Most of the time God,Pratt & Whitney or General Electric, will give you another turn in the Barrel.

These are my opinions and my opinions only they do not reflect the opinions of any of my family members or their employer. Note we NOW have NO employers.

Back from a 5.5 Year PCS from the confines of the far Southwest corner of Bundesrepublik Deutschland. The Federal Republic of Germany and Retired.
Showing posts with label POTUS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label POTUS. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2017

Salute the Rank Not the Man


“If you cannot salute the man then by God you will salute the rank.  If he is a man he will know the difference and it will mean something if he not a man he will not know the difference and it will mean nothing.”
Those were words given to me by a man who I still hold in high regard some 30 years after his early death.
So to the current POTUS I salute the rank.  Enough said.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Day 3 in the “Make America Great Again Campaign


Visible skirmishes continue between various low-level administration (appointed but not required to be confirmed) (hence easy to flush out through the scuppers if required) operatives and numerous NGO.  The campaign at this point can be best characterized as extremely asymmetric and in the initial contact phase with a very ill defined FEBA (Forward Edge Battle Area).
It is expected that this campaign will remain for the most part asymmetric in nature, with public displays of satire and ridicule being the main thrust of the opposition.  It is expected that the current administration via their current modus operandi will provide more than enough ammunition that will allow the opposition to effectively operate.  The opposition will not have to invent and or cite “Alternate Facts” to make their cases, the actual facts will be damming enough.
So my question to POTUS is this “Is America Great Again?” at this point in time.  If it is not when does POTUS expect that “America will be Great Again”?  How will we know if and when “America is Great Again”?  Because when it is I know that it will be “Huge”.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

WTFAH (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Alpha Hotel)

My apology to all this is a long rant.
The good news is that the Senate Armed Services Committee of the 112th Congress failed to act on the appointment of Captain Timothy W. Dorsey USNR.  Therefore Captain Dorsey will not be advance to the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Grade) for the time being.
Captain Dorsey nomination for advancement will have to be reposted for consideration.  The Department of the Navy via the Secretary of the Navy will have to forward his nomination to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, for the Secretary of the Defense to forward to the Office of the President, for the President to forward to the Senate Armed Services Committee of the 113th Congress for their consent.
Some have said that the Senate Armed Services Committee of the 112th Congress balked at his nomination, I think otherwise since they were strangely silent on the subject.  I suspect that the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee just decided to let his paper work set in the corner until it would just evaporate at the end of the term of the 112th Congress, it is easier to explain that time ran out, or that there were more pressing issues versus the committee stating that this individual is not acceptable.
Captain Dorsey was dragging some pretty ugly chains.  These chains (the actions of Captain Dorsey when he was a Lt. Jg.) were made known by parties outside the Department of the Navy (who had material evidence), to members of the Senate in early 2012.  This event does call into question the process, and procedures that the Admiral selection board uses for selecting candidates, at least there is some public review of the proposed promotion.  This public review (Congressional) for Field Grade/Mid Grade Officers is missing; otherwise I suspect that Lt. Jg. Timothy W. Dorsey would have had his career in the United State Navy end earlier.
It must be noted that inclusion of Captain Timothy W. Dorsey name on the  Reserve Restricted Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Line Selection for FY-13 did not originate in the Office of the President of the United States.  The inclusion did not originate in the Office of the Secretary of Defense,  The inclusion did not originate in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy.  The list was created by a process within the Navy Personnel Center.

