| The greatest power held by a President is his or her | | | | Despite enviable personal courage, any chance for |
| ability to persuade. That was the premise of late | | | | John McCain to persuade the public is automatically |
| author Richard E. Neustadt, written in his 1960's book, | | | | cancelled out by his republican affiliation. |
| Presidential Power. | | | | Unjustified wars, more wealth continuously heaved |
| Neustadt opined that a president only has the power | | | | upon the rich, and an economy pointed to disaster, are |
| to persuade both the public and congress to enact his | | | | repugnant to Americans and their ideals. Nobody is |
| vision for America through legislation. Without which, a | | | | really listening to his proclamations. |
| president may be doomed for failure. | | | | Instead, at his rallies, his faithful are screaming at him |
| When the public is inspired, we expect congress to | | | | for reform. But they've come to realize, that despite |
| respond. And they should, because according to the | | | | their efforts, he doesn't hear them. |
| mandates of our constitution, they're duty is to | | | | McCain's perceived disconnect with our generation, |
| represent us, not their own self-interest. | | | | even with the addition of young Sarah Palin to the |
| That concept seems to have been lost. | | | | ticket, relegates him to second trombone. |
| When congress fails to respond, the President, in order | | | | His tired policies are uninspiring to this generation |
| to be effective, is required to inspire public sentiment, | | | | thirsting for innovation and raised in the age of the |
| allowing the energy he creates to influence | | | | pervasive power of electronic social networking. |
| congressional acts. | | | | Who wants to pay big money to see the tired Rolling |
| Partisanship aside, which presidential candidate has this | | | | Stones just one more time? |
| gift? | | | | Despite the persuasion of political partisanship, this time, |
| Contrary to the "lack of leadership" label bestowed | | | | presidential persuasion trumps, because this election |
| upon him by republicans, Barack Obama possesses a | | | | represents the political establishment's final ride on their |
| striking power to persuade the public, similar to that of | | | | merry-go-round. The public has declared that it will no |
| JFK. | | | | longer allow it to operate on their festival grounds. |
| Drawing thousands of supporters and curiosity | | | | Once Obama's plan for America smacks those |
| seekers to his public appearances, Obama commands | | | | awakened by the groundswell of unintended |
| attention. Under a democratic-controlled congress, | | | | constitutionalists, an inspired third party will inevitably |
| there may be no need to promote his vision beyond | | | | emerge to lead this generation, and put the final kibosh |
| that. The director may simply use his gift to introduce | | | | on the politics of our two floundering political parties, no |
| the congressional choir's next song on the program to | | | | matter who bears its standard with all of the qualities |
| his audience. | | | | to persuade. |
| That arrangement, however, will backfire on the | | | | That day is coming. Obama and his Democrats are |
| Democrats if their agenda is skewed too far to the | | | | unknowingly taking us down that path to the final |
| left. Moderation always wins. | | | | chapter of tired politics, as we know it. |