The Conservative Nation

BP’s Oil Spill Is NOT Mr. Obama’s Katrina

I’ve heard many in the socialist state run media refer to the horrible oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as BHO’s Katrina. The more accurate historical comparison to Mr. Obama’s lack of action in this disaster is closer to another president’s behavior during a crisis. Think Jimmy Carter. BHO’s actions are much more similar to Mr. Carter’s actions, or lack thereof, in dealing with the 444-day hostage crisis, in which more than 50 Americans were held at gunpoint by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Mr. Carter became and BHO now has become “engulfed” in crisis, down to a daily count-up by the media of each calamity.

The similarities are astonishing. Mr. Carter’s administration was dominated by government technicians and academics obsessed with process and politics, not governance, just as BHO’s administration is today. Decisiveness is not a hallmark of either profession. Rather, both are given to commissions; studies; grandiose pronouncements; speeches; endless, inconclusive meetings; and award presentations, but both eschew the harsh but necessary decisiveness found in the private sector or strong men.

It is the stagecraft, not the statecraft, which animates them and their zeal for power. Shakespeare said, “The play’s the thing.” But he did not say it was the only thing. With Mr. Carter then and BHO now, action means yet another timely photo-op; in BHO’s case, childishly playing with oil globules on a beach in Louisiana.

Resolution of the Iranian Hostage Crisis required someone else at the helm who was not afraid of being a decisive leader. The academics and government bureaucrats have problems being decisive often because they fear offending someone, especially someone who might be a future political ally. However, decisive leadership often involves having the courage to risk offending friends, and history is crowded with men – from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln to John F. Kennedy – willing to take tough stances and exert leadership. History is also not lacking of failures in presidential leadership, from James Buchanan to Gerald Ford to Mr. Carter and now BHO, and his objectively failed first 18 months in office.

I would prefer to think of this not as BHO’s Katrina, nor his hostage crisis, but rather his 9/11. Not that the death rate is anywhere near that of the destruction of the twin towers, nor because I think this is the result of a terrorist act, but more because it is his opportunity to step up to the plate, show some leadership, and do something to help stop that oil. Many people may not agree with George W. Bush’s reaction to 9/11, but they can’t say he didn’t do anything about it. BHO, are you listening?

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