Looking Inward After 100 Days

On last week's The McLaughlin Group, Pat Buchanan and I agreed on something: Give President Obama an "A" for his first 100 days. If we concur, then there is such a thing as metaphysical certitude.

Now, let's quickly put aside the absurd, artificial construct of "100 days" and ask a related, perhaps more important, question: What should you and I get for grades?

I ask because the media-driven "100 days" obsession assumes that we're passive actors in turning around the mess Obama, my friend David Axelrod, my Chicago neighbor Rahm Emanuel, Tim Geithner and the rest have inherited. It assumes that we will wait and see what these folks will all do for us.

It's a point made in "Barack Obama and the Politics of Expectation," a piece by Benjamin Ramm, editor of a small London magazine, The Liberal, which you won't find at the grocery checkout counter with US, People and the rest. Save yourself the trip overseas and just try www.theliberal.co.uk.

If you recall the cold day in Springfield, Illinois, when the longshot Obama intrepidly declared his candidacy and willingness to take on the HMS Hillary, he declared, "Too many times, after the election is over, and the confetti is swept away, all those promises fade from memory, and the lobbyists and the special interests move in, and people turn away, disappointed as before, left to struggle on their own."

"That is why this campaign can't only be about me. It must be about us -- it must be about what we can do together."

The same is probably now true when it comes to the act of governing and extracting ourselves from a myriad of messes. I'm not sure it's enough to just wait and see how all goes, crossing our fingers, hoping a home won't be foreclosed on, a new job will be found, a credit card bill can be paid.

I'm not sure it's enough to wait until Obama, Axelrod, Emanuel & Co. figure out the right way to spend billions on reviving the financial industry, improving schools, reforming the health care system, diminishing our dependence on oil and oil, and magically getting so many of us back to work.

Indeed, in ways those guys probably don't even fully appreciate, the task ahead is hellaciously difficult.

I've just spent several days hanging with bankers from all over the world. They're very smart guys and gals, who've now been demonized as being at the heart of our current troubles. In the current Time magazine, several Obama officials take harsh shots at them, though none have the courage to be identified. Make no mistake, the one's I've been talking and drinking with are pretty contrite and quick to concede involvement in an age of excess; one of insufficient due diligence in lending too much money to too many people. And the guys from China, Germany and England were in the same boat.

But they also know that what faces the Obama administration, and governments worldwide, is truly complex. Several top executives indicated that they've been beckoned to serve as de facto counsel and teachers for Treasury officials. In some cases, many of their best people have been urged by the government to come aboard fulltime because the officials are desperate for bodies and a bit over their heads at the moment.

I listened to several experts explain to a room of sophisticated financial people the challenges in placing values on all those "toxic assets." Nobody in the room came away with any confidence that this will turn out well, or how much revenue might actually be generated. And they know this subject like I know the '61 Yankees.

Confronting a 10-foot putt to win or lose 20 bucks from a buddy may be pressure to some of us. But what the Obama administration faces is true pressure, including the prospect of unintended consequences. Yes, yes, there are several key figures, like Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who are students of past crises. But, as one top banking official said, just because he and others know the origins of previous debacles doesn't mean they know the solution to this one.

And then there are all of us.

What should we be doing? Is it enough to go to work, or look for work, then hit the couch for 24, American Idol, or maybe one of the cable television yellfests considering born-again Democrat Arlen Specter, then just hope our elected leaders take us to safe harbor, if not necessarily any promised land?

The business of grading Obama's first 100 days is intertwined with the subsequent questions about whether he'll succeed, fail or let us down. But nobody ever asks what we, as citizens, should be doing; about how we can somehow help in our communities, maybe even in Washington, our state capitals, the nearest City Hall, in the process exploiting our passion, intelligence and craving for better times.

I know nothing about derivatives, new technologies to supplant oil or coal, or how to help ghetto kids not fall perilously behind academically before they ever step into a classroom.

But I also suspect that I'm making a mistake waiting for Obama to figure it all out. Somewhere in these next 100, 200 or 1,000 and more days, we've got to exercise some responsibility and help.

Then maybe we can look in a mirror and get, rather than give, report cards.

