President Obama's Day

Today is President Obama's inauguration -- I will not criticize until tomorrow.

Every President, Republican or Democrat, deserves his or her day.  

As a tribute, I will talk of three policies I like from the current Administration and three policies from the last Administration I support.

Why do I do this?

The answer will show up in the next post.

Now then, my favorite President Obama policies:

President Obama at LAX in 2009

1) Ratified three Trade Agreements (Colombia, Panama and South Korea);
2) Made sure that there was Funding and Support for the Intelligence Agencies after OBL; and
3) Repealed "DADT"

Now, MY favorite President, President George W. Bush:

Leaving Nevada

Here are my favorite policies:

A) Supporting Wilsonianism (and Israel) Overseas;
B)  NO INTERNET TAX!; and
C)  The Unemployment rate under President Bush was never more then 6.5%! (See chart below)

OK, see you in the Blogosphere tomorrow!

My question: What did I do here?

How to Succeed in Politics and Policy (with some Life Lessons)

The poker hands of Politics and the Chess games of Policy can help you live life to the fullest.

When I'm standing on the terrace of the Monte Cristo, I feel grateful for the lessons I learned from the Political and Policy (Capitol Hill) sphere.  To succeed in life, sometimes it helps if learn them too.

There are many people who think they know the realm I inhabit, but they remain idealists who know nothing of working with other human beings.  The best people who wander onto my proving ground understand that politics and policy require pragmatics. 

These are lessons that Chris Matthews forgot and the next President in 2013 will use.  Thank me later.

1)   Politics is about coalitions.  If you cannot build a coalition or break your opponents', then forget about winning in November. Coalitions help theoretical bills (and budgets) become laws. Or you win a plebiscite with one.  In my personal life I have built a coalition of my Politico friends (in LA and DC), my Goth friends, my Blogging buddies, regular friends, and family.  Thus, I am never alone. 

2) How do you build that coalition? Rule number two: Play well with others.  

This one requires a new paragraph.  Listen:

Try this experiment for someone you need to work with or are friends with.  Spend an hour yelling at them; then spend another hour questioning their motives; then spend another hour yelling at them for doing something you support; and another hour asking if they beat their wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend/significant other. 

Now ask them to work with you.  That ladies and gentlemen, was how the American Left acted during the last administration; Its how they acted when they had super majorities in the House and Senate (and the White House) and its how they act today with a White House and Senate still in their control.

Would you want to work with someone who treats you like crap?  Exactly.  When the people on the Left learn to treat people on the Right like human beings, with flaws (just like everyone else), then deal making can get done again.  Until then, I'll just quote Clive Owen from Shoot 'Em Up (quote in link).

2A)  Don't ask for something you don't give yourself.  Civility, civility, civility.  A lot of us called Bull because we remembered how President Bush fils was treated.  You want civility? Give first.  This is not rocket science even though the Left calls themselves the smarter of the two parties, yet they can't figure this out.

3)  If you are unwilling to put your reputation on line for a cause (not an individual), you are not in the right business.  Which Legislators are remembered?  Those that fought for something they believed in.  And the best Presidents? Those that staked their poll numbers on personal beliefs.  Can anyone tell me what President Obama stands for?  Exactly.  Believe in something, believe in yourself that you can sell the idea and you can do great things.

4)   In politics, you must sell the candidate; In policy, you sell the idea; Among the populace, you must sell yourself.  There is a theme here -- my late father was a salesman.  I learned a lot about selling that helped move the Valley into almost becoming a "C" list Blog (I joke).  When I am at the club, I have been told I go up to the prettiest girl there and say "Hello,"  How does this happen? I know the product.  Plus how many guys say that they are to blame when western civilization falls.  Understanding of the self and what you are selling go helping you succeed in politics, policy or life.

5)  Never mock someones beliefs or heroes (from that Right winger, Speaker Tip O'Neill).  Listen, I despise the Pauls.  But some people like them.  Yet, they always have a hard time selling their candidate beyond those intense activists who already like him.  Why? Because their way is the only way. As politely as I can, no no and NO.  You gain voters from other candidates in the Primary by convincing others that their views will still be represented by your candidate.  And that is why the Left is losing, and why the Pauls will never be President.

6) If you want deals to be done, allow the other party to "Save face,"  This is Japanese protocol but it is true here.  Why deal with someone if you won't give them a way to keep their pride?   Attack some one's beliefs by calling them "teabaggers," or "racists,"  Expect no concessions from Republicans.  If you give the other side a chance to maintain a sense of pride and dignity, and, to paraphrase  Reagan, if you don't care who gets the credit, shit gets done.  

