DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

In a previous post I declared that I had worked through my grief over the mid-term elections, and had found a peaceful place of resignation — along with a certain kind of hopeful expectation that the Republican Party is self-destructing.  Check-It-Out:  REPUBLICANS GO THE WAY OF THE WHIGS.

Well … maybe that was just a brave attempt at putting-on-a-good-face, and rationalization as a band-aid.  Because now, one day before the mid-terms, I find myself in a place of despair.  This election is going to be a total wipe-out for the Democratic Party.  Total. 

I believe that it’s now likely that we’ll not only lose the House and 7 governorships, but the Senate as well.  And, well … there goes a second term for you, Mr. President.  Hey, it’s JIMMY CARTER time!

And, Mr. President, you can’t go on pretending that this imploding Democratic Party is all because of the Great Recession and unemployment.  Sure, the economic environment is a bad one for the party in power.  Sure, the Republican Party has been obstructionist.  Sure, Mr. President, you have the FACTS on your side. 

BUT, Mr. President, you didn’t try to explain the state of the country to your fellow Americans.  You didn’t try to explain your policies.  You didn’t try to present a cogent vision for where you wanted to take our nation.  You didn’t even try to address your countrymen as grown-ups. 

You didn’t try to lead.  When you lead, Mr. President, you bring the people along with you.  That’s what leading is.  Leading isn’t getting so far out in front of the people on the path forward that they can’t see where you’re going.  The people won’t follow your lead if they don’t know where you’re taking them.

I’m mad, and so sad, Mr. President.  You didn’t even try.