Making Goals with B.O.

Obama’s social change agenda timeline has failed to live up best intentions:

“As a professor of constitutional law, Barack Obama gave his students eight hours to complete his exam—even though the exam was designed, he wrote in the instructions, "to be completed in three hours." Now that he's president, Obama could use that kind of cushion. Upon taking office, the president promised that the prison at Guantanamo Bay would close in a year. He now says it will not. He demanded that Congress pass a health care bill by August. It still hasn't. The president's promise to sign a health care bill this year has now been pushed into 2010. Obama was also going to announce his new Afghanistan strategy in early November. It may now come as much as a month later. There are also delays—some, of course, beyond his control—in seating judicial nominations and passing climate-change legislation.” Slate

The one thing that has steamed me, since January, is the general lack of bipartisanship; I thought Obama was going to put the Bush presidency behind him, move forward, and do what is right for the country. Instead we get a partisan ‘stimulus’ plan, a partisan health care plan, and a partisan climate change bill, - not that any of these are not important or un-useful, rather if he gets climate change and health care passed, he will be considered a great president. Unfortunately, and just look up “stimulus plan pork” for commentary, any bill will have pork, undoubtedly lopsided to the left/social side of things, and cost more than it should.

“Yet Obama doesn't like it when people point out that he's missing deadlines. He warns against judging him out of context. Obama rails against the media's and his critics' artificial deadlines—why haven't you ended the wars yet, he asks, mockingly. Indeed he has been busy. The problem with all of this is that it is Obama himself who set the deadlines in the first place. Even now, he's setting suspiciously deadline-like expectations on Afghanistan policy as other deadlines on other issues pass.” Slate

What amuses me is that Obama has either A., lost his grip on his constituency, or B., would rather do things right.

1. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), my political hero, holds listening sessions in every one of Wisconsins 72 counties each year. I think listening to his constituents and to those of the other Wisconsin senator (Sen. Herb Kohl (D)) gives Russ the ability to serve the state, and generally serve the nation’s middle in an fair and balanced way. Granted he may have voted pro Dem lately and tried to impeach Bush II, but when I was a Wisco resident I thought Him and Herbie did a good job. Yea to you Russ for feeling out the nation in ’07 and ’08, I thought it gave you additional insight to the country's needs as a whole.

“In late January 2005, Feingold told the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County, Florida that he intended to travel around the country before deciding whether or not to run in 2008.[24] In March 2005, his Senate campaign staff registered the domain www.russfeingold08.com, as well as the .org and .net versions; Feingold will not face reelection to the Senate until the 2010 election.[25] On June 1, 2005, Feingold launched a political action committee (PAC), the Progressive Patriots Fund; launching a PAC is seen as an important step in running for President. A "draft Feingold" movement was established, independent of the senator's campaign.[26]” WikiPedia (referenced)

I am sure if Obama had talked to Feingold, Russ would have told him the Guantanamo base closure within a year was a great idea, but nobody wanted potential terrorists in their backyard.


2. Health Care, and the August Deadline

“Democrats had three reasons for concern. The director of the Congressional Budget Office warned Thursday that the legislative proposals so far would not slow the growth of health spending, a crucial goal for Mr. Obama as he also tries to extend insurance to more than 45 million Americans who lack it.

“Second, even with House committees working in marathon sessions this week, it was clear that Democrats could not meet their goal of passing bills before the summer recess without barreling over the concerns of Republicans and ending any hope that such a major issue could be addressed in a bipartisan manner.

“Third, a growing minority of Democrats have begun to express reservations about the size, scope and cost of the legislation, the expanded role of the federal government and the need for a raft of new taxes to pay for it all. NYTimes

With pressure comes decisions, and let us be honest with eachother, tight deadlines often are reached by either lack of quality control, or by establishing a system by which there are many checks and balances, but only one voice saying yea or nea. For example: as an engineer, working on private development, I was told to redesign the infrastructure for an 80 acre commercial/industrial building site within about 2 weeks – a job that initially took 2 months. I succeeded in meeting that deadline because of 2 reasons: the lack of detail required for that submittal, and my project manager having quality control say on the entire project. Later on when I added over 30,000 new plan items, spot grades, and details, there was a 6-month lead on the schedule, which was relatively easy. This time I did most of the quality control, and looked to a supervisor for final approval.

On the other hand, looking at congress, you have a chef who crafts the bill (in the Senate it’s Harry Reid), and then you have 99 other people adding spices to secure their vote. At the end of the day, your Chicken and dumplings look like Sunday Gravy.

Sunday Gravy

When you have internal deadlines, or partial submittals, it’s a lot easier to get things right for the final deadline. When you have 100+ people deciding what piece of legislation is correct, sometimes things get crowded and costly.

The SLATE article which was referenced first, seems to suggest that Obama would or should just get things done to protect his legacy and his party’s dominence. I would argue he should set more realistic goals and reach on both sides of the Aisle before legislating from the Oval Office.

Or could he just be arrogant?