The New Globe Trotter

After returning from his recent G20 Summit empty handed, President Obama is about to embark on his next great failure the NATO Summit in Portugal. To be fair to the President the NATO Summit was announced earlier in the year. However, the question still remains is it really necessary at a time when the lame duck Congress has just returned to session. In the world of politics timing is everything and with everything facing this Congress Presidential leadership is paramount. Many questions surround this summit, most important of all is what does President Obama expect to gain and is it worth attending the meeting at this particular time.

While President Obama is away the lame duck Congress will be debating the so called Bush Tax Cuts. President Obama has stated his position twice. One position sounded like a compromise to temporarily extend the current tax rates for one or two years. The other position was to make it permanent for those making under $250 thousand and increase the taxes on everyone else. So where does this leave the Congress? In the same position they were in with the Health-care Bill, Stimulus Bill, and Energy Bill (Cap and Trade). That is, you pass something and I’ll sign it.

President Obama’s idea of leadership reminds me of a king or emperor. He makes a proclamation then he leaves the actually writing and implementing the details of his proclamation to his subordinates. Six months later after finding out what is in the new law he announces his willingness to fine tune the law and remove some of the more objectionable details. Of course he will only be willing to remove certain aspects of the law when and if enough peasants revolt. The midterm elections was such a revolt.

President Obama’s 2nd in command Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made it clear she will not allow the rates to remain the same for people making over 250 thousand dollars. She still yields the gavel of power and is willing to let all of the Bush Tax Cuts expire unless Congress is willing to bow to her power. Maybe President Obama has already signaled he is willing to bow to her power like he bowed to other leaders around the world.

This brings me to my question. Is President Obama auditioning for a new position after he is defeated in 2012?

We already have the Harlem Globe Trotters. Are we witnessing the birth of a new team, The United States Presidential Globe Trotters? If so, the team will probably be made up from past Presidents, Vice Presidents, Speakers of The House and Senate Majority Leaders. They will likely travel the globe playing against a team made up of retired House and Senate minority leaders and defeated presidential candidates?

If this summit turns out to be as productive for the United States as his G20 summit did, then President Obama should consider this idea as his future occupation. Maybe in 2014 we could see the 1st World Series of the Professional Presidential Globe Trotters.

The global economy has been in turmoil for the past 2 years and has been leaderless on what to do about it. It is time the President takes a hands on approach and changes course from his Keynesian theory to a more conservative jobs oriented policy. The Robin Hood idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor did not work. The European Socialist idea of redistributing wealth has been rejected. It is time to take the gavel away from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. Mr. President it is time to do your job and stop the globe trotting that produces nothing.