Houston Blogs: Roussel Blog

Nominees, Expectations and Keeping the Message Focused

There seems to be some piling on the Obama administration right now regarding the events of the past week and their failure to pick nominees for key positions who could pass muster in terms of the confirmation process.

Yes, it seems fair to say it was a week of miscues. In an attempt to keep the message focused on the economic stimulus legislation, the message got diverted and fuzzy. The week dissolved into defense and debate about these nominees, rather than the paramount issue of the moment—the economy.

A couple of points to consider about this:

This is nothing unique—past presidents have certainly had nominees who failed to make it through this process. What is different right now is the urgency of the times in terms of the economy and need to get qualified individuals in place promptly who can be addressing our economic ills.

What is occurring here, too, is the expectations game. President Obama has come into office with high expectations for solutions. He has realistically tried to keep such high hopes in check by statements to the effect that solutions are going to take time. But there is little he can do about a groundswell of hope from the public. This is a natural occurrence with any new administration. It’s just that the stakes are higher and more urgent right now.

Yes, in all fairness, it was a week of stumbles. But let’s not be too hasty to pile on. It would seem there was some good to come from this experience. What, you ask?

Well, it certainly can be said that they are not taking shortcuts in the confirmation process—that they are making all adhere to the highest ethical standards—no exceptions.

This administration—and the nominees who have withdrawn—seem to recognize that this process is a bedrock of any administration and it is essential for it to maintain credibility lest the public begin to lose confidence.

The less good news is that this once again delays the business of getting about the country’s business. This administration has stepped into a flying airplane in terms of pressing problems—they need good, qualified people at work—now. They—and the anxiously awaiting American public--don’t need another week like the one that has just passed.

A Houston Footnote On The Obama/JFK Effect

It was interesting to note that for Senator Obama’s recent visit to Houston, the crowd reportedly waited for several hours.

This Obama effect is now also being likened to a similar draw that John F. Kennedy had on crowds, and particularly so when he was a candidate during the 1960 presidential campaign.  I remember that effect personally. 

At one point during that race, Kennedy came to Houston for a rally at the Sam Houston Coliseum.  Ironically, that site was where the 1928 Democratic National Convention was held, although in another facility that preceded the Coliseum.  That year—1928-- was the last time a presidential election occurred when there was neither a sitting President or Vice President as a candidate for nomination to the Presidency—another historical footnote for Houston.

But back to 1960.  JFK was due here for a rally at the Coliseum.  I was a teenager experiencing my first itch of interest in presidential politics, so I decided to get myself down there.  And guess what?  Just like Obama, Kennedy was late getting there; as I recall, almost by two hours.  But just like with the Obama visit to Houston, it didn’t matter.  The crowd waited.  And perhaps the delay, with the building of anticipation, made for an even more dramatic arrival. I was on the first row of the balcony, but the tremor of excitement that erupted when he entered was everywhere.  Kennedy was a candidate with a style that captivated. It’s like mystique—you can’t explain it, but you know it’s there. Obama has it, too; that presence to light up a room. 

The descriptions of Obama’s recent visit here took my thoughts back those 48 years to that Houston rally attended by one who had been touched enough by the Kennedy effect, that he decided to attend his first presidential campaign event ever.  It would not be his last. 

It seems there were a number of Houstonians who, like myself those many years ago, did the same thing here last week in behalf of another presidential candidate. Kennedy’s momentum was building at that point in the 1960 campaign.  Who says history doesn’t repeat itself?  Sometimes it even occurs in the same locale, this one being Houston.

- Peter Roussel