THERE'S ROOM FOR ONE MORE UNDER THE BUS

THERE'S ROOM FOR ONE MORE UNDER THE BUS
by Andy Weddington
Tuesday, 16 October 2012


"Don't blame the marketing department. The buck stops with the chief executive." John D. Rockefeller


Last night I had a conversation with a longtime Marine friend; he too retired. Discussing sundry current events including politics at some point I commented, "There's no more room under the bus." After a short night's sleep, I realize that remark was incorrect. Now to explain.

The second presidential debate is tonight. For the life of me I don't understand why it, and the one scheduled for Monday coming, has not been cancelled. They're not necessary.

It's now day 35 after the murders of four Americans, including an Ambassador, in Benghazi, Libya, and the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, has yet to take a step forward to make a public statement accepting full responsibility. And he's not going to.

Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sort of flung herself under the proverbial bus - taking responsibility for the murders. Resignation likewise the mark of a leader at that level but not yet. 

Nonetheless, under the bus space rightfully belongs to President Obama, and he should have claimed it more than a month ago. How quick he was to take credit for killing Osama bin Laden. Could there be a more stark contrast to unmask personality?

Incredible! But not surprising. Not at all. For Mr. Obama has a well-established history of blaming anything and anyone for failings inherent to his duties. Start at the beginning of the alphabet - ATMs; Bush; calamities; disasters (Mother Nature); well you get the point.

To what leadership model(s) the President subscribes is a mystery. But that model(s) bears absolutely no resemblance to any tenet of leadership, by example, taught to and expected of Marines. (For previous comment on Marine Corps leadership, 'They Who Eat Last' - http://acoloneloftruth.blogspot.com/2010/07/they-who-eat-last.html)

Marines had Mr. Obama figured out long before he was elected.

Now America is finally on to him.

There is no call for two more debates because Mr. Obama has no chance for reelection. None. Though all polls are always suspect, the dramatic shift favoring Mr. Romney telling. 

President Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk that read: "The Buck Stops Here."

President Truman at his desk

Sixty-seven years later insert 'Never' between 'Buck' and 'Stops' for today's variant.

John D. Rockefeller would not be impressed. Swap "State" for "marketing" in his opening quote and there you have it.

America has been without a chief executive for four long years. The stagnant state of life in America and turmoil abroad so attest to a president who has proved himself not up to the job. Harsh perhaps but it's that simple.

Change, but not American style, is here. Hope, but not Mr. Obama's brand, is what folks are clinging to. So there's room for one more under the bus and voters will throw Mr. Obama there in a few weeks - Tuesday, 06 November cannot get here soon enough - though returning a leader to the Oval Office will still be 76 days away. Don't be surprised if Mr. Truman's sign is returned to the desk, at least in spirit. In fact, expect it.  

Mr. Romney knows a little something about 'rolled up sleeves' leadership by example. He's led his life by that principle. Who knows, had he made a different decision or two as a young man he might even have made a decent Marine. And Paul Ryan, too. Both are of the character.

Their predecessors? Not hardly Marine material. And that explains most everything.

Post Script

Congress had better get to the bottom of this Libya mess. And, if so appropriate, file charges, from dereliction of duty to deceit - no matter whom.