Lincoln: Obama’s Mentor?

The case of General Motors and our Federal Government  is becoming suspicious.

The intent of the bailout, according to our government, is to provide stabilization of GM in order to protect thousands of job losses and protect automotive suppliers from financial disaster, all in an effort to protect from collapse our nation’s economy.

Sounds noble, doesn’t it?

As we know, President Obama and his financial team pressured GM to oust and replace its CEO.  Apparently board members are soon to be escorted to the door as well.

Obama, a learned historian of President Lincoln, may be mirroring similar acts of the magnitude during Lincoln’s presidency and his era’s version of a national crisis—the civil war and the south’s intent to secede from our Union.

Could Obama be violating our constitution to protect our Union during this national crisis as did Lincoln?

At the initial stages of GM’s plea for government bailout monies, GM’s mantra to our legislature was clearly their imminent financial collapse.

Here’s my problem with the whole process:

The Federal Court provides a remedy for businesses in financial distress.  We all know that remedial provision: Bankruptcy.  Why wasn’t GM told to take advantage of that remedy?

GM argued that plunging the company into bankruptcy court would raise immediate cessation of consumer confidence in GM, thus creating further damage to the company.

Since the government announced their intent to back all GM new car warranties, the bankruptcy option is now being carefully broached to potential consumers. My prediction is that, once the shock of a GM bankruptcy option wears off, then GM will file.

Why didn’t GM use this option from the inception of their plea for help?  And why, with the talk of a controlled and fast-tracked bankruptcy proceeding, would GM be allowed to receive special consideration under the bankruptcy rules that could affect bondholders, shareholders and creditors rights under the bankruptcy code that otherwise they would not be subjected to?

While observing, keep your focus on existing law, how our government is suspending those provisions, and the constitutionality of government action during this crisis.

Obama Superior to McCain at Presidential Persuasion

The greatest power held by a President is his or her ability to persuade.  That was the premise of late author Richard E. Neustadt, written in his 1960’s book, Presidential Power.

Neustadt opined that a president only has the power to persuade both the public and congress to enact his vision for America through legislation. Without which, a president may be doomed for failure.

When the public is inspired, we expect congress to respond.  And they should, because according to the mandates of our constitution, they’re duty is to represent us, not their own self-interest.

That concept seems to have been lost.

When congress fails to respond, the President, in order to be effective, is required to inspire public sentiment, allowing the energy he creates to influence congressional acts.

Partisanship aside, which presidential candidate has this gift?

Contrary to the “lack of leadership” label bestowed upon him by republicans, Barack Obama possesses a striking power to persuade the public, similar to that of JFK.

Drawing thousands of supporters and curiosity seekers to his public appearances, Obama commands attention.  Under a democratic-controlled congress, there may be no need to promote his vision beyond that.  The director may simply use his gift to introduce the congressional choir’s next song on the program to his audience.

That arrangement, however, will backfire on the Democrats if their agenda is skewed too far to the left.  Moderation always wins.

Despite enviable personal courage, any chance for John McCain to persuade the public is automatically cancelled out by his republican affiliation.

Unjustified wars, more wealth continuously heaved upon the rich, and an economy pointed to disaster, are repugnant to Americans and their ideals. Nobody is really listening to his proclamations.

Instead, at his rallies, his faithful are screaming at him for reform. But they’ve come to realize, that despite their efforts, he doesn’t hear them.

McCain’s perceived disconnect with our generation, even with the addition of young Sarah Palin to the ticket, relegates him to second trombone.

His tired policies are uninspiring to this generation thirsting for innovation and raised in the age of the pervasive power of electronic social networking.

Who wants to pay big money to see the tired Rolling Stones just one more time?

Despite the persuasion of political partisanship, this time, presidential persuasion trumps, because this election represents the political establishment’s final ride on their merry-go-round.  The public has declared that it will no longer allow it to operate on their festival grounds.

Once Obama’s plan for America smacks those awakened by the groundswell of unintended constitutionalists, an inspired third party will inevitably emerge to lead this generation, and put the final kibosh on the politics of our two floundering political parties, no matter who bears its standard with all of the qualities to persuade.

That day is coming. Obama and his Democrats are unknowingly taking us down that path to the final chapter of tired politics, as we know it.