Not So Smart After All

"We are the ones we have been waiting for!" Obama said that on February 19, 2008 in Chicago).

While campaigning and for about six months after he took office, President Obama said he knew better than anyone WHAT was wrong and HOW to fix it. After 2 1/2 years of not accomplishing anything remotely close to what he promised he's saying the problem was worse than he thought.

So, which is it exactly ... they're so smart that fixing this problem would be mere child's play OR they didn't understand it after all? Either they're smart as they claim or, based on results, they're not.

Remember Obama's response when asked, "how can you handle everything you say you want to do and a president's usual responsibilities?" He said, with that smirk he loves to use, "I can multi-task!" Over-the-top smug, arrogant and dismissive I'd say. One can get away with it if the results are good. But what if the results stink as they do? I wonder what he'd say to someone reminding him about his quote and asking him, "Mr. President, if the problem is that easy to understand and fix why isn't it fixed?"

His excuses are myriad:

1. The problem was worse than we thought (ie, we weren't as smart as we thought!).
2. All things bad are still(!) Bush's fault (although most of what he says about the Bush tax cuts are outright fabrications manufactured to fit a liberal agenda rather than represent factual truth).
3. Earthquakes. R U Kidding Me?
4. Arab Spring. R U Kidding Me?
5. + Anything else that deflects blame from his administration.  R U Kidding Me?

So, none of the lack of results are his fault. But doesn't his admitted failure to understand how bad the problem was make the bad results his fault? Not only was it his responsibility to understand it and fix it but he said both were mere child's play for a real multi-tasker such as himself.

The utter failure of his policies factually demonstrates his administration's utter failure to understand WHAT was wrong. And demonstrates their collective(!) utter UNsmartness.

Remember the justification for bringing in Geitner to lead the effort to fix what was causing the problem? They believed Wall Street caused the problem and still do. Who better to bring into the administration to fix it than someone working smack dab in the middle of it who was the darling of Wall Street? Obama said there was no one better able to understand and fix the problem. After all, Geitner is smart ... too. Did Geitner fail because he wasn't allowed to do what he wanted? Hardly. He and Obama had totally free hands to do everything they wanted the first two years with the blessings of a Democrat-controlled congress. They could have done anything they wanted. And they did!!!

Geitner's key solution: pass legislation targeting Wall Street. Remember the derivatives reform bill? Maybe, since that didn't fix the problem, it wasn't really the root cause cratering our economy after all?!?! They've had a free hand to use every liberal fiscal tool they wanted to. For two years we 'let' them do everything, literally everything, they wanted to do to fix the economy. What are the results? Light years short of what they said they would accomplish if we elected them and let them do whatever they wanted.

Obama was elected principly based on his declaration of smartness and promises to fix this mess. Obviously he hasn't come close to meeting ANY of his promises to fix the economy. What does that say about how smart his 'elegant' understanding and methods have been? If you're allowed to do ANYTHING you want for four years to fix a company's problem and you don't fix it, what will YOUR employer say and do? Guarantee you another four years to continue doing whatever you want? I don't think so!