I watched the press conference in Turkey on 11/16/15 and it was quite revealing. Most of the questions boiled down to this, “Why, Mr. President, is your ISIS policy failing?” He was in disbelief. “Failing? Failing? No, no, no you all just don’t understand.“
After the same question was asked and asked and asked, and his deflections and excuses weren’t working, his frustration and impatience took over. He accused others of playing “political games” or offering only “shallow solutions.” In the end, as usual, he refused to acknowledge his failures or re-evaluate them.
To believe his policies are working, he must accept the following: ISIS really is JV; strict gun laws, as in Paris, really stop mass shootings; it is appropriate to allow Syrian refugees in to this country because it is the right, moral and they can be effectively vetted; Islam has nothing to do with terrorist attacks; climate change is a greater threat than terrorism; an attack in your country is “an act of war,” in another country—“a setback.” His incompetence, arrogance, and delusions are finally becoming apparent to even his most ardent supporters. Even the mainstream media has become aware. Most of us have known for a long time. Frankly, I’ve grown sick and tired of his diminishing apologists pointing to others’ bad behavior to excuse his own bad behavior. Yes, Mr. President, you were handed a mess, but 43 won his war and you lost your peace. When you took office, ISIS really was JV, Russia had no presence in the Middle East, and Iran was not on a path to be nuclear. Besides, you wanted this job. You campaigned and worked hard to get this job. So don’t tell us you can’t do your job because of 43, the Republicans, or no one understands me. Not interested!
In moments of crisis, some leaders find ways of tapping into public emotion and channeling it to gain support, increase confidence and comfort. Churchill did it. FDR did it. Reagan did it. Instead, you sir, become impatient, frustrated, and whine. You’re clearly running out the clock. These days, you consider your hardest decision to be, “is this a 7 or an 8 iron shot?”
Finally, during your tenure, you signed the worst deal in the history of deals (Iran), led from behind as the most successful and brutal terrorist group grew in power, created a refugee crisis of epic proportion, ignored immigration, created a medical insurance crisis, oversaw an economic non-recovery recovery, declared wars were over by leaving, and raised global disrespect for the US. You addressed the problems by lying to us, violating the Constitution, insulting Judeo/Christian tradition, and undermining capitalism. You excused all this by complaining you were left a mess. Hmmm, wait till the next president sees the mess you leave him (her—ugh). Sorry, Mr. President, you have finally lost the war you never thought you would lose, the war of public opinion.
A wise man once said “…you can’t fool all the people all the time” and your time is up. Take note Mr. President, and learn. Learn from a president who could inspire, who knew he would have to make hard decisions, who knew how to make our enemies fear us, our friends trust us, and do what he needed to do to keep us safe. Learn: “…Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard an bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage- and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the success of liberty.”
JFK, inaugural address, January 20, 1961. I guess, Mr. President, some are up to the job and some are not.
