Congratulations, Mr. President-Elect. You won the election. Now it's your fault.
Your fault, you say? Why, there are 70-odd days left in the Bush Administration. How can it be your fault?
Well, it's because you were the one who promised change, and you promised change based on your charisma. You made very few policy statements in your speeches, but spoke of glittering generalities. You promised to reach out and get opposing forces talking to each other.
So, your charisma is what you are depending on to get you through the first few months of your Administration, before you have to make the really hard decisions, such as:
How can you afford to fund a medical insurance program and increased spending domestically and lower the taxes of everyone making less than $250,000? You vaguely mention "waste in government", but one man's waste is a Senator's irreplaceable program.
How are you going to get the Iranians to drop plans for a nuclear weapon?
How are you going to get the Russians to stop using oil and natural gas as weapons against Europe? How are you going to guarantee to the Baltic states and Ukraine that they are safe from Russian irredentists?
What do you do about the Taliban? You said that's the real war. What do you do with General Petraeus, an officer you have told you mistrust and have no confidence in? If he's doing a good job, then don't you owe him an apology and public support? It would make you bigger in the eyes of the public who didn't vote for you.
How are you going to get the Europeans to send forces to Afghanistan?
How are you going to get the 46% who didn't vote for you to support your programs? You need them to buy in to some extent, and your allies in Congress have been looking for a chance to ram some pet projects through. Even Speaker Pelosi is urging caution! Can you trust her to control her fellow Democrats? She couldn't control them in the previous Congress.
The kids want a dog? Learn to herd cats!
Remember -- it's your charisma that your supporters like the most (And I the least). You say that you will be able to negotiate with Ahmadinejad and Putin on a basis of mutual trust. And both will smile and pose for the pictures, and then do something that you thought they wouldn't do. Actions speak louder than words.
So, congratulations, Mr. President-elect. If you don't succeed in your goals, it's your fault.
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