Obama Kool-Aid Anyone?

It appears President Obama is the next Jim Jones. I know so many of you are scoffing at this post. That is because you are in all likelihood one of the Kool-Aid drinkers. You'd have to be comatose, delirious, or a dementia patient to be unaware of the global economic crisis, specifically the crisis of Detroit Big Three. Initially, I was on the fence as to whether or not we should rescue the domestic automakers because I am employed by an industrial firm and therefore work closely with automakers, domestic and foreign, including their suppliers which would also lose substantially if the Big Three fail. Thus, it was an ache for the millions of people and companies indirectly connected, including those employed along with me, that I half way supported the rescue. However, I abhor indecisiveness in leadership. No, I'm not saying there was any one right answer or right decision, but if there is anything that can be learned from G. W. Bush, it is decisiveness.

To what am I alluding? Oh, you know, well beneath the purple haze intoxication from the Obama Kool-Aid. It was asinine to provide my and your tax money to GM only to demand, after the fact, that they file for bankruptcy and what is worse, you oust Rick Waggoner in the midst of all of this. Yeah, way to rally Wall Street. I digress. The point is, we should have let them file for bankruptcy initially---before they were given my money if this was to be the result anyway. However, you can no longer provide this glimmer of reasoning to many of our citizens, especially the ones of color. For they as, 60 Minute's Steve Croft puts it, are in punch drunk love. I mean, this man can do no wrong. I am so tired of seeing him on television, it brings me to the point of nausea and headache. I'm one episode away from visiting my OBGYN for a pregnancy test. This is all too much too fast. I need to see you with books, papers, and scads of economists at least giving the perception that you are working feverishly to get us to the road of recovery. Now, don't get me wrong, meeting with world leaders is certainly a necessary endeavor, but all the news conferences day and night must stop.

For eight years, we ridiculed Bush for his lack of eloquence, even accusing him of being inept. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm an admirer of oratory, an area in which Obama clearly is not lacking. However, more than that, particularly in the office of president, I am enamored with substance, sound judgment, and leadership. Often, his speeches have been lacking in substance and direction and choc full of sound bytes and relevant quips. (As a writer, I'm all too familiar with such devices used for cadence and effect.)

I'm not saying everything President Obama is doing is in error, nor am I saying everything is right. I'm saying we must exhibit wisdom and healthy skepticism as these are serious matters. We must not become so enamored with having a president of color that we lose focus on how what happens in Washington DC affects our futures. We as black people do this too much as it is. We were this way with the philandering Dr. King and continued this insanity with Kwame Kirkpatrick and the infamous OJ (last name not necessary). Please stop drinking the kool-aid.

P.S. Please don't interrupt my Jack Bauer Hour--24, with one of your speeches. That is my purple haze moment, in Hollywood's land of make believe, where it should be.