The Buck Passes Here

National Review ^ | 10/6/2009 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Servant of the Cross]

Meet the Obama whiners. “They did it” is the new administration’s credo when things go wrong. Most often, the culprit for disappointment in Obama’s hope-and-change agenda remains George W. Bush — a sort of modern-day fallen angel Azael, whose wickedness is persistent and omnipresent.

Nine months after his departure, the former president insidiously still has his hand in almost everything that seems to plague Barack Obama’s utopian plans. At other times “the Republicans,” “the far Right,” “conservatives,” or even the “mob” have kept America from getting the future it deserves. One would never guess that the Democrats have held the Senate and the House since 2006, own the executive branch, and enjoy the support of the ever-obsequious media.

Civil-rights problems? “Cowards!” Attorney General Eric Holder yells at his countrymen. Energy stasis? “Teenagers!” we Americans are, Energy Secretary Steven Chu sermonizes about the ill-informed electorate. More problems with terrorists? The old bogeyman Bush created a “global war” mindset that served only to “validate al-Qaeda’s twisted worldview” — or so insists the new terrorism czar, John Brennan. (snip)

There is a growing credibility problem with this young administration. When Barack Obama promises a public option in health-care reform, or the passage of such legislation before the August break, or a renewed commitment to the necessary war in Afghanistan, or an end to lobbyists in government, or a new transparency, no one believes any of it anymore. Even worse, we know that the broken promises and policy mishaps will always be someone else’s fault.

The problem with all this is that while Americans may tire of duplicity, they hate whining with a passion. Harry Truman became a folk hero for not blaming others for the myriad of crises that he inherited. In contrast, Barack Obama’s legacy is shaping up as “The Buck Passes Here.”

[Servant of the Cross]

PRESidENT "The Buck Passes Here". A Marxist and a complete wimp.

[willyd]

Barack ran for office because he said he could bring hope and change to America in its current state. We have since found out that it is easier to exchange hope and change for not my fault than it is to actually follow through on what you said during a campaign.

[TLI]

Well one certainly can not expect actual personal responsibility and investments of time and effort learning actual skills to interfere with chanting three word mantras that “improve self-esteem” and “instill community pride.” Why, someone could actually solve problems if they did that and just what would happen to those Øbama voters if you did THAT? You can't just run around solving the problems willy-nilly, you would no longer have the helpless, needy, dependant "voters."

"not my fault" and "blame George Bush" is sooooo much easer! Keeps `em voting commie (or democrat / whatever) too!

[mellow velo]

Obama likes "being" President; he wants no part of "doing" President.

[phoenix07]

Well spoke. Even Chris Wallace, who is a Democrat, said that the White House Press Corps is the biggest bunch of whiners and crybabies he has ever encountered in his career as a journalist.

[gibsosa]

bump

[neverdem]

bump & a VDH ping