PHOTOS, PAGE 1

       Editor and prime reporter is Doug Terry, a veteran television and radio reporter in   Washington, DC, (details below)

WHERE IS OBAMA ON THE BIG ISSUES OF THE DAY?

The one thing the American public will never tolerate is a weak president. One who allows himself to be perceived as weak is almost the same thing. I don't believe Obama has crossed that threshold yet, but the comments here and around the media make clear that many people believe he has already.

I am not sure Obama is in charge of the American government or even the White House. When he says he has been told that naked scanners and wide spread groping is the only way to deal with the security issue, it does not reveal what he believes, other than that he is accepting, at face value, the actions of the TSA. It seems like he is afraid to take a stand himself, on this or many other issues.

Instead of the mealy mouthed statement on X-ray scanners he made in Portugal, why not say, "I believe this is the right thing to do and we are going to stick with it for now". He might then add that, due to the number of complaints and wide spread concern, that he is reviewing the policy and will implement changes as necessary. "I am going to make certain that no one violates our citizens rights to privacy unless there is a very, very good reason. If there is another, better way to accomplish the same goal, I will act immediately to put it into effect". Thank you, Mr. President.

It seems like many of these issues are hitting Obama and his staff before he is ready to respond, so they pump him some half way language that leaves no one satisfied, except perhaps the TSA or whatever agency or congressman is threatening at the moment. This White House is not out in front of issues, they are being dragged into them against their will and trying to get out of the pressure with boiler plate words that serve the president poorly. It doesn’t work, but they keep trying and trying.

We have seen a succession of overwhelmed presidencies. Bill Clinton's was disorganized, undisciplined and chaotic, but Clinton's drive and brain power sometimes made up for the gaps. Bush the second made the decisions of war and peace as if there were to be great gains and few risks. Oops, got that wrong.  Obama and staff seem to have a very hard time getting out in front of issues and providing true, meaningful and visible leadership.

The issue of body scanners is an important one that involves the personal privacy of millions of American citizens. One female Continental pilot who quit because of the scanners likened the "enhanced pat down" to a sexual assault. She filed a law suit against the government, an example that perhaps we should all follow.

One can only hope that Obama and his staff understand the meaning and value of the one "presidential moment" that might come their way, an opportunity in a time of crisis to assert clear and complete leadership. Lacking that, he could do so on many other issues, like the body scanners. The best thing he could do Monday morning is to shut the scanners down, period, and say we are going to review the entire process of how these came to be in airports and see if they should ever be used again. Then, he could look for other issues to make clear to America that he stands for something and is willing to take the necessary risks.

ps: There is a way that these scanners could have been placed at airports and used much more sparingly without controversy, but that would have meant the TSA would be admitting that it wasn't getting much value from the huge investment. Must not ever admit that.

Doug Terry. 11.21.10

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