If noting else I thought Mr. Obama would be concerned about his political legacy. But like so many of his 'true believer' groupies, he sees only a big government view of the world. He fails to act as if he understands that Americans gather in the middle. 

There is nary a domestic problem that our current President thinks can not be solved by employing government resources and raising taxes. Thus taking other peoples money and transferring it through unaccountable bureaucrats into millions of black holes from coast to coast. That approach to problem solving is wearing thin with millions of Americans.

President Obama mouthed the requisite rhetoric promoting individual rights, private property, fairness, and accountability. His speeches were decorated with the ambiguity of themes like “change” and “hope” to satisfy enough Americans in order to get elected. That whole “not blue or red state” mantra inspired millions. And he did it in a very articulate and compelling fashion. But just as surely as he uttered the minimum acceptable words to persuade many in the heartland, he now pushes legislation that models leftist big government as practiced and failing in western Europe. His election strategy worked quite well, but as his old religious mentor ranted in a far more hateful and inappropriate context, “the chickens are coming home to roost.” 

Most Americans are not ideologues. They are both practical and tied closely to core American values. Some of those values include individual liberty, a desire for their government to stay out of their lives and anger when they see their hard earned dollars go down millions of rat holes. 

  Why is the glow from the Obama aura dimming? 

Most of us understand that America is not perfect. But we also know that America is exceptional. America has been the major source of freedom and prosperity, not just for ourselves, but for the world. So the accumulation of President Obama’s  multiple mea culpas for America overseas has a gnawing impact on millions. After all he is not apologizing for anything he has done, only for things his country has done or not done. Some of his statements on foreign soil wrench at the American gut. We are properly fed the history of our misdeeds and mistakes at all levels of school. We hardly need our young President going overseas and pandering to those who have not made the sacrifices to place them on the moral high ground.  

Trillions of dollars have been spent in a matter of months with minimal discernible positive impact. Thousand plus page bills have been passed and are pending without it’s advocates reading the bills or public exposure. Americans remember the campaign pledge of “transparency.” So much for that pledge. In a short 6 months our new President, with the aid of an accommodating Congress, has burdened our children and grandchildren with obligations of gargantuan proportions. Reasonable spending creating positive outcomes is OK with most Americans. Profligate spending chasing an unattainable utopia is not the American way. History tells us the carnage created by those with such visions.

Most Americans want “heath insurance” reform. But they do not want to insure 10-20 million illegal aliens at the expense of citizens nor force millions of young people to buy insurance they logically feel they do not need. They understand what it means when their representatives refuse to accept the same “public health insurance option” that is proposed for their constituents. Americans will be outraged when they have to wait months for treatments they currently receive on a timely basis. Americans are not ready for government “panels” to tell them what care they can and can not receive. If reform means inferior care, Americans will not go along.

Most Americans are familiar with the concept of evil. As such they understand that evil must be confronted, not appeased. They want peace but understand peace is only attainable from positions of strength and action. Pandering to despots and failing to stand up for people seeking freedom is an unattractive Presidential posture. Take note of Iran and Honduras.

The financial crisis was a driving force convincing millions of Americans to give President Obama a chance. Ironically, Chief of Staff Emanuel’s advice about exploiting a crisis is coming back to bite this administration. Many of those who went along on faith in a bright articulate new leader are sobering up to the reality of ineffectiveness coupled with long term damage to the economy. Americans do not want to own Chrysler or G. M. nor pay to bail our unions. There is no regulation or amount of money that undoes bad decisions. The government can’t file for Chapter 11. It must pay back the debt. When that debt becomes crippling, we all suffer.

The more our President acts like a presidential Nancy Polosi , the  lower his polls will go. The euphoria of the election is long gone. As I wrote many months ago, governing is an entirely different task than campaigning. Both the ideological bent and inexperience of our new President is taking a toll on this administration and costing the American people jaw dropping trillions.

Long term damage has already been done. The only question is if a timely midterm election can act like a tourniquet and stop the bleeding, let alone return us to fiscal and foreign policy sanity.