If the debt-ceiling/deficit reduction drama going on in Washington right now were a TV series, it would have been cancelled after 2 episodes.
Hard as it is to believe, even the souless bean counters in Hollywood would have taken one look at this dramedy, pronounced it an unequivical disaster; ill-conceived, miscast, and poorly written, and then replaced it with Rollerblading With the Stars.
So why is it still playing 24/7 on our TV's, internet, newspapers and radios as if it is worthy of our time and attention? Because there is no leader in our nation's capitol who is willing to stand up, say enough is enough and pull the plug.
The guy we thought we elected as the grown-up in the room, the leader who would rise above the moronic machinations to which we're being subjected, and move the country forward, turns out to be ineffectual and clueless. Rather than setting the agenda for the country and then using the bully pulpit and the force of his considerable intelligence and personality to lead, he continually cedes his responsibility over to the dysfunctional Congress, dancing to the tune of their agenda, and compromising and capitulating on all of our most basic values and ideals. Apparently someone forgot to tell him that there's a reason that they call it the "bully" pulpit, and not the "wringing our hands, can't we all just get along" pulpit.
I never thought I'd miss the decisive leadership of George W. Bush but I do. It's refreshing to know that someone will take a position and then stick with it, fighting for what he believes is right, even when it never is. Imagine what a guy who actually is right could do if he were willing to stand tall and make a stand.