By Doug Stevens
I have finally realized what it is about President Obama that has eaten at me since the debates began. He is a part-time President. For most of his presidency I have felt he enjoyed campaigning more than governing, but recently I have concluded he just doesn’t enjoy governing at all. It seems he prefers activities where he receives adoration and positive feedback rather than doing the hard work of decision making. Now this may sound like a wild claim, so let me make my case.
Photograph: Jonas Karlsson
First, there is increasing proof that he isn’t into the details of foreign policy. The Benghazi terror attack is the first piece of evidence I introduce. I haven’t seen recent reports of his attendance at the Presidential Daily Briefing (PDB), and especially on September 11 or 12, 2012, but I would be willing to posit that he was not in attendance. Marc Thiessen in his September 10, 2012 Washington Post Op-Ed gave the President’s percentage of attendance since the beginning of his term. Last year was 38%. For someone calling the shots on foreign policy, this meeting provides all of the up to date intelligence needed for presidential decision making. Absence would imply others are making those decisions, or that the details needed to govern would not be at hand. For Benghazi to suggest a sacrilegious video was the reason for the terror attack to me seemed so off the wall at the time. We see now it was a practical political reason and deflected a policy explanation, but it had absolutely no evidence of being based on the details of foreign policy. It was a lazy-governing, politically-practical explanation.
My second piece of evidence is President Obama’s preparation schedule for the first debate on October 3. According to a few articles I have read, prior to the debate, he disengaged from the preparation process. See Sara Noble’s article of October 9, 2012. Mastering details is hard work. It would seem like a small extension to the routine of governing to prepare for the details of a crucial debate. Active governing should mean much of the information is already understood. His actions before the first debate suggest detail work is not something he was used to doing. A distance runner can easily run a short distance without training. This and his debate performance is more evidence proving he is not used to or proficient at the hard work of governing.
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For my third piece of evidence, I cite Obama’s intensive interest in golf. Now, we all need hobbies to provide a balance to hard work. What I don’t understand is as he becomes the most powerful man in the free world he becomes obsessed with being expert in golf. I offer Jody Kantor’s New York Times article of September 2, 2012 that illustrates his obsessive attention to golf. As cited in this article, 104 rounds of golf at an average of 4 hours is a total of 416 hours, or 52 eight-hour work days. I know I couldn’t spend that amount of time golfing in my line of work.
My fourth piece of evidence is the scripted way he seems to present himself. A dedicated leader will set the tone and pace of a team, demand excellence and be constantly seeking input to facilitate a stream of crucial decisions. Isn’t the outcome of effective leading and governing a stream of well-considered decisions? It seems like Obama is the public side of a team, possibly with Valerie Jarrett as the captain. In a September 1, 2012 piece in the New York Times, Jo Becker gives a look at the role Valerie Jarrett plays in the white house. The last three sentences in the article were most telling to me. She often says to the President and he then repeats the mantra, “Homestretch.” It’s like she’s managing his attitude and energy level to get him through the election season. If that is needed, and based on how scripted his actions appear to be, it’s increasingly obvious to me that we are not seeing Barack Obama leading; we are seeing him acting as a governing spokesperson. That approach may work in TV commercials, but not as President of the United States.
My fifth and final piece of evidence echoes the notion put forth by Neera Tanden, a former Obama aide, in an article written by Selwyn Duke; that basically Obama doesn’t like people. If Obama is that narcissistic and doesn’t value other people, how is he going to be motivated to govern people? Why is it that we hear so many Campaigner-in-Chief, Narcissist-in-Chief zingers from humorists; don’t we really want a full time Commander-in-Chief? Can’t we be done with disengagement in the presidential governing process?
So we have a President that is disengaged in the business of governing, and yet expects the nation to ‘rehire’ him for four more years. The past four years we have endured a ‘Perfect Storm’ of disinterest in governing, fiscal irresponsibility and social reengineering. We need to end the storm and send Obama packing. I am even happy to give him a rain slicker, but just go. I say it is time to let him be unemployed, and hire a governing expert, Governor Romney.
Governor Romney has proven that not only is he highly proficient in leading and governing, but he has an above-self passion for the welfare of our country. In every endeavor Governor Romney has accepted, he has been a full-time participant – his business career, the Olympics and Governor of Massachusetts. Not only has he been effective and full-time in effort, but he has been wildly successful.
We can no longer tolerate a part-time POTUS leading our country. By electing Governor Romney, we will also be removing a great burden that is making President Obama stressed and unhappy, governing. It will give him more time to pursue his passions, including golf. Please join me in voting on November 6 and electing a real leader, one that knows how to govern and one who will be a full-time President of the United States!
A great article Doug! It seems quite clear that Mr. Obama does not like being POTUS. It also explains why he is the opposite of Ronald Reagan who met often with Democrats of both houses of congress to get things done. In this regard, Obama and Romney too are opposites.
Obamain his own words…..”You know, it’s interesting. There is a deep down, underneath all the work that I do, I think there’s a LAZINESS in me. It’s probably from, you know, growing up in Hawaii and it’s sunny outside, and sitting on the beach.” Prez Obama interveiw back in 2011 with Barbra Walters 20/20.
