World traveler and
Michigan Republican activist Dennis Lennox has just returned from Egypt where
he found government corruption that is shameless, and a landscape “where just
about every Egyptian has told me that America has failed their country.”
Michigan Republican activist Dennis Lennox has just returned from Egypt where
he found government corruption that is shameless, and a landscape “where just
about every Egyptian has told me that America has failed their country.”
Lennox also passed along
an editorial from the Financial Times of London that offers a fair-minded,
level-headed look (an increasingly foreign approach in America) at President
Obama as he embarks on his sixth year in the Oval Office.
an editorial from the Financial Times of London that offers a fair-minded,
level-headed look (an increasingly foreign approach in America) at President
Obama as he embarks on his sixth year in the Oval Office.
In other words, there’s
just enough substance to infuriate the right and the left among Democrats and
Republicans.
just enough substance to infuriate the right and the left among Democrats and
Republicans.
The editorial writers at the Times assert that 2013 was the worst
year of the Obama presidency and that much of the damage was self-inflicted.
But they also see opportunities in 2014 to shake up his administration and right
the ship.
Under the headline, “Time for Obama to get a grip,” here’s a portion of their commentary:
year of the Obama presidency and that much of the damage was self-inflicted.
But they also see opportunities in 2014 to shake up his administration and right
the ship.
Under the headline, “Time for Obama to get a grip,” here’s a portion of their commentary:
“Mr. Obama’s chief
weaknesses have long been apparent. These include a tendency to substitute
speeches for policy, ill-concealed disdain for routine Washington socializing,
over-reliance on election consultants and a reluctance to go beyond his small
inner circle for advice. Each of these has been visible in the crises that have
dogged 2013.
weaknesses have long been apparent. These include a tendency to substitute
speeches for policy, ill-concealed disdain for routine Washington socializing,
over-reliance on election consultants and a reluctance to go beyond his small
inner circle for advice. Each of these has been visible in the crises that have
dogged 2013.
“Mr. Obama’s sudden
decision last August to seek Congress’s approval to strike Syria was taken
without consulting John Kerry, the secretary of state, Chuck Hagel, the
Pentagon chief, or Joe Biden, his vice-president. Between them they had almost
a century’s worth of experience on Capitol Hill. Mr. Obama took his decision
following a meeting of mostly inexperienced staffers. Even then, none agreed
with the panicked about-turn. As luck would have it, Vladimir Putin rescued him
with a plan of his own.
decision last August to seek Congress’s approval to strike Syria was taken
without consulting John Kerry, the secretary of state, Chuck Hagel, the
Pentagon chief, or Joe Biden, his vice-president. Between them they had almost
a century’s worth of experience on Capitol Hill. Mr. Obama took his decision
following a meeting of mostly inexperienced staffers. Even then, none agreed
with the panicked about-turn. As luck would have it, Vladimir Putin rescued him
with a plan of his own.
“…Mr. Obama still has a few
things going his way. First, it looks like 2014 could be the year when the
economy picks up speed. Higher growth lubricates things that seemed impossible
when the economy was in a lower gear. If it hits escape velocity, M.r Obama’s
luck could change. Second, the president recently hired John Podesta, a former
Clinton official, to add heft to an inexperienced White House. Mr Obama must be
sure to listen to whatever home truths his new counsellor delivers.
things going his way. First, it looks like 2014 could be the year when the
economy picks up speed. Higher growth lubricates things that seemed impossible
when the economy was in a lower gear. If it hits escape velocity, M.r Obama’s
luck could change. Second, the president recently hired John Podesta, a former
Clinton official, to add heft to an inexperienced White House. Mr Obama must be
sure to listen to whatever home truths his new counsellor delivers.
“Third, moderate Republicans this month outflanked the Tea Party to pass
a mini-budget deal that could herald a pause in Washington’s fiscal battles.
Finally, on Iran, the president might have the beginnings of a historic deal.
These are all opportunities for the taking. But it will require a functioning
White House to seize them. Mr. Obama has precious little time to lose. The
moment to overhaul his administration should no longer be delayed.”
You can read the entire editorial here, but you will have to deal with the Times’ paywall.