The list is the results of the Rear Admiral (Lower Half) selection board they actual create the list.  The list is approved by senor member of that board and forwarded to NPC, where the commander NPC where in theory it is reviewed and approved.  The list is sent to the Chief of Naval Operations where again according to theory it is reviewed and approved.  The list is then passed to the Secretary of the Navy.  Not really sure how much review if any is performed at this level.   The list finally is forwarded to the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  Not sure how much review is done at this level, I suspect that it is felt that everything should be acceptable by the time it reaches this office.   For that matter I suspect that is also true for the Secretary of the Navy office.  The Office of the President gets it next, and finally it goes to the Senate.
Captain Dorsey continued career in the U.S. Navy more importantly calls into question the judgment and veracity of the members of the various promotion selection boards that have decided his fate over these past 20 plus years.  Just to be clear this is just not a Department of the Navy issue, it is an issue with Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force; they all use pretty much the same book.
The following is a link to the ALNAV 11/12
This is the official BUPERS-NPC document which announcement for Reserve Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Line Selection for FY-13.  This is the document where Captain Timothy W. Dorsey USNR name is forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.  One should pay particular attention to Remark number 2.  Remark number 2 states
“FROCKING TO REAR ADMIRAL (LOWER HALF) IS NOT AUTHORIZED EXCEPT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.  FROCKING WHEN AUTHORIZED WILL FOLLOW SENATE CONFIRMATION.”
It is just a fancy way of saying just because your name is on the list it does not mean that you are home free.  The requirement for civilian control of the United States military must be performed, and if and only if you have passed that hurtle will the Secretary of Defense consider to you for Frocking.
If the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of Defense, and President of the United States are even half way awake, he will just bow to Senate and let this nomination disappear into a rarely cited footnote of history.  Captain Timothy W. Dorsey should be allowed to slip out of the United States Naval Reserves just as quietly as he slipped in.
If you want to know what is fundamentally wrong with the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy here is your poster boy Captain Timothy W. Dorsey USNR call sign “SMOKE”?
Some of it is reported in the Stars and Stripes

The Department of Navy forward this individual name to the Secretary of Defense for nomination for promotion to Admiral and the Secretary of Defense office forward his nomination for promotion to Admiral to the Office of the President of the United States, and finally to the Senate Armed Services Committee, that the Department of Navy did not inform the Secretary of Defense or his office that this individual had been involved in a incident in 1987 until after his name had been forwarded to the Senate via the Office of the President.
In 22 September 1987 while assigned to USS Saratoga (CV-60), Carrier Air Wing 17, Squadron VF-74, while in command of a F-14-70-GR (BuNo 162707) this individual in a willful and flagrant disregard for orders and procedures did intentionally fire an AIM-9 (Sidewinder) at and hit and destroy another aircraft (Vodka 51 USAF RF-4C-22 69-0381) in in a training exercise. 

The crew (Capt. Michael Ross (A/C), and 1st Lt. Randy Sprouse (WSO) of the Zweibrucken AB based (26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron) based RF-4C were able to eject from the wreckage of their aircraft.  Helicopter assets (HS-3) (SH-3H) off the USS Saratoga rescued the USAF crew and recovered them back aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60).

At the time the following individuals were in the Lt. Jg. Timothy W. Dorsey local direct chain of command.
James B. Busey IV, Admiral, Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR/CINCSOUTH) (Retired Admiral 1989)
Kendall E. Moranville, Vice Admiral, Commander 6th Fleet (Retired 1988 Rear Admiral Upper Half)
Jeremy M. Boorda, Rear Admiral, Carrier Battle Group 8 Commander
David E. Frosts, Captain USN (USNA 1963), Captain USS Saratoga CV-60.
Austin E. Chapman, Captain USN (USNA 1963), Commander Carrier Air Wing -17 (Retired Captain, 1993)
Michael F. Rioux, CDR, Commander Squadron VF-74. (Retired Captain, 1990)
An investigation was held, and report was publish (Not for release outside of the Department of Defense, sometime we just cannot stand the truth (wait that was another movie)) and recommendations were forwarded to the convening authority, the investigative report contained several items of interest, a few of which might have mitigated Lt. Jg. Timothy W. Dorsey culpability in this incident, but most beyond a shadow of a doubt reinforced his culpability and duplicity in this incident.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey initial mission on that day was Fleet Defense, which is why his aircraft was load with live ordinance.  Documented Rules of Engagement for the exercise clearly required that participating aircraft were not allowed to carry live ordinance.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey was re tasked to the training exercise while performing a normal Fleet Defense mission, thus bring an armed aircraft into the exercise.  Why the individual who authorized this action was not disciplined in unknown to this author.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey it is reported had only 245 hrs. Flight hours. Unknown number of hours in the F-14’s at the time of the incident. (He was a “Nugget”).
Lt. Jg. Dorsey upon locating the USAF aircraft asked for and received permission to engage the target.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey then proceeded to engage the target, where upon he brought up and armed the AIM-9 missile on the left side of the aircraft, after confirming that the missile is “GOOD”, and that the target has been acquired by the missile via tone lock, he then attempted to launch the AIM-9.  The AIM-9 failed to launch (Motor Failure).  After this event Lt. Jg. Dorsey sounds somewhat to be slightly confused when the missile fails to launch.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey continued with the engagement, he then selected the AIM-9 mounted on the right side of the aircraft.  He brings up the missile verifies that it is “GOOD” and then arms the AIM-9.  After confirming target acquisition via tone lock, he then launched the AIM-9.  At the time of the launch Lt. Jg. Dorsey is between 5000 and 2500 feet from the target aircraft (The F-14 is above, behind and slightly offset of the rear of the RF-4C).
All during this process the Radar Intercept Officer profanity filled screams asking Lt. Jg. Dorsey just what is he doing is being recorded via the HUD recorder.
All of this is not a matter of conjecture or debate, since the F-14’s HUD video recorder has captured all of the events. 

