Tra Il Dire E Il Fare...

An Italian adage suggests: "Tra il dire eil fare, c'e di mezzo il mare" - "there is an ocean between saying and doing". President Obama started his tenure in fifth gear, issuing some bold executive orders dealing with ethics and executive compensation for companies availing themselves of tax payers money. But what about his often-repeated promise of by-partisanism and of doing away with 'business as usual' in Washington?  It is true that he won the election and that a majority of voters favors a departure from the failed policies of then last 8 years; it is true, as well, that what the Republicans are taking issue with items in the stimulus package that amount to a very small percentage of the whole. However, I am starting to doubt his wisdom in chosing Rahm Emanuel, who said, unabashedly, that it is a crime not to take full advantage of a serious crisis. If Obama wants to act quickly and in a by-partisan way to stimulate the economy, his first concern should be to keep House Democrats in line and to tell them clearly that he will not accept any pork in the stimulus bill. $200 million for free condom distribution? This may, indeed, stimulate, but certainly not the economy. Money for Hollywood? I know that many stars have been important supporters but the last thing we need is tax payers money for more maga-pictures, starring overpayed pretty faces. If we want to help the arts, why not help Broadway, where many a show has closed down prematurely during the last few months? The President is not showing the right kind of leadership and is letting the left wing of the Democratic congress set the agenda. Should he keep going down this path, he will find out soon that popularity is fickle and he will be risking to be a one-term wonder.