Comments

[Katzencats]

One more time...

I believe it's a matter of mindset.

The Rs are still pushing themselves forward as the people/leaders who make the decisions. It's still "their way or the highway". They don't understand that not only did the people give the Ds more votes in the Presidential race, as well as Senatorial & House races, and further down the local ladder, but people were voting AGAINST them & their ideas/policies. It was a mass rejection of everything they've done & currently stand for, of their philosophy, of everything Republican.

The flip side is that the Ds still don't seem to understand that people voted FOR them (as well as AGAINST the Republicans), FOR their ideas & policies, FOR a new way of doing government/running the country. Our Democratic elected officials need to realize that they were voted into office to do things differently than the last 8 (or 30) years, that we are tired of it & voted for a new agenda.

Many of us are still a bit cowed after 8 years of being told "you're either with us or you're against us", that we were traitors if we didn't support the President in a time of war, & so on. It still hasn't hit home with a lot of us that it's ok to speak out again, that dissent is no longer a crime, that different viewpoints are actually welcomed. It will take a while for us to realize that not only did we win, but the

[JPlum]

“…my friend David Axelrod, my Chicago neighbor Rahm Emanuel, Tim Geithner…

James, you’re not a lobbyist, are you? Even if you’re, I liked your post anyway.

[Bitsko]

I'm too busy looking for my lost retirement account to look inward.

[Furby]

Great post. So what grade did you give yourself, and what were the criteria? Do you look at how much debt you've paid down? how much volunteerism you've given? how many concessions you've made to your employer to protect yours and your colleagues' jobs? how much you've reduced your consumerism and your energy consumption? How much weight you've lost to mitigate future health costs? How much quality time you spend with your kids without a computer monitor or a TV? How much time you spend helping your kids with their homework? How many cell phones you've taken out of childrens' hands? What's the yard stick?

[PiscesPrincess]

Furby; You are So Totally With-it. Thank You ! I am 70 and have some basis for comparison in the child rearing area but if My children handle Their children in the manner you just outlined, we may be All Right. thank you Again, and there are no guarantees.

[Bocababs]

"Dumbest Program of the Night Award" goes to: CNN for running around grading everybody and everything after the first 100 days of Obama. Can anyone pull tapes on where we did this for President Bush in 2001 who really did not have much of a Mandate?..­...Just asking...

[PiscesPrincess]

Yes, but on the other hand, if you listened to just a little of Keith Olbermann last night, all He did was pick the whole thing to death. pick pick pick. I left in disgust and went back to CNN.
In spite of the kindergarten grading some of the commentary was reasonably good, in passing.
I just gave My grade for the first 100 days as a personal AAA for the President, a D+ for little Timmie, and a A for Hillary, for anyone who cares.

[Spiritgirl2]

Excellent post. What a concept, that maybe we need to have our own report cards! The President inherited a "whole-ly" mess! I for one am more than willing to recognize that fact. That he has closed Guantanamo is an A+. Released some of the "torture" memos, again A+. Has raised our standing as a country (honesty, integrity, and most importantly INTELLIGENCE), amongst Americans and internationally, A+A+A+!

I may not be happy about his "economic advisers", because I think they too heavily favor the Wall Street crowd, but I am willing to stick with him. And after the spoiled, bullying brat aka GWB, this man is definitely a breath of fresh air and sunshine! But I also agree that we as citizens should be doing more, call it "we are our brothers keeper", but it will take all of US realizing that we are in this together to help US move out of this morass that we've allowed ourselves to led into under the guise of "Individual freedom"!

[IndianRidge]

Thanks Jim. I always enjoy reading and hearing your perspective. Nicely done.

[diak0n0s]

It's important to remember that America is in the best shape it's ever been in.

We need to thank President Obama for his Financial Bailout program that has put do many people on the road to recovery.

America is on the road to a bright financial future.

[JonShank]

Let's hope so. =)

[livesimply]

I hope your optimism works. We could all use a little more. Times always get tough through the years, but together we can work it all out.

