This is Why He Gets Paid to Write

...and I don't. I've been trying, somewhat unsuccessfully I think, to convey my issues with Barack Obama's leadership, or lack thereof. Today, a friend sent me a link to a piece by Thomas Sowell at TownHall.com. The piece, titled "Oil and Snake Oil" almost perfectly reflects what I've been thinking for a long time but haven't figured out how to write. I guess that's why Mr. Sowell has a column at TownHall.com and I have a blog.

The basic premise of Sowell's piece is the Obama administration is more concerned about crafting and maintaining an image than it is about governing and leading. He goes on to cite several good examples, including Attorney General Holder's threats to sue BP over the oil spill, and Obama's recent appearance in the Gulf with his sleeves rolled up, apparently ready to work.

I want to be clear that I am not trying to criticize Obama's response to the oil spill in the gulf, but I think Sowell's examples from that are good. I don't know what Obama should have done and I don't have a problem with BP paying for this...though I think we need to be careful about how much BP is demonized. If BP doesn't survive this, that will mean a lot more lost jobs. Bush 41 had the government take over, 2 weeks after Exxon Valdez. Is that what Obama should have done? I really don't know.

I don't claim to be a great leader. But, I have lead a few fairly big programs at work, I've organized several golf tournaments and I serve as treasurer for my kid's Cub Scout Pack, so I'm about as qualified as Obama was when he became President. Now that my qualifications are out there, to my point. One thing I've learned is that threatening other people on your team, never accomplishes anything when you are trying solve a problem. So, sending your Attorney General to the gulf so he can tell BP that you are going to sue them isn't going to help anything...in fact, as Mr. Sowell says, it could put BP in CYA mode and move their attention from fixing the spill.

Another thing I've learned is that appearances, for the sake of appearances don't matter to anyone who is really doing the work. While Obama showing up with his shirt sleeves rolled up, looking like he is ready to work, might impress the media and Obama supporters, the people on the ground trying to get this fixed are probably really annoyed. What the heck is he doing getting in their way? Yes, he had to go there at least once, maybe even twice, but what purpose is he serving now?

Obviously the Obama administration was trying to sound tough and create an image that they are in charge, but in my opinion, and Mr. Sowell's, these actions did nothing to help solve the problem. Anyway, Sowell's piece is much better than my ramblings, and I think you should go read it.

I Want to Care

...but I don't. I just don't care about sports like I used to. The only sports that get my blood going anymore are golf and football. Football because I love to watch it, and golf because I love to both watch and play it. I don't know when this happened, but it has definitely happened.

When I was a kid, and even into my early 20's, I would go out of my way to watch the NBA Finals, the final four, the World Series and Major Championship Tennis to name just a few. The NBA finals are going on right now, and I don't really care who wins, at least not enough to watch it. If I can't get excited about the Boston Celtics vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, how will I ever get excited about basketball again?

The French Open just ended, and I didn't watch much of that either. My wife is a tennis fan, so I saw it when she was watching it, but that's about it. Wimbledon is coming up, and I just don't care. I think it may have something to do with the fact that American tennis is terrible, or maybe I've just outgrown it.

And, then there's the FIFA World Cup of Soccer. I just don't get watching soccer...you spend 2 hours to watch a 1-0 game. You have to find a way to get excited that someone almost scored. I hope the U.S. does well, but I'm not out there rooting my tail off for soccer. Fifteen years ago I would have become a huge soccer fan for this month, but now, I have nothing more than a passing interest.

Maybe this is what happens as we get older...we become more choosy as to how we spend our time? We learn to prioritize what is really important. Maybe that's it, maybe it isn't. I don't really know. I do know one thing...I'm very excited for golf's U.S. Open this coming weekend, and come September I'll be glued to my TV every Saturday and Sunday watching football. The rest of the year, I guess I'll stick to family time, golf, movies and books.