Obama is a Blame- in- chief Prez with no accountability, no responsibilty. This’s a prez who were elected by default in ’08, Nobel peace Prize just by showing his name in the list, Bin Laden death was almost a 10 years manhunt in W Bush Admin….
Com’n he’s a historical black Prez, people believes him whatever comes out of his mouth so, no need for him to study the debate.hehehe Actually, he was not preparing for the debate he was studying what is happening in the govt, real issues the last 4 years. I’ve seen politician ignoring some questions, but i never seen a prez completley refusing answers and continue talking irrlvant to the issue in question.
Are you expecitng him to govren?hehehe What we’ve is a monrach emperor. He’s stitting pretty out there just to sign libs agenda when they put out in his desk to shove in our throats.
RomneyRyan=Authentic Leader=Saving the soul of America
Fascinating article. The behaviors you observed fit well with the general “attitude” of the current administration. I believe the best summary is “Words, not Deeds.” Hope and Change are abstract, feel-good political ideas that capture the imagination of the uninformed voter and induce political hallucinations of peace, love, and free… well, everything, except freedom.
I have felt this way for a long time. President Obama is there, but really isn’t there. Just like “Survivor”, on November 6th, “the Tribe has spoken”.
Adios Barak……………..
President Obama is M.I.A. He’s more interested in feeding his massive ego than fixing the massive mess he made.
Doug,
Well stated. I believe one of the critical foundations of our Nation is a work ethic which is driven because we have freedom. We randomly invited Fernando, who works on Saturdays on our neighbors landscaping, into our home yesterday for lunch. He is one who has had to take a different job as far back as 2008 because his former employer could not provide steady work. His former employer has offered him employment, but cannot guarantee they will be able to keep him “working every day.” Fernando works and uses his Saturday to work on the side to be able to provide the dream he saw when he came to this country. That dream is being crushed and will be severely beaten down if we do not rise up and make a change now. I love a line from the movie “Remember the Tions.” Julious was being called out by the captain of the football team said “attitude reflects leadership.”
I believe your post raises critical issues. A leader works. A leader sacrifices. A leader is an example in every facet of life. I see none of that in our present watchman. More importantly my heart tells me we will never see this from our current president. Honestly look at the last four years. We have only one correct option.
ObamasDeficitPlan.com
spread it
I loved the thought Roger Briggs wrote: Romney isn’t replacing a president, he is filling a vacancy!!! Obama reeeeely likes the prestige, perks, vacations, and adoration of his fans, but NOT the daily jobs connected with presidential leadership! From the beginning, he “farmed out” his health care program to Pelosi and Reid, who crammed it down our throats. He didn’t even try to compromise with Republican leaders to develop a joint plan, because he said, “I won,” and left the table. Next, he appointed lots of czars (not elected by “We the People,”) to run government departments, allowing him more time for golf! (No offense…. golf is a great game!) He has attended less than half of his security briefings… probably another reason for 4 dead Americans in Libya. Michelle has really enjoyed the perks and luxury vacations too, at great taxpayer $$$$! On the other hand, Mitt Romney, has a tremendous work ethic, he is highly intelligent, and cares about all of us! He is a leader who can and will fill the vacancy in the White House! May God magnify our efforts to help he and Ryan win the 2012 election and restore America!
Expanding on the first paragraph regarding “adoration and positive feedback”-
He doesn’t have time to meet with World Leaders but has time to call Hip-Hop radio stations and appear on TV shows where they adore and worship him.
B.O. is only interested in the perks of being President, Airforce 1 to take him and his family all over the world on vacations a quick trip to NY for a dinner , a trip to Spain for Michelle and her many relatives and friends, a safari to Africa with more friends etc. I have not ever seen a POTUS and family use the jet for so many private trips. I hope it stops now! Vote for Romney and Ryan!
Doug….Great article!
Glen Goodsell…Loved your articles.
I agree. Obama is in love with the idea of being president, but he is not in love with the job of being president. It’s time for a president that has a desire to do the job and has a vision for this country that works.
Romney/Ryan…..2012!!
Obama is too self centered to actually work with anyone. He comes from a radical background and is actually insecure. The reason he needs a teleprompter is that he doesn’t trust himself not to reveal his true feelings. He had spent four years entertaining himself. He knows that we are going down and is helping that happen. What do we expect from someone so inexperienced? It’s like hiring a butcher to do surgery on a family member. They are going to die in the process! Why should we be surprised? Romney/Ryan– our only hope.
I long ago came to the conclusion that Obama is just a puppet. He was nurtured from a young age by communists. In Chicago he was surrounded by communists who made sure he got into college, made sure his transcripts remained hidden, who managed to cover up anything from Obama’s past that stated he was a foreign-born person. They could see someone who was articulate and electable and those people are the ones who have done the work. Once elected, Obama selected them as advisors and to cabinate posts. He is lazy and he is not interested in leading the country. He does what he is told and does it well.