7)  And finally,  be yourself -- if your public face is different from your private face, expect trouble.  But if who youy are in private matches your public face, the world is your oyster. And we end this post with one of the best Depeche Mode songs, "People are people," Listen to the lyrics.



People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?

So we're different colours and we're different creeds
And different people have different needs
It's obvious you hate me though I've done nothing wrong
I've never even met you, so what could I have done?

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?

And now you're punching and you're kicking and you're shouting at me
I'm relying on your common decency
So far, it hasn't surfaced but I'm sure it exists
It just take a while to travel from your head to your fist

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

OK, your turn: What life lessons have you learned from politics?

President Obama's 100 days: Grading on a Curve

There are a lot of views on how President Obama did.

From Don Surber, 100 ways Obama failed.

The UK Independent has a good mix for the 100 days.

And here, at Crooks and Liars, they offer support to President Obama. (I was looking for Leftist Bloggers who wrote 100 things 100 days that President Obama did right and I could not find it. Hmmm....)

Finally, the transcript and President Obama's speech tonight:



So what do I think of President Obama's 100 days? We'll hit three areas, Domestic policy, Foreign Policy and Governing. Ready, here we go:

Domestic Policy


As I mentioned in an earlier post, Appointments is Policy. Even with a majority Democratic Senate, he relies more on Czar's then filling up his cabinet (and sub-cabinet).


President Obama started with the Stimulation Bill (which passed mostly on a party line vote, despite his protestations of Bi-partisanship) and is now working on the Budget. As a former Senator, he knows how Our National Legislature works.


Do I like where he is going? No. The idea that Speaker Pelosi is running President Obama with her vision rather then President Obama's vision implemented by Speaker Pelosi does not bode well for the Country. After all, by tax day, tea parties showed up to oppose the spending. And there are more to follow. If he really was "the best President since Ronald Reagan," then there should be no opposition, President Obama cannot claim that mantle.

President Obama gets a C+.

Foreign Policy

His first phone call was to the Palestinians, he snubbed Prime Minister Netanyahu after he won election, so President Obama already got on my bad side on this.

When President Ortega was ranting against the United States, he did nothing. He sucked up to Hugo Chavez, the anti-Semitic dictator down south. President Obama seemed to fly everywhere and apologize for American Exceptionalism (Earlier, I cross-endorsed Senator Obama because I thought he supported American Exceptionalism)

The Democratic party leaders do not understand not everyone should like us. America should stand for Democracy movements overseas, not for Realism where people suffer under Dictators. This used be a Democratic Party position under President George H. W. Bush, but they have changed since then. A few times. We will see if Machiavelli was right that it is better to be feared then loved.

However, I remember President Bush (whom I still support) did not find his footing until after 9/11. President Bush's policy was the same as the Democrats in 1990-91. The Democratic party is not known for their consistency on Freedom overseas.

President Obama gets an C- leaning towards Incomplete. He has yet to define his Foreign Policy.

Governing

President Bush was not known for patying in washington, DC with the beautiful people. President Obama parties every Wednesday.

He sent Air Force One to New York City for a photo-op while he plays Golf when hearing about the spread of swine flu. As mentioned earlier, he has not fully staffed his Administration.

However, he made sure the Senate is veto-proof for any of his Bills.

When President Obama introduced the "Torture memos," and the idea of Prosecuting the last Administration, I thought he was leading us down the wrong road. However, the basis of President Obama is about having an "An American Enemy of the State," (Ask Rush or Jim Cramer). He wanted to lead the pitchforks against Wall Street, against AIG, against Private citizens, who is next? As the Roman Republic faltered, between Marius, Sulla, and the Triumvirate Caesar, there were Political mobs in the streets. Does President Obama want to start a Civil War? Mobs sometime turn on their host.

Speaker Tip O'Neill (D-MA) wrote that if you know what you believe, you can speak "off the cuff," Does President Obama believe in anything? Because, it is well known his teleprompter goes everywhere. President George W. Bush and President Reagan were known for speaking off the cuff because they knew what they believed. President Bush made the sacrifice of his popularity for what he believed.

Does President Obama know what he believes? Would President Obama sacrifice his Political capitol for a greater good? So far, no to both.

Governing takes time and work. Instead, President Obama goes for the photo-op and the hagiographers in the press and the public. That is the sign of a "Show Horse," Here is what he needs to do to improve his grade:

1) Fill the missing positions in his Administration, why wait?

2) Come out with his core beliefs, what would he sacrifice his popularity for?

3) Stay in the Oval office seven days a week, and take care of America, he serves us, we do not serve him. This is a Republic, not an Empire.

President Obama gets a C+, he needs to work harder at Governing, not partying.

Overall, Obama gets a C.

How do you grade President Obama? What do you look for in a President when judging?