The Democrats have not shown America enough to be confident during their reign as a supe-rmajority, and it will cost them in the universal health care effort.Throughout the past few election cycles, the Democratic Party has seen many victories.
Change was the mantra that spread along the campaign trail last fall.
Hope was the belief held by many during the inauguration ceremonies in January.
Everything that people want in new leadership has been present, except for one thing: on-going confidence.
And that will keep the Democrats from taking the next step as leaders within government as we watch them lose the health care debate. ...
President Obama Pictures
A Uighur protester wears a rubber mask of President Barack Obama during a demonstration in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, July 12, 2009. The demonstration in downtown Tokyo Sunday ended peacefully with Japanese protesters calling on China to end the violence in Xinjiang, where at least 184 people have died in rioting. Those demonstrators waved blue flags with white crescents representing what they call "East Turkestan," their name for the region from where they come. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama return to Washington with their daughters Malia (L) and Sasha off Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base July 12, 2009, following their visit to Russia, Italy and Ghana. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES POLITICS)
Reuters
US President Barack Obama, alongside daughter Malia descends the steps of Air Force One after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, July 12, 2009. Obama returned from a week long trip abroad that included stops in Russia, Italy and Ghana. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
US President Barack Obama, alongside First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia descend the steps of Air Force One after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, July 12, 2009. Obama returned from a week long trip abroad that included stops in Russia, Italy and Ghana. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
President Barack Obama, second right, first lady Michelle Obama, second left, and their daughters Malia , left, and Sasha, right, arrive at the White House from Ghana, early Sunday, July 12, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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President Barack Obama walks down the stairs with his daughters Malia, Sasha and firts lady Michelle Obama from Air Force One upon their arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Sunday July 12, 2009, returning from their trip to Europe and Africa.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave before boarding Air Force One after they participated in a departure ceremony at the airport in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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WASHINGTON - JULY 12: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama (L), First Lady Michelle Obama (R) and daughters Sasha (2ndL) and Malia (2ndR) exit Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House July 12, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama and the first family returned home to the White House in the early morning after a trip overseas to Russia, Europe, Africa and a G-8 meeting. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski-Pool/Getty Images)
Getty Images
President Barack Obama greets audience members as he participate in a departure ceremony at the airport in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
AP
President Barack Obama greets the crowd at a departure ceremony at the airport in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, July 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
AP
Democrats did a great job of opposing Republican directives proposed by President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress from 2001-2007. Granted, this was not hard to do, especially as the momentum opposing a controversial war effort and Republican controversies continued to mount. The wave against the incumbent is usually a pretty easy one to ride in the court of public opinion.
After all, it's always easy to be the back-up quarterback – and the most popular guy on the team – until it's time to take the live snaps.
And, as it often is with the back-up, once the ball is in your hands, you have to show what you have. And, with leadership, the first thing that must be demonstrated is the ability to inspire confidence.
President Obama was able to do that as a candidate in 2008, and he has been able to maintain that level of confidence within his supporters' camp. However, with a woeful approval rating for the Democrat-led Congress and a level of contempt in town hall meetings not seen in a while, the super-majority in Congress has not been able to instill confidence in the American people.
The party has failed to hit the mark on the stimulus package (Wall Street is turning around while spending roughly 16 percent of the stimulus money but without an increase in jobs), unemployment (the mark was supposed to cap at 8 percent as a result of the February stimulus but may have finally crested at 9.5 percent) and "Cash for Clunkers" (the program overran in spending by 200 percent ).
Calling the GOP the "party of no" is a great PR sound-bite, but it is not the best way to show voters what to say yes to.
Putting in the back-up quarterback just because he was a popular first-round pick doesn't guarantee success on the field when it actually counts. After all, if he can't accurately read what's in front of him -- from the situations on the field to the level of opposition -- even the best-sounding plans will never score.
This latest fumble in Washington may lead to some new draft picks in 2010.
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Lenny McAllister is a political commentator who has been featured on CNN, CNN.com/live, XM Radio's 'The Power Table' and Fox Charlotte's 'FOX News Rising'. His book, 'Diary of a Mad Black PYC (Proud Young Conservative),' is available now. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook and at LennyMcAllister.com, where his weekly video commentary can be found.
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By: david on 8/21/2009 2:18PM
the democrats won handidly in the last election. We even won the top spot. (President) if this was not enough what else do we need to do. What we need to do is get everyone on bpoard and step on the other side. They are and will always be obstructionists. if we say yes they say no. all the big mouths who run interference for them are the ones who call there shots. we must stay strong and remind the blue dog democrats of this.
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By: John on 9/01/2009 1:34PM
Indeed the Democrates did win the Presidency in the last election and control both houses of congress. The margins however were not a landslide. The Democratic Party's problem is that you have let the most radical elements control and propose the legislation. Members of Congress are have proven time and again that they cannot be trusted to tell the truth or look out for their constituent's interest.
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