The RF-4C is visible in the HUD, and located within the Kill Box.  Lt. Jg. Dorsey is so close to the RF-4C that at 2500 feet the fire control system issue a break away warning.  The tail code for Zweibrucken AB (ZB) is clearly visible in the video for most of the engagement.
The missile was observed to impact slight forward of the tail of the RF-4C, which results in a large fireball, which destroys the rear of the aircraft, which results in a loss of controlled flight for the aircraft, the RF-4C proceeds to enter a flat spin as it starts to breakup.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey had to perform a break maneuver to keep out of the impact zone of the missile.  Both crewmembers ejects from the aircraft at approx. 5500 feet, at 550 Knots, in a -2.5 G environment. 

Both occupants are rendered unconscious by the ejection.  Captain Ross is partially out of the ejection seat due to the g load he is experiencing since he is further forward in the airframe.  Captain Ross is pinned to canopy and the cockpit side rail; it is a miracle that he survived the ejection.  The seat eqress command selector switch had been set to both, which mean that if either of the crew had pulled the egress handles both individual would be ejected. 

The ejection sequence would be for the WSO seat to activate first, and A/C pilot’s seat to sequence second.  This keeps the back seat guy from being killed (cooked and burned) by the front seat rocket motor exhaust.
Both crewmembers regain consciousness prior to entry into the water.  Both crewmembers then successfully deploy their water survival equipment.  They will spend 45 minutes in the water before being recovered by a SH-3H from HS-3.
Captain Michael Ross, at the time was found to have suffered a broken wrist, and two separated shoulders, and a compression fracture of his spine.  Lt. Col Michael Ross would later have to be medically retired six months prior to full retirement date. Lt. Col Ross now has a degenerative spinal condition.  It is also unfortunate that Captain Ross call sign was changed to “Squid Bait”.  At the very least the Department of the Air Force and the Department of Defense should review Lt. Col Michael Ross retirement situation, it has a funny odor, it might have be according to the regulations, but it does not appear to be just much less fair, and in certainly not accordance with all the crap that I see on AFN about how we take care of our own.
The ejection injuries and any long-term resulting conditions associated with the ejection by 1st Lt. Randy Sprouse are unknown to this individual.
As soon as the USAF RF-4C is hit the Lt. Jg. Dorsey's RIO transmits the following on the exercise and guard frequencies.
“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, WE’VE JUST SHOT DOWN THE F-4 at 060/05 FROM MOTHER, NO CHUTES, NO CHUTES, NO CHUTES.”
It was not Lt. Jg. Dorsey who called in the shoot down.
In his questioning by the accident (sic?) investigation board Lt. Jg. Dorsey was asked if he had intended to shoot a live missile.  Lt. Jg. Dorsey responded in the affirmative.
Most damming is the following statement from the accident investigation report.
“The September 22, 1987, destruction of USAF RF-4C was not the result of an accident, but the consequence of a deliberate act. His subsequent reaction [to the radio command] demonstrated an absolute disregard of the known facts and circumstances."

“He failed to utilize the decision-making process taught in replacement training and reacted in a purely mechanical manner. The performance of Lieutenant Timothy W. Dorsey on September 22, 1987, raises substantial doubt as to his capacity for good, sound judgment.”

Lt. Jg. Dorsey was not court-martialed.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey was permanently removed from Flight Status (Thank God for little favors)

Lt. Jg. Dorsey was placed into a non-flight assignment. (Shore Duty, keeping some other officer deployed at sea).
Lt. Jg. Dorsey is allowed to serve on active duty for another 4 years. (God only knows why, and she is to talking).

