President Obama's press conference at the G-20 summit in Mexico was the most boring political exposition I have ever seen. Not only did the president ramble on about nothing, he did it in a halting manner that was excruciating to witness. How Mr. Obama thinks he can convince the world that he is a strong leader with that kind of a presentation is an intense mystery.
Let's break it down. When asked if Putin was cooperating in trying to get the Syrian tyrant Assad removed from power, the president would not answer yes or no. Instead, he chose to tell the world that maybe... perhaps... could be, someday... that the Russians might help out.
Not only were the president's words garbled, they were untrue. Putin is now supplying Assad with helicopter gunships which are being used to murder innocent Syrian civilians. That's the truth, but President Obama would not say the truth.
When asked about the economic mess in Europe, all Mr. Obama could come up with was that European leaders are concerned. A five-year-old could have arrived at that conclusion. Mr. Obama has no idea how to solve the worldwide economic crisis, so he tries to do a verbal rope-a-dope and tell everybody that solutions are in the wind. They are not. Countries like Greece, Spain and Italy are on the verge of economic collapse, and Mr. Obama is powerless to do anything about it. In fact, I don't even think he understands why these countries are going bankrupt. Because if he did, he would be trying to cut federal spending in America.
For this observer, it was almost painful to see the once-eloquent Barack Obama flounder around like a reality show housewife. I take no joy in reporting this. But at the G-20 summit, Mr. Obama was inarticulate, confused and tedious. There was no leadership on display and no candor coming forth from the president.
Now, I'm going to make an excuse for Mr. Obama. I believe the man is exhausted. I think he knows he's in trouble and that his re-election chances are getting slimmer by the day. The economy has beaten down the president. He has no answers. He knows the American people are scared and losing confidence in his leadership. Put yourself in his executive shoes. With all that on his mind, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the president to focus, especially on issues that are perplexing him. Mr. Obama is not ready to raise the white flag, even as his hair turns that color, but he is clearly dazed.
Despite his situation, it would be foolish for the president's opponents to diminish his capability. Yes, he's lost his mojo, as Austin Powers might put it, but he is still personally popular among the electorate and badly wants to hold on to his job.
But he'd better liven up and sharpen his presentation. The election is only five months away.
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