James Madison - should Obama adopt him as a role model?

This is an interesting comparison of Obama to James Madison (#44 to #4). It was difficult to excerpt here in a meaningful/cogent way, hope you'll go read it


From Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/barack_obama/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/08/08/burstein_isenberg_madison

As our 44th president, a one-time constitutional law professor, knows well, the framers intended for Congress to be the most active branch of government -- they were far more afraid of executive tyranny than filibuster. This explains why James Madison, the fourth president, and the authority on the sacred secular text hammered out by compromise in Philadelphia, proved himself a most dynamic force as a representative from Virginia in the First, Second, and Third Congresses of the United States. But once he was elected president in 1808, he became a mild, even weak national executive.

Like 44, 4 was rationally and not emotionally driven. Two hundred years ago today, he was finding it near impossible to extricate himself from a looming war of questionable value to America’s national interests; and in his first term, the House of Representatives did more to direct the course of human events than he did.

Perhaps that is what we are seeing in President Obama’s strict adherence to a Madisonian perspective, unable to enact his preferred policies while Congress stews. Obama acquiesces, and then gets blamed for the mess he’s been put in. This is why his avid supporters are losing faith. Madison failed to live up to his promise, too.

...

But, to move ahead with the parable, here’s what happened to the good and true James Madison: Elected to a second term, he saw the error of his ways and finally took charge, displaying his disgust with a Congress that would not act in the best interests of the country.

...

And like Obama, Madison believed fundamentally in political justice and in economic practices aimed at preventing the growth of a separate class, a moneyed aristocracy, divorced from the needs of ordinary people

,,,

But Obama hasn't lost yet, so for now, his best bet is to take a cue from President Madison, who learned not to be too nice when the opposition was dominated by folks who only directed their decision-making toward tactical, short-term gains. In Madison’s second term, the British burned Washington, which should have killed his reputation. And yet, by maintaining his integrity, 4 has fared well in history. 44 could do worse.

Go read the whole article:
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/barack_obama/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/08/08/burstein_isenberg_madison

He doesn't need to emulate or idolize anyone, he needs to step the fuck up to the plate and be the President he told us all he wanted/was prepared to be.

And get pissed off at the assholes that are making everybody's life miserable, especially his.

has been proven false.

would be the fulfillment of dream. He would have to start by firing a lot of folks who are neither/nor, halfway committed, half-way not and who owe their souls to powers other than the American people.

It would be tough for Obama.

Just to get elected, he would have to persuade the American people that he could somehow pull that transformation off.

I've pretty much given up hope. But I still wish, deep down inside, that Obama could rise to the occasion. So far he has been one huge disappointment.