NY Times 9.23 Obama on All Channels

Mary Cate Cary has it right, “Stop talking and start Listening.” Insulation from the American public through a lack of assessment, benchmarking and listening is most destructive to the modern American presidency. Advisors, too often relay what a president wants to hear instead of the need to comprehend the truth.

The political shoreline is littered with the wreckage of great visions proposed by energetic leaders. Whether Jimmy Carter or Richard Nixon, the “might have beens” are not mentioned in their historical retrospectives.

Addressing a world body, whether it is the United Nations or the G-20, any president must know America with a thoroughness which supports national unity and resolve. To speak to international concerns with the full backing of an overwhelming majority of the American people is both strength and power.

The concerns of Chavez, Ortega, Medvedev, Putin, Kim Jong Il, Fidel Castro, and many United Nations representatives, must come secondary to the truth which can only be found in the opinions of a multitude of American voter counsel. The president is not well served by those staff who overexpose him through many press conferences, interviews, and late night shows.

The president will benefit greatly only from knowing and then representing America, it’s supporters, critics, radio talk shows, workers, in short, the many shades of opinion which only this great democracy encourages because of its constitutional freedoms.

— Dr.Phillips