UIB Celebrity look-alike

The UIB must be Uncle Jessie, because it is HUGE in Japan!

Ok, now I'm upset

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON??????

First of all, this is not a column about political preference or policy.  This is a column about dignity.  It discusses the lack thereof anywhere in Washington, with the most galling absence at the White House.

This morning, the President held a "press conference," which is an adorable term since it is not a conference at all if only one person speaks, and refuses to answer questions.   Given the format and frequency of these "conferences" these days, it's more like a single person co-opting the press to deliver a message to the people, based exclusively on said person's viewpoint about the importance of said message.  You know who does this?  Hugo Chavez.  Nice.

Legislators have held their ridiculous conferences too, but there is a sharp difference between the expected behavior of legislators and the expected behavior of the American President.  Simply put, legislators debate and push their own agendas, while Presidents lead and craft consensus.  Well, not all Presidents, apparently. 

President Obama seems to enjoy the power of the presidency, but the job function of a legislator.  This is a bitter recipe.  My opinion is that he acts beneath the dignity of his office, and it undermines his ability to get the job done.  In times like these, it is the President's role to assist the leaders of both houses to bring together a bipartisan coalition.  Here is what a President should have done:

1. Develop a plan with his legislative leader, Harry Reid.  Get on the same page.  Understand which areas will be contentious.  Understand which areas are highest priority for their position.  Understand which areas are ripe for compromise.  In sum, be ready to negotiate together, because any plan crafted by Democrats would need support from at least some House Republicans.  The larger the impact of the legislation, the more important it is to have bipartisan support.  This is good for the nation.  It's why the Supreme Court bends over backwards for a heavy majority - if not unanimous - opinion when it comes to landmark rulings. (Brown v Board of Education, which ended segregation in schools, is a fantastic example.)  So, if the bill ends up being temporary in nature, a simple majority is fine.  If it ends up making significant changes to Social Security, Medicare, etc., then you had better be ready to gather strong support.  This may require more concessions, but it is better for the nation.
2. Negotiate respectfully with the other side.  This does not mean "give in to Republican demands."  It means, let the legislators fill the airwaves with their verbal artillery, but take the opportunity to look like the leader that all Americans would respect.  Fight hard behind the scenes for the portions of the bill that you believe in.  If the other side says they can't or won't deliver the votes, then get on the phone and go get the votes yourself.  But don't, in any circumstance, get dragged into the political mudslinging ritual of dueling press conferences.  If you had accomplished step one, then you can rest assured that your legislative teammate will have your back and communicate your position.  Meanwhile, you get to be "good cop," and reach out to the other side.  Use your legislative whip, use the other side's whip . . . the system is in place.
3. Allow legislators to take credit publicly.  Nobody believes anything that legislators say anyway.  Everyone knows that landmark legislation with bipartisan support only happens with Presidential leadership.  Seriously.  It might come out in people's minds as, "Yeah right, you guys in Congress are a bunch of idiots.  The President gets credit by default."  But they know.  If it really bothers you, then you can say how proud you are of Congress, that you were glad that they did what they were supposed to do, etc. etc.  You know, paternalistic comments that say, "I'm in charge of all of this," without saying "I'm in charge of all of this."  Just don't lay it on too thick.  People get the point even if they don't know it.

Along the way, remember that you are the face of American Exceptionalism.  The force of this belief has been the backbone of our republic, from Manifest Destiny to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and its importance cannot be discounted.  Americans can agree or disagree with a President's policies, but it is up to the President to make sure that the people know just how much he believes that we are all participants in  the building of greatest nation on earth.  We are not simply a member of Mother Earth's equality of nations, but the best.  We came from different roots than everyone else, we invented modern democracy, we saved the world from tyranny during the last century, and we did it with our unique set of values.  They include freedom and justice for all.  This is the nation where anything is possible for anybody (yes, it is).  A President must be positive and hopeful.  NEVER spiteful.  Unfortunately, President Obama's press conferences carry more of the latter, and communicate to our people that it is ok to treat people that way that legislators do.

Now, this is not to say that the legislators' behavior in this mess can't be helped.  Their eternal concern about "messaging" - aka, campaigning for the next election - is an abomination.  Their job is not to get re-elected; their job is to do what's best for the nation.  At the very least, they should believe in their constituents enough to think that they will be measured by something other than "How much funding did you get us for projects in our district?"  Or, they should at least resist any temptation to listen to that philosophy because they know that it can only lead to national ruin: "United we stand.  Divided we fall."

This concern leads to the press conference circuses that we see today.  It is understandable that legislative leaders want their position articulated, but the frequency and the verbiage is not good for the nation.  And the lesson of, "He started it," or "They do it, so why can't I?" are just about the last thing that we need our alleged leaders telling us.  Congressmen are now a bad influence on our children.  How pathetic is that?  If I saw my father talk about somebody in the way that Reid, Boehner, et al. talk about each other in public, then I would be embarrassed.  Even if it were in private!  These people aren't "saving the planet" from each other . . . they have diverging philosophies on how to run the nation.  Guess what?  On some points, each side needs to be saved from itself.  Our current entitlement programs will bankrupt us financially, but a balanced budget amendment will cripple us someday as well.  Those two efforts are big deals, and neither ought to exist without bipartisan support.  Neither will have that level of support, and for good reason.  Therefore, they should not be implemented.  See how we all can win?

Presidential leadership will guide us through keeping a constitutional amendment for a balanced budget off the table.  It will also guide us through making fair adjustments to entitlement programs that reflect the nation's overall viewpoint, which - shockingly - aligns itself between the parties' positions.

Unfortunately, it appears that it will be the next President's leadership.