Leader of the Free World and All that

Cowards Cut and Run: Real Leaders Never Do. That is what you said, Isn't it?

What is it that happens to a man when he gets ensconced in the Oval Office and the White House?

The Phantom is trying to imagine sitting on that couch in front of the desk, with the oval rug with all the stars and eagles on it, and receiving the parade of trusted advisors who present you with problems:  The Syrian Army just gassed its own people. They had been unable to dislodge the rebels from the neighborhoods in the Damascus suburbs, having pounded the buildings into rubble with arterily and tanks and so they finally just fired Sarin gas containing shells. And it worked for them.

But now, as the Leader of the Free World, you have to act. You said using gas was a "bright line" not to cross and they crossed it. They disobeyed TLOTFW! If you expect to be obeyed in the future you have to spank them now! You are the great white (well, maybe not white) father in the White House and you must be obeyed.

If you do not stop this tin pot dictator in Damascus from using gas, then what despot anywhere will fear you in the future?  

Every two bit dictator with Sarin gas will be using it like tear gas from now one, unless you act.

Or something along those lines.

You hear that from John Kerry. You hear that from John McCain. You hear that from who knows who.  But do you ever hear from the Phantom or the guy in Brooklyn who drives the cab or from the mother in Exeter who runs the PTA?

What can guide you?  

History maybe. But whose history?

The last time a dictator systematically gassed people within his borders, or within the territory under his control, it was Adolph Hitler and he could not be stopped from doing it until several armies from the largest powers on earth fought him to the death for 7  years. 

What makes you think some cheap shot across the bow, some finger wagging from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will scare some desperate despot who is already fighting for his life and has the morals of a cornered rat?

Now, if the Phantom can just get Mr. Obama on the phone.

Mr. Obama's problem is he cannot even read the Phantom's blog. His handlers took away his computer access and his smart phone.  If Mr. Obama could read blogs, he could tune into Mad Dog Democrat, or any of a variety of thoughtful, informative voices from the heartland, and he would know nobody expects him to be, nobody who counts wants him to be the master of the universe.

That job has already been filled. We got one. And he doesn't live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Don't take that jacket too seriously.