Vacate The Premises!

It's time to Break It Down!

So there is a group of people hating on President Obama for taking a family vacation. They argue he does not deserve a vacation. Detractors say he has not solved the nation’s problems; that the economy is still anemic, that Health Care initiatives are foundering, and that unemployment is still stratospheric. One such interest group was reported to have spent $150,000 on an ad designed to run during the Mr. Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard vacation, trashing the President for his purported indiscretion.

Interestingly, yesterday, in the midst of the sometimes intense dialogue surrounding the Presidential hiatus from the unrelenting challenges of the Affairs of State, the Commander-in-Chief returned briefly to the daily grind. In a move that underscores his continued commitment to bi-partisanship, and balanced appointments, he nominated Ben Bernanke to a second term as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board (FRB).

Of course the move also continues a pattern of overlapping FRB Chairs. Paul Volcker served under Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan; his successor, Alan Greenspan served under Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and now, Bernanke, a Republican who previously served under George W. Bush has been nominated for a second term by Barack Obama. He faces Senate Confirmation.

It should be noted, however, the nomination runs against the grain at a time when Republicans, Independents, and Blue Dog Democrats have all picked out countless reasons to attack Health Care Reform, and almost any other Obama proposal. Rush Limbaugh went on record, early in Obama’s tenure, admitting he hopes the President fails. A few weeks ago, Senator Jim DeMint, of South Carolina, opined, “If we are able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” A short time later Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele, called Mr. Obama’s Health Care initiatives Socialism, and agreed it was his Waterloo.

These do not sound like the pronouncements of individuals whom are interested in seeking, reaching, or accepting for that matter, an accord with the President that would benefit over 40 million Americans without health insurance. In fact, it is more likely, this is the sound of a unified drumbeat of opponents who have abandoned the familiar “Country First” refrain that became familiar during the latter stages of the McCain Campaign, in favor of the more politically expedient, “NoBama!”

This curiously cobbled corps of strange bedfellows aligned against the President is made all the more significant in light of the death of one of President Obama's staunchest allies last night, Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy, of Massachusetts. Familiarly known as the Lion of the Senate, Kennedy was considered a skillful conciliator, a worthy opponent, and one of the bedrock supporters of Health Care Reform. The silencing of his venerable voice will certainly affect the debate in coming days.

In the final analysis, what were are seeing most seems to be the all too familiar cant of politics; not “Change We Can Believe In.” The good news is, eight months, one-sixth of a Presidential Term, is not enough time for a final analysis. The bad news is it is probably long enough to discern the strategy of choice of the loyal opposition:

1) Resist
2) Repel
3) Repeat steps 1 & 2

Now I could have made this a discussion about the record number of days former Presidents George Herbert Walker Bush and George W. Bush spent on vacation. While the elder Bush is reported to have taken 543 days of vacation (well over a year), his son, W, who holds the all-time record by a wide margin, and who took a five-week vacation once, vacationed at least 879 days while President. To put that in a different light, 879 days is over 125 weeks, nearly 29 months, considerably longer than two years, longer than a term in the House of Representatives, and more than half a Presidential term.

But you know what? Neither Bush is President now. So I am going to put this simply and direct. There are many records set by the Bush duo I hope President Obama neither breaks nor matches. Spending time on vacation is one of them.

The sincerity of that desire notwithstanding, this President has earned, deserves, and should take this two-week vacation without recrimination or regret. He should do it for Michelle, his wife, he should do it for Malia and Sasha (Natasha), his daughters, he should do it for Mrs. Robinson (his live-in Mother-in-law), he should do it for himself, but most of all, he owes it to America and the rest of the so-called Free World to “Vacate The Premises!”

He needs to re-charge in order to be at his best to continue taking on the challenges that lie ahead for him and the American people. His success…and ours depends on it.

I’m done; holla back!

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