The Power Of Words

"If we are strong, our character will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help." - John F. Kennedy

"Speak softly and carry a big stick." - Theodore Roosevelt

These lessons appear to be lost on Barack Obama. He loves his words, and loves to hear himself say them. But he neither speaks softly nor carries the big stick, and once he successfully weakened his image by talking, more words are not going to get the message across.

How did he weaken his image? Three specific quotes come to mind:

1. “In America, there’s a failure to appreciate Europe‘s leading role in the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.”
2. “My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect.”
3. “While the United States has done much to promote peace and prosperity in the hemisphere, we have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms.”

By going on this apology tour, what he has told the despots of the world is that as Americans our days of walking the talk are over. First, while the demographics of Europe show a dying out of Western values, we don't want to be dismissive! Heavens no! Let's don't call it as we see it! Secondly, we're not perfect, as his job to the Muslim world shows us. I didn't realize he HAD a job to do for the Muslim world. I thought he was the President of the United States! Had he said "Christian world" I am sure the left would have wailed about the separation of church and state. And who ever said we were perfect? Churchill said it best when he said that Democracy was the worst form of government - except for all the others that have been tried. Lastly, after taking an upbraiding from Hugo Chavez which he let go with no response, he submissively whines that we've tried to dictate our terms to....an audience of dictators! Did he not get that irony?

Now when Iran is in the middle of an uprising, when the world is looking for someone to stand up and take the lead, he uses more words: "we're still waiting to see how it plays itself out." Waiting? For what? More innocent people to die? After all his talk of fresh beginnings with the Muslim world, when a country is reaching out to the west for help, we suddenly decide to wait and see what happens. He also went a step farther in saying "I strongly condemn these unjust actions." Maybe that will work....

....fade into a dream sequence....

Ahmadinejad: "See, the American President is weak! He's going to 'wait and see!' It will be over before he sees anything!"

Ali Khamenei: "I don't know...he said he 'strongly condemns' our actions."

Ahmadinejad: "He said 'strongly?' Really? That's not good."

Ali Khamenei: "I know, right?. Let's give up our iron grip on our power, stop pursuing nuclear weapons and funding terrorism and embrace freedom for our people. Then let's go to the mall and buy some Levis and some KFC. Get your Member's Only jacket and let's go! I'm buying!"

...transition back to Obama sleeping fitfully and smiling.

Fade to black.