January 20th is Soon Enough

Left-leaning talking heads and op-ed writers are banging the drum for Obama to take the reins of government ahead of the constitutionally mandated date for the presidential transition.  On the other side of the political spectrum, there are silly claims of the "Obama recession."  

Neither of the foregoing persons possess much beyond a remedial understanding of the current financial crisis, if fact listening to them opine on these matters is painful.  Talk about being out of their collective depth, most of these folks most readily resemble Sarah Palin's rambling, nonsensical blather when they seek to characterize what's going on.

I argue that it is prudent for President-elect Obama move .cautiously.  This crisis is dynamic.  As the current administration's efforts have evidenced, today's "solution" may be next week's folly.  The US (and the world's) economy is trodding virgin territory.  Some of what will happen is beyond the control of government.  Better to move slowly and prudently, than respond as ifin  campaign mode.  The next administration needs to guard its credibility fiendishly with regard to our present circumstances.  A rapid response methodology is the polar opposite of what current circumstances demand.  Careful, thoughtful and to extent practicable, consistent economic messages are imperative to allow world markets to heal.  

RNC and Newt Make a Prudent Decision

Okay, it's necessary for me to include a post regarding something other than Sarah Palin.  The head of the RNC is the same person they should have chosen last time, Michael Steele.  Steele, the former Lt. Gov of Maryland, seems like the likely choice.  Newt has taken himself out of contention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_S._Steele

Palin's Interview with Greta

I was a bit dismissive of the Africa country or continent kerfuffle, but watching the interview gave me pause.  She seems to know something about Darfur, but her explanation (if I generously call it that) was incomprehensible.  Based on her rapid fire, nonsensical rambling, I think her understanding of Africa is no more than puddle deep.  She admits going "off script," read off message, this strikes me as evidence of her selfishness and conceit.  Does she honestly believe that she knows better.  That shocks me as much as anything, no humility whatsoever, is this a positive quality?

Her inability to speak coherently is startling.  I do not believe expecting a vice presidential candidate to speak proper English is elitist.  She absolutely tortures the language.  'Also,' 'they too' and 'there too' are ostensibly used as punctuation.  To understand her responses certainly requires a Tivo and the generous use of the replay button.  She changes tenses within sentences, uses multiple prepositional phrases to pollute sentences and constantly uses 'had' where 'has' is appropriate.  It drives me to distraction.  The speed rambling she uses when she's uncomfortable with a question or issue is another consistent feature.

I find the support for her among the party leaders to be representative of the worst form patronization.  She is an intriguing figure, but honestly, she's a dolt, a highly ambitious, somewhat arrogant dolt.  

Perhaps Someone Read My Blog - Nah Probably Not

On Wednesday of last week, I questioned whether Karl Rove had some special deal that prohibited anyone on FNC from asking him about the failure of his professed goal to create a durable Republican majority.  Much to my surprise, Knucklehead Smith, I mean intellectual lightweight Alan Colmes,  weakly sought to outmaneuver Karl Rove.  His initial question was a pitiful attempt at gotcha, asking Rove about his 'statement" about creating a 'permanent Republican majority.'  Rove prraied effectively, correcting (appropriately) Colmes on the quote, while deftly avoiding responding to the substance of the question and/or Rove's personal responsibility for the national Republican party's current state.  Colmes, remarkably ill-informed, verbally fumbled about for a moment or two and moved on to his second question.  When will Rove's policy guidance throughout the GWB administration be called into question.  One reason you don't read it is because Karl Rove was/is the best friend of the journalists, providing abundant amounts of inside info 'on background.'

The Emergent Bear?

While it's not yet clear how the global slowdown and the dive in the price of oil will have on Russia's desire to reestablish its empire.  You've gotta love the strutting titular leader, Medvedev.  Every time I see him on tape I'm have to chuckle.  He's (and his sponsor Putin) a manifestation of the Napoleonic syndrome.

2012 Race Begins

Bobby Jindal will travel to Iowa next month.  He is a man of intellect and promise (as opposed to the knucklehead from Alaska) and a politician to be reckoned with.

Karl Rove's Special Deal with FNC

Let me state clearly, I'd love to dine with Karl Rove.  He is an enormously talented and knowledgeable professional.  That said, his bailiwick is campaigns not policy.  His masterful manufacture of the "W" from Midland from a lost brat to a Texas Governor to a two-term President is incomparable.  His knowledge of the microscopic aspects of the national electoral process is beyond compare (although some may now argue, a new gunslinger has appeared on the horizon, David Plouffe the under forty wunderkid that outflanked the manifestly destined Hilliary Clinton campaign), but I digress.

How is it that he's been omnipresent throughout the campaign season, yet I have never seen him asked about his claim of creating a durable Republican majority.  This question is particularly salient given the fact that the northeast is bereft of Republican representation, moreover the Old Dominion voted Democratic in the presidential election and is lead by a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators.  Add New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado (will Florida, Montana and Arizona follow?) to the mix and the sorry state of the national republican party is evident.  The fact that the question does not get asked cannot be a coincidence.

The Palin Chronicles

It's only just begun, there is quite a tale to be told here.  Carl Cameron of FNC, is reporting some National Enquirer type details regarding Billy Kristol's girl.  Call me a voyeur, I'm fascinated by it.  I'll try and read everything I can on the subject and distill it down to a supportable case.  Headline note, according to Cameron, McCain aides claim Palin thought Africa was a country and South Africa an area within it.  Too specific a reference, to my mind, to have been invented.  Secondly, Palin's shopping stories have apparently just begun.  I know I'm shallow, but I love this stuff.

As a Kid I'd Often Been Told . . .

. . . only in America.  If it was not exemplified this evening in a more meaningful way, I am not aware of it.

Now the Test - Not to Govern, but Please, to Lead

The problems and challenges are vast.  The tired, dusty ideas of his party's apparatchiks claim to offer hope, but those positions offer no more hope than the least common denominator tripe peddled by Karl Rove.  Obama strikes me as ultimately a pragmatist, one willing to learn, willing to admit he doesn't know every answer off the top of his head or from his gut.  True leadership requires foresight, a quality much under appreciated by the American electorate.  Because leadership fed by foresight does not necessarily provide the answer most readily digestible, our impatience and immediate gratification culture fails to hold this trait with the appropriate level of respect.  I implore President-elect Obama to lead with foresight, a quality sorely missing amongst the political class and their immediate gratification seeking electorate.