to better fit their actions.

With the election of Barack Obama, the country voted for change instead of more of the same. The President warned us about those who would fight to keep the status quo.  And let's be fair about this, they are not all Republicans.  The actions of Republicans and Old Yellows alike who appear immune to the pain and suffering of everyday Americans living without adequate health care, should not be applauded. Their feet should be held to the fire by persons in their districts when they run for reelection.  Why should they be reelected when they have shown themselves to be insensitive to the health care needs of their constituents. Don't they care that people are suffering?  Old Yellows should look into the eyes of those who lack health care and ponder the effect of their delay on the health and well being of many who are suffering.

To know pain is to feel pain.  Do they feel pain? Most Old Yellows are very wealthy with the added luxury of having a congressional health care plan. Still they should be ashamed if their actions prevent the country from adopting an effective health care plan and settles for the watered-down version supported by their GOP comrades.The GOP has been grasping at straws since the election. They must be especially gleeful that their obstructionistic plans are getting an assist from insiders. "Et tu, Brute"? The President should be very wary of back stabbers who call themselves friends. " Somehow, I think he is and won't be terribly surprised when he emerges victorious despite the land mines being placed in his path by "allies."

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!

Rush Limbaugh Gets Stimulus Package from President Obama

I just left my car where "for entertainment purposes only", I listened to Rush Limbaugh rant about President Barack Obama. Limbaugh repeatedly referred to "our side", "us" and "we" as being this huge ground swell of opposition to the President and his policies. He said that "they" didn't need to moderate their viewpoint but instead should promote "a good looking conservative with charisma" to offset similar qualities found in the President. I thought to myself, who are these people that Rush keeps referring to and why haven't they stepped forward to be recognized? He can't be including Colin Powell and Tom Ridge and Karl Rove doesn't count. I guess Limbaugh after trying to sell President Bush to the American people is ecstatic to have President Obama as a convenience "prop" for his talking points that will allow him to grow his profit margin for years.

Call that Limbaugh getting a stimulus package from President Obama. It may be an indirect bailout, but make no mistake about it, the great entertainer is taking full advantage of it. Limbaugh sounded absolutely giddy as he went through his monologue on the radio. Ching, ching. Limbaugh complained about the stagnant GDP. Does he even know what the letters represent? I doubt it. Does it matter to his followers (now that's a scary thought)? Ditto. Like the "Energizer Bunny", Limbaugh went on and on jumping from one Obama criticism to the next. Blah blah blah blah blah. Try listening to that gobbledygook for an extended period of time. Talk about torture, water-boarding has nothing on Rush Limbaugh.

If you really want to make an enemy combatant talk, pipe Limbaugh into their cell and they will sing like a canary, "Make it stop, I will tell you everything!"  As nauseating as it is, don't expect Limbaugh to change his script any time soon, because President Obama is going to be around for a long time. Limbaugh is counting on it. He can't be so stupid to think that his gibberish is winning converts. The GOP numbers are shrinking. So if the goal is not to increase the base, then it's reasonable to conclude that it must be to sell the product line! Therefore, it's not credible for Limbaugh to accuse the President of moving the country towards Socialism. Since as long as Limbaugh shamelessly uses the President as a prop, he presents himself as evidence that the Free Enterprise System is in no danger of collapsing.

It's the GOP's Mini Initiatives vs. Obama's Many Initiatives

President Barack Obama has undertaken a very ambitious agenda for his administration.  The economy, the War in Iraq, stem-cell research, health care....  The GOP wants him to proceed more slowly.  They claim that the President's plate is too full and his strategies are wrong.  Having observed Mr. Obama during the presidential campaign, I am confident that he has a well thought out plan to achieve his desired objectives.  I think the President's decision to go full speed ahead is a firewall against efforts by the GOP to act as obstructionists.  It is no surprise to me that yet again his strategies appear to be far superior to those of his opposition.

Nonetheless, the GOP is still trying to promote an outdated agenda that the American people soundly rejected with their election of President Obama.  Similar to questionable tactics used during the campaign season, the GOP is tossing things up into the air and waiting to see where they land and it they sprout roots. In other words, while the President to pushing ahead with many initiatives, the GOP is pushing ahead with mini initiatives designed to derail him. 

There have been the Rush Limbaugh silliness about wanting the President to fail, GOP Governors playing politics with stimulus bailout monies and the latest, GOP U.S. Congressman Bill Posey trying to get traction with yet another silly Republican effort to insinuate that the President is not legally qualified for his office. They are using their trademark wedge driving tactics to try and distract the public from serious business. Are Republicans really that dense? Do they think that Americans are in a "hoodwink me" state of mind?  They don't get it. Then again, maybe they do and just don't give a damn about anything but a selfish obsession to return GOP dinosaurs to power. A mid-term elections spanking may be the only stimulus that will convince them to straighten up and walk right.

Republicans Are Just Mad

My childhood friend Jerry used to say with much indignation, "You mad...then I'm mad too." My friend comes to mind because Republicans seen to be mimicking his philosophy.  They appear to be mad for no other reason except that other Republicans, especially Rush Limbaugh, seem to be mad, also.

The truth be told, Republicans are mad because they lost the presidency when the majority of Americans rejected their narrow-minded political agenda.  They are mad at each other because they can't decide on a new direction for the GOP and too many of them are pursuing selfish ambitions to be the 2012 presidential nominee.  The GOP is a political party in chaos.

Supposedly, they are mad at President Obama because of the make-up of the stimulus package.They are so mad in fact they a lot of their "silver spoon in mouth" governors playing politics, couldn't decide if they would accept stimulus money for their states. So while most of them don't feel the personal sting of a down-turned economy, they wanted to do the "noble" thing and reject funds that would help ease the burdens of people living in their states who are less fortunate.

The GOP are clueless right now and their "reject the stimulus money" gimmick was another ill fated strategy doomed to failure. They seem to think that being obstructionists is a good thing. But the message was clear with the election of President Obama that the American people want elected officials working together to find solutions for the good of the country. But the voice of the people is not penetrating the Republicans' deaf ears.

Someone "moved their cheese" and the GOP not being able to make the adjustment are standing pat and waiting for someone to bring it back.  I predict it's going to be a long wait.  Well, if it's any consolation for these obstructionists, after the mid-term elections, more of them will waiting in the luxury of their homes away from Washington for the arrival of more cheese.