"America's Golfer-in-Chief"

Over the years, I have seen several men occupy the White House; Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush and now Barack Obama. Each of these men has brought something different into the "Oval Office". Dwight Eisenhower gave America the sage advice of limited government and strong defense; our adversaries knew that Ike was a general before he was a president and they knew he would not hesitate in defending our nation if it was threatened. JFK saw the potential of the American people, and asked America to help herself from within. JFK projected hope and vigor and a look forward into the future prosperity of a free market economy; I believe we still suffer today by this president's term cut so short by tragedy. Lyndon Johnson took on the Presidency after the loss of Kennedy and he used the national sympathy to institute the "Great Society", a system of welfare changes that we still suffer from to this day; I blame LBJ for the "welfare state of mind" we now have permeating our nation. Richard Nixon may be the most misunderstood president our nation has ever had. Nixon inherited the Viet Nam War, and an ailing economy; he also made great strides in the international community in our foreign policy. The "Watergate Scandal" was Nixon's downfall; had he fired all involved in the beginning of this debacle, he would have remained in office, and possibly been one of America's great leaders; instead, he became a man who will be forever remembered as the only president to resign in disgrace; what a shame. Gerry Ford was trapped in his Presidency; no matter what he did, he will always be the man who pardoned Nixon and his chance to make a mark in history would never materialize. Jimmy Carter is a textbook study on how to be a bad president; massive inflation, fuel shortages, inexperience in international affairs and a defensive policy that would have been better handled by the Boy Scouts; Jimmy Carter was a nightmare! Ronald Reagan took us from blatant incompetency to national strength and prominence in eight years. Reagan brought our economy back from double digit inflation, and shook the Soviet Union to its destruction; not bad for an actor! H.W. Bush made the worst of political mistakes; he made a promise that was impossible to keep and it cost him a re-election: "Read My Lips, No New Taxes". Bill Clinton was the "Teflon President", it seemed no matter what Bill Clinton did, he was beyond criticism. The Monica Lewinsky affair and "Whitewater" were nothing for this master of the "bit lower lip"; he could get away with anything. G.W. Bush, when we get some historical perspective on "G.W.", I think America will get a new opinion of this man. George believed in his principles, and stood, by them regardless of public perception. The Presidency sometimes calls for what's right, even at the cost of popularity, and George Bush personified this belief. Barack Hussein Obama, our current President, has been surrounded by controversy from his inauguration day on. After his initial "honeymoon" with America, the reality of government set in. We have seen Mr. Obama do little to remedy the unemployment problem that continues at disturbing levels. We have seen our defensive strength across the globe reduced to a "firecracker in a wind storm" and we have seen our personal rights and liberties under attack from over regulation and a theory of social justice.

Over the last two-plus years, we have seen Mr. Obama take several vacations; I don't begrudge the President the right to time off, yet he seems to take these vacations when they are the least viable, when the national and world situation need a president who should be "minding the store", not playing golf. Barack Obama gives the allusion of the elite and disconnected executive, a man who doesn't understand the urgency of the world trauma all around him. Our actions in the Middle-East are non-existent, while mothers in Libya cry for a "no-fly zone". Americans are openly suffering because of a failed energy policy, while our own resources remain untouched. Where is our President? OUR PRESIDENT IS PLAYING GOLF! I hope Mr. Obama's golf score is worth the cost of his distance from America's problems. Perhaps, in 2012, we can allow Mr. Obama to pursue his golf career full time.