THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY AND THE SEARCH TO FILL THE EIGHT YEAR VOID

THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY AND THE SEARCH TO FILL THE EIGHT YEAR VOID
by Andy Weddington
Monday, 16 May 2016

Just remember, you can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets. Arnold Schwarzenegger 

To succeed is what I wanted for Barack Obama.

Truly.  

Who, in their right mind, wants a new president to fail?

But he blew it!

He blew it early.

And he'll follow what is his natural loser course to the end.

Listening to (and reading) Mr. Obama's recent commencement remarks to the graduates of Rutgers was disheartening but not surprising.

With a few minutes of shallow rhetoric he cemented his reputation as an insecure, narcissistic, petty, pathetic soul.

Everything a president should be he is not. 

He was handed, gifted more like it, opportunity to inspire youth. Youth who worked, persevered, and accomplished something significant. And most with lofty dreams and big goals of doing something worthwhile. They need guidance, encouragement, and leadership - more than they know and more than they will admit. 

Confidence is a double-edged sword. With swagger it's important to  "swigger," too. That is, balance.  

But Mr. Obama pilfered that important moment before eager citizens and the greater public - for self-satisfaction by berating candidates, with whom he disagrees, seeking the presidency.

His attempt to draw relevancy juvenile. 

So, what to think?   

What to say?

That's easy. 

Brevity in order. 

Analysis in the framework of three values - honor, courage, commitment.

Honor. There was nothing honorable about what Mr. Obama did and said. Nothing. 

Courageous. Mr. Obama is anything but courageous. Frankly, he's a coward who hides behind title and authority; arena nor field matters. 

Commitment. He certainly is that - to self; others and country but fodder.

Yes, Mr. Obama is, in title, the president. But I cannot, in good conscience, bring myself to preface his name with the title he not only does not exemplify but disgraces at every turn.

An eight year void is coming to a close, though not soon enough.

The office, our office, merits better. It demands better. The best! We so hope but anymore sigh.   

Good riddance, Mr. Obama. 

Next! 

The search is on. 

In closing...

Mr. Schwarzenegger's sound commencement advice would have been appropriately offered by Mr. Obama, too, with the added, "nor your hands in the pockets of anyone else." 

But that's not how Mr. Obama got anywhere in life. And, other than superficially, never will. Death, whenever that matriculation, will not become him. 

Alas, to end on a high note...

Some life advice for those Rutgers grads, all grads, from a Rutgers alum - Mr. Jim Valvano: "Don't give up. Don't ever give up!"