Vice Admiral Kendell E. Moranville as Commander 6th Fleet could have had charges preferred against Lt. Jg. Dorsey, but the Admiral was having some ethics issues of his own at the time.  He was under investigation for improprieties involving travel claims and use of government aircraft while he exercised command of the United States 6th Fleet, and as I will explain latter that maybe where Lt. Jg. Dorsey father may come to play in the story.
There were reports that some of the incidents involved allowing a female friend (Employed by the United Services Organization in Naples) to fly illegally on military aircraft, although the Department of Defense will neither confirmed or denied these statements.  What is known is that Vice Admiral Moranville received a Flag Letter of reprimand and was allowed to retire.  The Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Carlisle A. Trost (USNA 1953) recommended to the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of the Navy concurred, that Vice Admiral Moranville would be retired at the rank of Rear Admiral (Upper Half) since the improprieties for which he had received a Letter of Reprimand had occurred while he held the rank of Vice Admiral.
Speculation on my part is that Vice Admiral Moranville knew that the train for him was coming down the track and that maybe by showing clemency for Lt. Jg. Dorsey, it might gain him favor with Lt. Jg. Dorsey father, Rear Admiral (Upper Half) James E. Dorsey Jr., who at the time of the incident on active duty in the United States Navy and leaving his position as Director of Operations (J3) Headquarter U.S. European Command to assume his new assignment as the assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations (N3/N5).

In 1989 James E. Dorsey would be advance to the rank of Vice Admiral and assume the command of the US 3rd Fleet.  James E. Dorsey Jr. at one time had commanded CV-66 America.
There is no indication that his Admiral Dorsey took any overt acts to mitigate his son’s situation, that being said it is highly likely that officer in the chain of command between Lt. Jg. Timothy W. Dorsey and Rear Admiral James E. Dorsey Jr. may have acted in a manner to curry favor. Vice Admiral James E. Dorsey Jr. retired from active duty in July 1991.
Lt. Jg. Timothy W. Dorsey graduated form the Tulane University N.R.O.T.C program and he entered the United States Navy in 1984, he subsequently left active duty in September 1991.
Lt. Jg. Dorsey then obtained slot in the Navy Reserves in 1991.  Is it a coincident that Lt. Jg. Dorsey decides to leave the United States Navy the year his father is scheduled to retire? 

How given his history he was selected this slot another question that should be asked? 

How given his history he is allowed to cross train into this new slot is also another question that should be asked?

His performance in acquiring this new designator is immaterial.  He has a history of performing well in training.  His performance in critical situations is a more pressing question.  How many officers who already held Intelligence designator while on active duty were passed over for this reserve slot?
Timothy Dorsey attended and graduated from University of Richmond School of Law in 1995.
There are reports that one of Timothy Dorsey mentor while at Law school Professor John Paul Jones is also a Naval Aviator,  this is close but it is no cigar.  Mr. Jones was not an aviator, but was a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) also known as the RIO, or GIB.  Mr. Jones also was a graduate of Naval Justice School (1970), U.S Navy Tactical Action Officers School (1976), and U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School.  Mr. Jones had served under Vice Admiral James E. Dorsey Jr.
There are just too many coincidences in this story.  In the words of Justice Brandeis “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants”.  This is just not a Navy issue, it is present in all of the services to some extent, and it needs to be corrected.  We the people of the United States need sunlight applied to the various processes currently being exercised by the Department of Defense; to some extent they have become closeted and isolated.
We the people of the United States have been very lucky since World War II.  We the United States have not been forced to fight in active and protracted conflict where the very existence of country is in question.  The Cold War with the Soviet Union was a protracted conflict but the Soviets and we did not suffer casualties like we both experienced in WWI and WWII.  Yes casualties were suffered, but they paled in comparison. 
 
Our Officer Corps, and especially our General/Flag Officer Corp could and did allow the standards to slip.  Can we afford that now?
I am sure that Timothy W. Dorsey is a credit to his chosen profession of the Law.   As a lawyer, I suspect that he embodies everything that we have come to know about this profession.  I suspect that he is a very smart and clever individual.  I do not doubt that his wife and children love him.  I do not doubt that a great many people that he has causal contact with come away with a favorable opinion.  I do not doubt that his business associates admire him.
But this officer’s career just does not pass the smell test.  I would have grave personal doubt about following this individual into any situation, and entrusting the life and welfare of my children to him in a command position is completely out of the realm of probabilities.
People make mistakes, but there is a big difference in making a mistake by accident, and an individual who according to the accident investigation report, “demonstrated an absolute disregard of the known facts and circumstances” and who’s action “raised substantial doubt as to his capacity for good, sound judgment”. 

