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 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 whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was cooperating in trying to get Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad removed from power, the president wouldn’t answer yes or no. Instead, he chose to tell the world that maybe . . . perhaps . . . could be someday . . . 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 Obama would not speak the truth.
When asked about the economic mess in Europe, all that Obama could come up with was that European leaders are concerned. A 5-year-old could’ve arrived at that conclusion.
Obama has no idea how to solve the worldwide economic crisis, so he tries to do a verbal rope-a-dope and tell everybody solutions are in the wind. They’re not. Countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy are on the verge of economic collapse, and Obama is powerless to do anything about it.
In fact, I don’t think he understands why these countries are going bankrupt. If he did, he’d be trying to cut federal spending here.
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, Obama was inarticulate, confused and tedious. There was no leadership on display and no candor coming from the president.
Now I’m going to make an excuse for Obama. I believe the man is exhausted. I think he knows he’s in trouble, 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 of that on his mind, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for the president to focus, especially on issues that are perplexing to him.
Obama isn’t ready to raise the white flag — even as his hair turns that color. But clearly he is dazed.
Despite his situation, it would be foolish for the president’s opponents to underestimate his capability. Yes, he has lost his mojo, as Austin Powers might put it, but he is still personally popular among the electorate and wants to hold on to his job.
In that case, he’d better liven up and sharpen his presentation. The election is only five months away.