Obama Doesn't Like His Day Job

When Obama speaks in public these days, he seems disengaged and bored. He can fire up his body language when he shifts to campaign mode. He never seems to talk about policy or the philosophy of government, or for that matter about concrete plans. A job here, a tax increase there, a mean old conservative blocking his every humanitarian effort. But no strategy. No structure. No overarching comprehension of his job. No fundamental grasp of a philosophy of government.

I believe he enjoys (as we all do) what he does best - rallying some group with energetic (albeit disingenuous) speeches. He seems to dislike governing.

He has intimated that he would like to be able to simply impose his preferred programs without all the messy negotiating with Congress that a democracy requires. He likes giving orders (er, policy guidance) to Congress and the public, but not actually structuring the proposals in concrete, written terms. First of all, this would commit him to a position he would have to defend. But secondly, it requires the hard and sometimes tedious work of thinking, analyzing, and above all, making decisions. It is like having to go back to school and work. No fun there. So he leaves the hard stuff to his staff, to Congress, to "czars." Uncomfortable taking an actual position on an issue (he voted "present" most of the time while in Congress), a difficult thing for him to do when it appears he does not understand a lot of the more esoteric issues, he hopes for a consensus from his advisors. Failing that, he removes himself to a lofty above-the-fray pose and allows others to make decisions and take the heat.

For Obama, the thrill of the chase (for the Presidency) appears to trump the thrill of ownership. But then why is he working so hard to win another 4 years? Embarrassed to lose, I suppose, but his pride is inflicting a high price on his country.