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Hillary and Bill are demonstrating the ease with which Barack Obama can be pushed around. With no real leverage over Obama, they have managed to secure prime time speeches for themselves on Tuesday and Wednesday night at the convention and to get Hillary’s name placed in nomination. They have won all of their demands for convention scheduling. In the name of party unity, Obama has given away the store. After the nominations, there will be a roll call vote. This further assures that the convention will be a continuation of the primaries and that Obama will be a guest at his own convention.
This begs the basic question: Is Barack Obama strong enough to be president?
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Obama knew long ago of these risks and reminds himself each time he views the cartoon in his private plane of himself boiling in a stew over a fire with Hilary and Bill stirring the pot. He considers himself immune. By not allowing for unpredictable events, he demonstrates his naiveté.
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I would agree wholeheartedly with your insight about Obama’s strength to be President. This, in my opinion, is one more poor judgement on his part that relects highly of his inabilities. Obama has become so complex in his character that he scares the hell out of me and hopefully out of many americans, especially those who were so mesmerized by his eloquence. He is a puzzle that will unravel on the national stage and in front of the first crisis that confronts our country and our nation. His true face which is resplendent in weakness and appeasement will never be able to stand up to any leader of strength. And the world is full of bullies. Obviously Obama will shrink and melt in the face of adversity!!
Dick: The days of the Clintons worshiping themselves will soon be over. Many of Clinton’s staunchest supporters felt strongly that something had to be done, and that the Clintons had concluded that, in part for the sake of unity, their wishes ought to be respected. And we both know Dick, that is pure political bullsh**. Obama believes that honoring Senator Clinton’s historic campaign in this way will help the Democratic party celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion, which I believe is both symbolically and practically, but more symbolic. Even if her name is place in nomination, she will inevitably wind up with fewer delegates than the 1896 she earned from the primaries, and that alone is going to make Hillary look bad and will demoralize herself and her supporters.
Has Obama really given away the store? A good question, but I don’t think so. The Democratic storekeepers, regardless of Obama giving in to the Clintons, will keep Hillary in check because their jobs are also on the line come November. Is Obama being pushed around and you begging question as whether or not he is strong enough to be President; well, an Obama mousetrap always offers free cheese, and when the Clintons began preaching at the convention, everyone will be watching their geese. I once wrote to you that “weakness is really not weakness, but a sign of strength. Don’t undersestimate Obama………he is going to surprise everyone.
Exactly right. Weakness like this often leads to rashness when governing. If/when O becomes President, his responses to any 3 am moments - foreign or domestic - will be viewed through the lens of “is he tough enough?” This may cause him to make extreme moves at the wrong time.
My guess is that the reasons for his wimpy handling of the Clintons are: a) lack of leadership experience (he’s never held a significant executive-type position), b) dislike of conflict (he doesn’t have combat experience - neither real combat, busines combat, nor political combat) and c) he aims to please. The last flaw is the worst one.
Good leaders do not worry about being liked, they worry about advancing the interests of the enterprise they are leading, particularly in the face of other people’s negative emotions. This takes a certain self-mastery; a certain sense of “it’s not personal, it’s strictly business.”
My feeling is that O just feels bad that the Clintons hate him and he wants to please them. He is being magnanimous when the situation calls for ruthlessness. You think the Clintons feel any obligation to return the favor and play nice with O? Ha! They would take any opportunity to benefit at O’s expense.
I think this should somehow be a part of McCain’s narrative. He should put some more meat on the bones of his argument that O is not ready to lead. He should explore the downside of inexperience. What can and will actually go wrong as a result of O’s callowness.