President Obama's personality preference for consensus and avoidance of confrontation served him poorly in the debt ceiling crisis. In the end that personality made surrender inevitable, surrender to the Tea Party faction in the House.
If he had been a different person he could have taken action by executive order. This would have invited impeachment but, as I wrote, he would probably be acquitted in the senate.
Now, the same kind of situation has risen with regard to the FAA. The outcome in this matter will set the pattern for what remains of Obama's presidency. pl
dan of steele,
Well said. Obama is like a boxer who took a dive in the 3rd round. He will surely be well rewarded by Wall Street.
Posted by: David J. | 05 August 2011 at 12:01 AM
Walrus! The President is a victim but of his own ego and hubris and incompetence. But time will render the ultimate verdict and that may not be so long off. He was successful as Charles points out elsewhere on this blog in comments in pushing the ball down the road. But that road may end long before he thinks it will.
And now guess what? WALL STREET has discovered that while the USA political system may be captive to their wishes and desires and corruption the rest of the world has figured out that American capitalism is not a political system but a distorted economic system that has its problems. Expecting the USA to impose informal capital flows soon and WALL STREET understands they are on the run NOW!
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 05 August 2011 at 04:42 AM
@ Jose
"America wanted a Lion and got one, but unfortunately it was the Lion from The Wizard of Oz."
Probably the best one sentence summary of our President I've read anywhere. The only real emotion I can conjure up about Obama now is contempt.
Posted by: Redhand | 05 August 2011 at 06:04 AM
Colonel,
The financial markets are responding to the reality that global policy makers are panicking. Does this desperation lead to Clausewitz's idea that "War is the continuation of policy by other means" as the endgame?
Posted by: RE | 05 August 2011 at 07:29 AM
Was not the Clausewitz's language "Politics" not "policy"?
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 05 August 2011 at 08:35 AM
maybe. and i'm sure there are a lot of dc phd consultants that would be able to pick apart my regression models, but how about we try thinking big about the implications of the age of austerity and desperate politicians.
Posted by: RE | 05 August 2011 at 10:22 AM
A football team that punts on 1st down isn't in a state of surrender, but of collusion. Obama and those that paid for him and the Republican leadership got exactly what they wanted, no 32 level chess required.
Posted by: zot23 | 05 August 2011 at 12:24 PM