Real leaders inspire FAITH, not hope.

At the core of Obama's current problems is a fundamental lack of true faith. We are witnessing the downside of leadership based on "hope." Odd as it may sound "hope" can never lead to real change. If one hopes for change, and does nothing to affect change one has, by definition, a false hope.

Change takes faith and action. By having faith and taking action the result will be a sense of hope. But hope can never be in the lead and is never at the core of true leadership.

False Hope is Not Change. I repeat what I have said here before: Real leaders inspire FAITH, not hope. FDR inspired faith in people which gave them hope. He did not hope the Depression would go away. He poetically told the country to be fearless. JFK put it squarely in our laps, Ask not what your country can do for you - hope - Ask what you can do for your country - faith. In one transcendent line in one speech he put forth the difference between faith and hope. Even Reagan, who I did not support, lead with an unwavering faith. Reagan did not present himself to the nation as a man who hoped the West would prevail over the Soviets. He presented himself as a man who knew we would. Carter is the counter point. A man who ran on change and hope, was elected, and as President was never able to inspire faith.

I know I am a skipping record but, especially this year, it bears repeating: Hope is a result of faith, not the other way around. Leaders who ditch their past when it is convenient or claim an ignorance so broad it defies rational sensibilities can never inspire faith. In fact, they are not leaders. The center of our culture is not a tribe, or a specific geography, but is our collective idea about of how people should govern themselves. This country, more than most, needs leaders that inspire faith.

Hope is an idol worshipped by the foolish. It is the refuge of the thoughtless and the lost.