The experts can’t figure out Obama!

Paul Krugman:

Getting a fix on Obama -- Is he a transformative Reagan or a tinkering Clinton?

Charles Krauthammer:

A morphing Obama keeps us guessing about his true beliefs

What is Obama’s appeal if he does not represent a specific set of promises?

I can’t speak for everyone else, but to me a tendency to not offer specific promises is what is appealing.

The way I understand Obama is that he has a belief system motivating him, and that he offers some initial plans to start the ball rolling in various areas; but that he will only implement his ideas to the extent that they can be developed democratically. So the nature of Obama’s “promises” is directional and not intended to indicate that any specific content will be delivered.

His signature phrase is “bring everyone to the table” to discuss and resolve problems, with universal healthcare and ending the Iraq war being top priorities.

Obama is primarily a leader, and one of the major qualifications he calls attention to is his experience as a community organizer. Although Obama is liberal in his belief system, even as far back as Harvard law school, both conservative and liberal classmates voted him into office because he treated them fairly and gave them full voice.

I only fear leaders who will not accept broad input into the decision-making process. And I do want a leader such as Obama who has demonstrated wisdom, justice, and character in the political process. It does not concern me that some think that Obama’s open-ended approach will be much more difficult to accomplish at the presidential level -- no president accomplishes anything unless the people also elect a compatible Congress. The presidential election is not really where the main decisions will be made in November.

The danger with such an open-minded president is that he will accomplish nothing, as Paul Krugman says happened during the Bill Clinton years. And that is probably what will happen to Obama if he does not have a Congress willing to work with him. After all, it was only because Congress decided to be combative in response to Hillary Clinton that the healthcare reform that was so desperately needed was not enacted in 1994. Now look where we are.

Remember also that George Bush came into office promising to be a “uniter, not a divider.” This approach is what the country wants; but for Bush this was all rhetoric, because his pattern through most of his administration has been to surround himself with only those who saw the world the way he did and who would support his worldview. And now we are left with the sorry results. And it is sickening!

The country is now crying out for someone whose established track record has been to bring people of different viewpoints together to reach agreements. We need a person who can get things done politically for the good of the country. We don’t need promises. We need proven leadership.