Leadership

The New Your Post is discussing President Present's inadequate response to the Gulf Oil Spill. As usual I think the best commentary is in the comments. Like this one:

Mainer1776

06/13/2010 6:22 AM

This week we've learned that assistance from countries that are experienced in oil spill clean-up was rejected repeatedly by the Obama administration and the Coast Guard. We need to know why.

The explosion of the oil rig and the leakage of the oil was tragedy enough. But the intentional actions of NOT cleaning up the oil is a crime.

It may not be totally Obama's fault.

We learned a simple thing this week: that the BP clean-up effort in the Gulf of Mexico is hampered by the Jones Act. This is a piece of 1920s protectionist legislation, that requires all vessels working in U.S. waters to be American-built, and American-crewed. So while, for instance, the U.S. Coast Guard can accept such help as three kilometres of containment boom from Canada, they can’t accept, and therefore don’t ask for, the assistance of high-tech European vessels specifically designed for the task in hand. This is amusing, in a way: a memorable illustration of … the sort of stuff I keep going on about. Which is to say, the law of unintended consequences, which pertains with especial virulence to all acts of government regulation.

Well OK. So why didn't he call Congress in session to amend the law at least for the duration of the crisis? You know - take executive action.

More comments at the post:

Maspeth Sally

06/13/2010 6:30 AM

....Obama's lack of any action and his not allowing others like Bobby Jindal from doing any corrective action shows that history will call Jimmy Carter only the second worst president in modern history after Obama "the anointed one". All this president is the re-definition of idiot. I think the U.S. would be better off with having Bush back than the current empty suit at 1600 Penn. Ave.

Which reminds me of a recently famous billboard.

Another commenter notices a few fundamental problems with Obama's general approach to management.

Joanne600

06/13/2010 6:55 AM

Obama needs to understand the fundamental principle of "lead, follow or get out of the way". He has not shown leadership and his best move would now be to just get out of the way and let the experts get it done. Many proposals have been put forth, but he seems incapable of rendering a decision.

The heck with rendering a decision. He could just make one.

This commenter is replying to a comment by an Obama supporter.

Dinerboy

06/13/2010 8:46 AM

John,

Yes, the job of plugging the well falls to BP and experts, but the point that the article is making is that Obama is not showing real leadership here. It is a sign of weakness when a manager or leader has to resort to threats and firings.

He SHOULD be leading the cleanup and containment effort, mobilizing all resources and drawing from all sources on that front. And, he should be addressing that, rather than public ccck swinging and bravado that's just fueling emotions and angering one of our closest allies. Proverb from Japanese business - fix the problem not the blame.

By the way, Bush is no longer president. 2/3 of your post is Bush bashing.

Let me note that in the above comment ccck is spelled wrong. Possibly a slip of the fingers or hand. That can cause some very nasty spills although the volume is unlikely to cause a disaster.

So what can the Present do? He could read some books. Might I suggest he start here:

Drilling For Oil

H/T Instapundit and Instapundit

Cross Posted at Classical Values