Saturday Morning Post

Vision without action is a daydream.
Action without vision is a nightmare.

Japanese Proverb.

Krugman: Mr. Obama has to be stronger looking forward. Otherwise, the verdict on this crisis might be that no, we can't (Yes, I added the "bold".)

The zombie like repetition of "Yes, We Can" is going to haunt like "Mission Accomplished" before all this is over.

Krugman goes after everyone in his piece called Failure to Rise.

So far the Obama administration's response to the economic crisis is all too reminiscent of Japan in the 1990s

I return to my theme here of late - that this foolish obsession with "reaching across the aisle" - that no doubt goes to Obama's image of himself as a "healer" or some such nonsense - is his Achilles heal. Conservatives never worry about reaching across any aisles - this is a Democratic affliction. On 1/20/09 Obama had a rare opportunity in American politics: A chance to change the game completely. Reagan had this chance and he seized it. Obama fumbled. In war, during natural disasters, and with overriding social concerns, coming together is a good thing. In matters of policy - conviction and the opposing world views of the battling sides should fight it out. I am a free market ideologue when it comes to ideas. Let the best ones win.

Half ass snarking 2 weeks late is no way to lead.

Actually, let me step back and say this more clearly: The game is changing regardless. Obama had the chance to get ahead of the curve - and he chose to punt to Democratic hacks, allowing the defeated party to rise from the grave in 3 days - more or less. This, in turn, is the direct result of being inexperienced.

The game is changing. I have no idea exactly where we are heading. I sense ( I write I sense so much because I am, in fact, working with my hunches here. I see no benefit in pretending otherwise.) we are now experiencing the ugly backside of globalization and the results of allowing our nation to become overextended. The largest entitlement all Americans have enjoyed in the last 30 years is living beyond our means with no consequences.

That is until the artfully timed financial cave in of late 2008. We sold our souls for cheap coffee makers, flat screen TVs and SUVs.

Lest anyone think I am losing my perspective on Obama let me add: I believe Obama was chosen to protect the elites as much as possible as we slowly sink. His skill set has been honed for this job since - at least - his lost year in Pakistan.

I sometimes write about him as if I believe he would ever confront the elites who brought him. I don't. He's an errand boy, sent by mafia dons. I know this. Pretending we live in a democracy is the only out small democrats have left, short of rebellion. We pretend we have a say and the politicians pretend to listen to us - to paraphrase the Soviet era's "We pretend to work, and they pretend to pay us."

Nevertheless, A population that believes it has power - sometimes, when pushed, still seizes it. The final power is always with the people. Even the smug elites understand this.

Part of BHO's job is to pretend we can return to the time of living beyond our means with no consequences. Or as Cheney, protector of the elites in the last administration put it: The American way of life is not negotiable. Oh yes it is, Dick. It is being renegotiated right now.

America and the world is being forcibly downsized. Obama's job is to engineer a controlled demolition.

As for my "sense" about the downside of globalization and America and the West's overreach I direct you here and here for backup.