When Leaders Fail to Lead

We all remember President Obama's announcement, shortly after he was inaugurated that he would be closing the Cuban based Guantanamo Prison (aka Gitmo) within one year. Though the left immediately applauded this announcement, many conservatives responded with questions as to how exactly this closure would take place. For example, what should we do with all of these would-be evil doers currently located in Gitmo? (I say we need to find a nearby astroid to send them to).

In making the announcement, Obama failed outline any specific plan for closing the prison. Now, still lacking a plan, the President has begun to back away from his earlier statement, with the administration recently saying that closing the prison is more of a goal. Of course the President has stated that he has a committee or two working on a plan.

Similarly we see this leadership pattern with the Health Care debate. While constantly beating the drum of reform, the President has yet to come up with his own plan. To boot, he has even refused to endorse any of the plans currently on the table. This non committal attitude has lead to rumors as to what secret agendas the President really has (witness the "death panel" rumors) regarding health reform.

Obama's non-leadership for some may be a welcome change. Bush was often criticized for being too decisive and leftist may argue that Obama is simply allowing the process to play itself out by deferring to his panels of experts.

I think Obama's leadership gap is the result of the fact that he does not have the slightest idea of what he is doing, and I think this is a direct result of his complete lack of real-world experience prior to being elected. Can we say Jimmy Carter?

Regardless of why he is being gun-shy, the President would do this debate and the country a big favor by refraining from constantly about the need for reform and spend more time talking about what he feels that reform should be.