Peggy Lee May Have Been Right

As the fledgling Obama administration struggles to find its way, I’m reminded of singer Peggy Lee’s 1969 hit “Is that all there is.” In this existential song, Lee expresses disillusionment with events in life that are supposed to be unique. She concludes by saying “Break out the booze and have a ball-if that’s all there is.”
Because after a torrid two year love affair, America is beginning to wonder if that is, indeed, all there is. The stock market continues to grind lower, unemployment is off the chart and the credit market is seized up like an old jalopy. It hasn’t helped that a number of Obama’s key Cabinet appointments have gotten bogged down in ethical and tax problems. Just last week Obama had to pull the plug on former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle for Health and Human Services Secretary. It appears Daschle had neglected to pay nearly $150,000 in taxes for a chauffeur and driver while working for a D.C. lobbying firm and only coughed up the information and the dough when nominated. It was disappointing to hear Obama and his spokespeople try giving Daschle a pass because he was so vital to the health care effort. There was more than a whiff of liberal elitism there as if to imply his intellect and commitment to the cause superceded his obligation to pay taxes like the rest of us.
This all occurred after a similar dust-up with now Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Mr. Geithner too neglected to pay his fair share going as far as declaring his kids summer camp expenses as a child care deduction. What makes this even more unsavory is the fact that the Treasury Secretary also oversees the IRS. I have to assume Geithner’s “mistakes” will make it tough for him to play the indignation card the next time some high profile tax cheat surfaces. As he did with Daschle, President Obama went with the “too valuable to fail” argument for Geithners confirmation. Toss in a couple of other nominees with similar problems and maybe Obama’s slogan should be “change you better count first.”
To be sure, it’s far too early to judge the success or failure of this new administration but it does have a decidedly Peggy Lee feel to it. We were led to believe this crowd would be different, more ethical and held to a higher standard. The rapture that was the election and the carnival like atmosphere surrounding the inauguration bordered on national hysteria. Since then we’ve had virtually no progress on anything. Americans today feel like they’re tied to the railroad tracks and the guy who was supposed to save them is off somewhere putting out brush fires.
The President’s decision to address the American people in a prime time speech is a good start. We need to hear directly from him. No one cares what ditzy Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnell has to say. The American people need to know their President has a plan and isn’t just winging it. People need to be able to turn off their TV set and get behind a course of action they understand and approve. We need to know that’s not all there is to our new president.