[PiscesPrincess]

stop with the snide tongue-in-cheek snotty remarks diakonos.
It is Too Soon for anything the Obama Administration has initiated to have achieved any observable results.

[kelo]

How does being 10 trillion or is it 12 in debt be a road to recovery. O I guess your thinking we will not pay the debt just let it go like people who got in homes they could not afford. The US will not be better because the things that got us in this recession have not been addressed or should I say fixed.

[PiscesPrincess]

Thank you for an inciteful and thought-provoking article.
Also, It does not help that Republican pundits on CNN last night (Bill Bennett in particular)
have the nerve to say our new president "owns Washington DC" as though W didn't back when he was the true ruler. These type of remarks are not helpful and, in fact, are quite polarizing.
Time for the Republicans to do the same thing you, sir, are asking us to do. Help.

[JonShank]

This smacks a bit of liberal self-flagellation. Whereas Repubs can never seem to admit ANY wrong doing or even honest mistakes, Dems appear to LOOK for ways to put themselves down in the name of progressive thinking.

That having been said, I do know many people who, once the election is done, simply sit back and watch things play out. So, the article is a good reminder that we as citizens need to stay involved. Stay on top of what is going on.

[TruthmongerII]

Obama has done little to help anyone I know, but we're not bankers or inept auto manufacturers. We're still waiting for Obama to order Gates to repeal DADT and lobby Congress to repeal DOMA. The insane marijuana laws should be repealed but since Obama thinks it's a joke apparently that will not change, except symbolically under the AG (it won't matter--DEA rogue agents ignore the law here in California and bust whomever they want). Regarding torture, his stance has shocked the world and has done nothing to ensure it won't happen again. I give him a "D" for his poor performance: he needs to improve or he joins the ranks of Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

[Lellie]

An excellent article!!
The concept of personal responsibility is anathema to many people. The ridiculous idea that in 100 days, a new president can change and reverse what's been building..­.and BEEN ALLOWED to build...fo­r many years, is ludicrous and a passing of the buck.
How willing were we all to take the big inflated bucks when our properties sold, how happy were we to hold our noses, plug our ears and take a stock dividend even though the "experts" were shaking their heads and saying that the bubble had to burst and there was no logic to it.
Now, of course, we whine and want someone else to fix it and even if it's only been 3 months...w­hat's his problem we ask...why is he doing things we don't like...why can't he handle all the balls that were thrown and that the previous administration either didn't have to handle or wouldn't??
Grow up!!!

[spinmas]

Yes , you can blame Obama for his 100 days if you acknowledge Bush's eight years of negative stimulation. I am sure you have heard that if you walk five miles into the woods , you have to walk five miles to get back out?

[bryansmith]

not if the woods are only six miles deep

[overd0g1]

Yeah, he inherited a mess and has turned it into a catastrophe. And he's popular for it. In a democracy, the people get what they deserve, good and hard.

[serindipity803]

In what way did President Obama turn the inherited mess into a catastrophe?

[sueNaustin]

Ignore all of them. There appears to be an infestation of crazies from Red State and Malkin, etc., who are bored with their own sites and just mouthin' the crazy shite they read on those places.

[PiscesPrincess]

overdog1 sorry, your statement is just polarizing and definitely Not thought-provoking.
and please, praytell, would you provide validation of this catastrophe that our new president has caused

[mollyjackson]

I'm reading from some of the wizards of smart about today's economy, and they're saying, 'Well, it's bad, but we can't blame Obama. He's only been in office 100 days.' Why can't we blame Obama? Has not the economy been stimulated?

[PiscesPrincess]

Not yet. if you had been paying Attention, you would Know it will take a minimum of 6 months

[bryansmith]

Not really, the tax money went out right away...but that comes in the form of a decrease in the amount of payroll tax deductions. The infrastructure money is just beginning to get to the contractors as of the beginning of this month. Same with the conservation money and other items. So, no, about one third of the stimulus has been applied.

[395spoons]

You seem to think Obama has a magic wand!!

It took Bush 8 years to get us into this mess. It will take many months or even years to see positive results.

Instead of whining or being sarcastic, maybe you could think of a way you can personnally contribute to this huge recovery effort!!!