Thank You Mr. President

When I was a kid in the 1940’s and early 1950’s, it was the norm to address our elected officials with terms of respect. Reporters and fellow elected officials, for example, actually called Ike, Mr. President. And thank you and please were quite common in public address. Same in the houses of Congress: Madam Chairman, Mr. Chairman, The Honorable Senator from Wyoming, or Honorable Representative from California, were all formal but normal.

In some venues this is the required address. Congress still requires this and enforces the standard of address. Even when raucous disagreements test the patience and temper of the participants.

Not so today among Congress persons and the White House denizen!  Rude and disrespectful terms of address are common in the press, on TV and in talking head sessions on cable news/entertainment networks.

I believe this is an orchestrated image by politicians to gain points with blocs of voters. It would not be the first time for such behavior. And probably this is a long standing tradition when 300 years of such antics are reviewed objectively.

Over the last 35 years, however, a fundamental shift has occurred in my opinion. Perhaps I’m just sensitive to this, but I was raised in an era and home where respect was expected. Even among those we heartily disagreed with. Arguments then were avoided by ignoring the rumpus and walking away. Calmer heads prevailed with a pause for time to think, and perhaps a change of tactic to print medium. Print allows time to think and form thoughts more carefully. Rants are less likely. Although a quick scan of column copy in many papers would likely challenge that conclusion.

Yes, we are ranters. Even me! I admit it. If I feel particularly peeved by a set of rank self-serving  comments I usually let it rip in print!  I’m not alone. Krauthammer is a ranter. So are Limbaugh, Beck and O’Reilly. The latter three are in print less than they are on electronic media. Just the same their rants are legion.

When the ranters become elected officials of high rank like John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnell and chairs of selected committees in both the Senate and the House, then I think a fundamental shift in national manners has occurred.

Whether these antics are planned and mimed or intentionally acted, it matters not. The rudeness factor is elevated even more if it is a planned performance. Rehearsed or not, the institutions of our government are lessened by such behavior.

The instant event provoking my concern: House and Senate reactions to President Obama’s handling of the situation in Iraq. They seem anxious for action. That would be the republican leaders. [Note: while republican leaders demonstrate un-gentleman-like behavior, I will refrain from capitalizing ‘republican’ except at the beginning of a sentence.]

John Boehner as the Speaker of the House, fulminates (spittle on his lips, red faced, angry eyes, bobbing of head in rhythm with his words of demand) against perceived inaction by the President of the United States.  The President, on the other hand, is carefully considering all options in a delicate and volatile situation. He knows his decisions must be right for the situation and carefully applied for maximum effect. History is being made here. Every opportunity to make a difference for the good of millions of people is under careful scrutiny. He is intentionally keeping emotions out of the mix.

The opposition leaders rile at the risk of damaging America’s reputation and future ability to be effective on the global stage. The answer to every hot spot is not always a military attack or bombing raid. Military strategists are hired to do this careful analysis. It is not done in the glare of media lights and microphones in the Press Room. It is done in conference rooms in the White House and Pentagon. Field intelligence is added to the agenda. The eyes and ears in the room are fully aware of history being challenged and made in such moments.

The Iraqi maelstrom of issues is one of its own making. The long cultural march of three competing religious sects not including Judaism and Christianity, complicates what is to be done in the present. Past wars and insults, perceived or real, add weight to the crisis, but offer little help in resolving the crisis. The same goes for crass political opportunism practiced by House and Senate leaders in the US.

Political correctness was imposed on our institutions of government in order to create a public face of order and intelligent consideration. Instead we have a display of rank treason. Yes, a harsh term, but what else is it when Senator McCain stands in the Senate’s well and addresses the President of the United States with demands for action which are ill considered and laying blame when the blame belongs on others, including themselves who rushed to war in Iraq some years ago.

These are the consequences of such actions when made in political light rather than historical mindsets. If our nation is to be believed and trusted, it must be a partner that other nations are willing to invest time and trust in. Years of such trust well-earned make for strong partnerships. After eight years of Bush/Cheney, the trust and credibility is in shatters.

It will take careful rebuilding by a patient and intelligent President to restore America’s former station in the global family. Meanwhile, Putin, China and other would-be dictators can rail against America with impunity. One day that will not be so. That day, however, takes years of careful building to regain.

The consequences of wars ill-advised and speciously entered, are such as we view today in the UN, the halls of the US Capitol, and everywhere on news media channels.  It is embarrassing to most of us.

Worse. It is costly in national treasure and lives for us to continue such sloppy international relations.

Good job, President Obama! You are doing the right things, saying the right words, and being careful and deliberate where hotter heads have acted in the past to create the mess in the first place. Apparently they have not learned those lessons. They behave exactly the same today as yesterday.

Pity. But I sense the American people understand this. Time will tell if that is true.

The ballot box will tell the tale.

June 23, 2014