One is forgivable; the other is a clear indication that the individual needs to find another line of work in a completely different organization.
Well that is the rant, and I do feel better.  America can sleep better tonight in the knowledge that the system appears to have eventually partially worked, even if it took some 25+ years.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Dear Mr. West you are not Abraham Lincoln, it is not even close


Comparison to Abraham Lincoln, come on Mr. West, please start taking your medication and start that long painful road back to reality?
Yes Abraham Lincoln was elected to a seat in the United States House of Representatives Once 1847-1849, and true to his words, he had pledged that he would only seek one term in the United States House of Representatives, he did not seek reelection to the United States House of Representatives. Lincoln record for the United States House of Representatives is 1 for 1.  Mr. West your record for the United States House of Representatives id 1 for 3, not even close.
Abraham Lincoln was elected to five terms and serves 4 terms in the Illinois House of Representatives.  He was elected to 4 consecutive terms Illinois House of Representatives 1834-1842.  He was elected to a 5 term in the Illinois House of Representatives, but resigns in 1854 in order to run for the United States Senate.  Lincoln record for the Illinois House of representatives is 5 for 5.  Mr. West your record for the Florida House of Representatives is 0 for 0.
Abraham Lincoln record for United States Senate is 0 for 2.  Mr. West your record for the United States Senate is 0 for 0.  I know this is unfair, since you have not chosen, or have you been chosen to run for either of the United State Senate seats for the State of Florida.
Abraham Lincoln record for the Office of the President of the United States is 2 for 2.  Mr. West your record for President of the United States is 0 for 0.  Again I know that this in unfair, since you have not chosen, or have you been chosen to run for the Office of the President of the United States.
How many legal cases did Abraham Lincoln argue before the Illinois Supreme Court, that number would be 175 cases, more remarkable is that in 51 of the cases he appeared as the sole counsel for his client.  How many case have you argue before the Florida Supreme Court, that right it is 0.
While in the service of the United States Military in the Black Hawk war, how many times did Abraham Lincoln face an Article 32 Hearing?  For Mr. Lincoln that number would be 0.  While in the service of the United States Military how many times did you face an Article 32 Hearing?  For Mr. West that number would be 1.  Did Abraham Lincoln receive an Article 15, nope, did you receive and Article 15, yep.
By all of these measures you have essentially passed your Wassermann which is one of the few tests that one does not want to pass.  Although not specific to a certain sexual transmitted disease it can be used as indication of life threating infectious disease (Malaria, Tuberculosis,).  Please Mr. West for your sake and the sake of your family please seek immediate medical treatment.  Malaria and its resulting fever could be a possible explanation for your delusions.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Can Mitt Think on his feet?


Several notable members of the press have proposed a theory that Mitt Romney is “rhetorically at his weakest when forced to improvise or handle unexpected questions or situations.” James Fallows national correspondent for the Atlantic being just one of the press/media cohorts make this claim.
I have been on this earth for some 60 years and to date from my limited, and yes poorly sampled study of one, it appears that most of my life I have been expected, required, and forced to improvise or handle unexpected questions or situations.
Is not the ability to improvise or handle unexpected questions or situations that is at the heart of what the POTUS is expected to do?  I do not know about you the reader, but for me this is the most salient issue that I use to determine who I want to vote for in this office or for that matter any other office.
Do “We the People” of the United States of America not expect and not require that the individual who we elect to be POTUS have the ability to handle unexpected questions or situations?  Again, I do not know about you the reader, but for me I do vote for the individual who I expect and require to handle these questions and situations.
Do we also not expect and require that these events be handle in a controlled, confident, and effective manner?  The short answer is YES.
Are not these tasks the 3 o’clock in the morning situations?  Again the short answer is YES.
Can one spreadsheet your way out of these situations?  Not to my limited knowledge.
Can one find the answer/solutions to these situations in books of case law review and/or cited precedent?  Again to my limited knowledge I believe the answer to be NO.
Under laying this situation is the fact that he or she has volunteered to run for the elected office in order to be allowed to perform these tasks with our blessing, acquiescence and or approval, provide they have duly won the election.  This is an important office and “We the People” require an individual who has the where with all (intelligence, composure, instinct, experience, and humanity) to handle the pressure and hazards of the office, to effectively represent us not just in good times but especially to effectively represent us in the perilous times.
Does it appear that Mitt has what it takes to be a corporate officer?  YES, a corporate officers scope and area of concern are by design rather limited, to what is good for the corporation, its management, and its shareholders.  On the surface Mitt appears to be spot on for this job.
Does it appear that Mitt has what it takes to be POTUS?  From my vantage point the answer is a resounding NO.  The scope and area of concern for this office appear to be too broad and too different from his past experience and skill set in business.
To answer the question first offered in the title of the little essay, “Can Mitt think on his feet?”  I would say that he like all individuals he has some abilities in the area, but if his and/or my life really depended on his ability think on is feet, I am not sure that we would survive.
Along the same line of thought, I am not sure that Mitt really understands the term “We the People”, to date most of his actions would indicate that he does not, he can talk a good game, but it appears that he has no muscle memory, which would imply that he has never practice it.  I feel that Mitt understands the term “We, some of the People”, and it would appear that he has a great deal of muscle memory, which would imply that he has practice this exercise a great deal.  Which might just be the reason that it appears that he cannot think on his feet.

