OPINION: Lucky O

By Roger Madon

In yesterday’s New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, describing the complex issues facing the fires currently burning in the Middle East, prays that President Obama is lucky.  The problem with luck is that it usually requires courage and vision.

Barack Obama has never disappointed with respect to his courage.  He made choices in his life that took courage and he wouldn’t be President today if he hadn’t.  Associating himself with the vanguard of American radical socialists throughout his life, openly and notoriously, took a great deal of courage in spite of the fact that his ambition was so overpowering.  He knowingly sat in the church of a radical, hate mongering preacher for 20 years in order to gild the lily of his political aspirations.  

When it came apparent in the summer of last year that the Health Care Reform Act was floundering and would not pass with Republican support he resolutely inspired the Democratic Congressional leadership encouraging it to garner the needed Democrat votes to accomplish this monumental achievement.  He had to know that the result would lead to the most devastating political defeat his party has ever experienced, yet he remained undaunted.

There is little doubt that when it comes to domestic affairs Barak Obama has the necessary courage to attain his vision of a socialist America.  It is not his lack of courage that has girded the independents and those on the right for a massive brawl with the socialist left that will inevitably occur in the Presidential and Congressional campaigns of 2012.  Rather it is President Obama’s vision of America that compels so many Americans to take to the ramparts to defend freedom and individual liberty.

However, when it comes to matters involving America’s role on the stage of international affairs President Obama lacks a comprehensive vision.  His Monday night speech concerning Libya reveals a president who is uncertain or unwilling to move this country into its 21st Century responsibilities and obligations.  He believes America must step back from its leadership role in world affairs.  He believes that America is not an exceptional country and has no greater international responsibilities or obligations than the countries of Chad or Denmark.  Thomas Friedman prays that our President gets lucky.  I pray that in the presidential election of 2012 America gets lucky.