Friday, August 26, 2011

For an individual who used Audacity in the Title of a Book


First a definition to refresh our memories.
Audacious: Intrepid Boldness, Bold or arrogant disregard of NORMAL restrains.
Synonyms: Brash, Brazen, Hutzpah.
With all due respect and admiration to William Shakespeare Act 3, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar, let me say that Barack Hussein Obama, is a very nice, and decent, honorable man.  I am sure that he is a pleasant conversationalist.  He is intelligent; He is caring; He has a sense of Justice; He is a man of Letters.  Not withstanding all of this his actions, or more precisely his lack of action to date concerning the United States Economic Crisis he should not be considered to be Audacious, or to have any audacity, by any rational individual.
It is said the Barack was impressed with “Team of Rivals”, and supposedly how Lincoln lead or managed from behind during the civil war.  That some how he made the group not only work together, but that every member of the group was an equal to the tasks, and all were contributors.  The book is a good read, but for many students of the civil war it did not fill in any missing blanks, and in some cases completely glossed over some of the real documented problem with cabinet.  The comment in John Hay diary in the summer of 1863 is one of the primary pieces indicating that all was not well in the team.  Hay relates that Lincoln had to resort to “tyrannous authority”, and that “most important things he decide & there is no cavil."  The two major reasons that Lincoln won the civil war were he had the logistics systems to support his troops in the field, and he finally found some General who could fight.   Jefferson Davis, never had the logistics system to support his troops, and he ran out unoccupied territory, and out of Generals who could fight.  The Civil War was a war of attrition.
If we are looking for an individual who will clearly defined Goals.  If we are looking for an individual who can clearly articulate these Goals.  If we require an individual who can formulate a strategy and effectively communicate the Strategy to achieve these stated Goals, then to date Barack Hussein Obama has not demonstrated that he is that person.
One can lead from the rear, and that is fine, but one must have a clearly defined goal, and then one must create and communicate to all what the strategy is for achieving these goals.  I have not heard Barack clearly define any goals on any subject, other than to keep on keeping on, or if we just hang on it will all get better some day.
It appears that Barack Hussein Obama has adopted a path to re-election, which will present to his opponents a record of actions that cannot be assaulted, since to date his record is quite absent of any real actions to assault.
The one true weapon in the arsenal of the President of the United States that Barrack Hussein Obama has fail to use is the “Bully Pulpit” as of 30 June 2011 the president has only had 3 News Conference, he has had numerous one on one interviews, but they are not quite the same as the man coming out and being pushed across the networks at the same time.
In 2010 in an interview with Diane Sawyer, Barack Hussein Obama made the following statement “I’d rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president”.  It appears that the other possibility have never been articulated by the president, and they are a mediocre first term president, and good second term president, or mediocre first term president and no second presidential term to judge.
From my position up till now it really looks like he trying to make this last option into reality.  The economy is in bad shape, and other than some platitudes about feeling our pain, his lack of leadership on the issue almost borders on malfeasants.  We have a sucking chest wound and rather than plug the hole and keep the lung from collapsing he would rather collapse a lung and have a really compromised economy for an extended period of time, rather than do anything to remediate the situation.  To date these are not the actions of a man with audacity.  I do not hold out much hope that the term audacious will be even with the loosest of interpolations be applied to the job plan Barack Hussein Obama is to be announce in the coming weeks.
For an individual who used audacity in a book title Barack Obama appears to be the antsiest of one who is audacious.