When Barack Obama told the nation about the killing of Osama bin Laden, he said, "I, me, we, our" some 72 times. When he spoke to the troops at Fort Campbell in the aftermath of that killing, he used those words at least 68 times.
You'd think he conceived the operation and carried it out all by himself!
It's obvious in Barack Obama's many speeches after the killing of Osama bin Laden that there was a continual use of the personal pronoun and the royal "we." It's a pattern in any of his speeches.
I have a suggestion for the president of this country: Eliminate the words "I" and "we" from your vocabulary.
Mr. President, I hope you and your speechwriters are listening.
Please, just stop saying them!
It's a tiny request, but really, sir, it will actually make you look and sound much more presidential if you refrain from having to tell everyone within earshot that you did everything.
It's unseemly and makes you sound childish to repeatedly say that just about everything emanating from your administration is the result of you doing it.
First of all, it's not true, and you know it! Presidents are surrounded with people having varied specialties and experience. They have their jobs because of that and work to evolve varied administration plans and policies. It's their expected role.
Actually, if you were surrounded with experts but never took their advice and only did what you want to do, you wouldn't be a president, you'd be a dictator.
And you aren't that, are you?
Of course not! The American people elected you president. You're neither a king, nor a dictator. Everyone knows that, so why the need for your "I-I-me-me-ing" all the time?
If any average person – i.e. non-president – did what you do, the conclusion would be that the person was incredibly insecure, lacking confidence and in constant need of reassurance of his value.
His need would be so great that if it isn't met by others, he will do it himself by constantly noting everything done is because of him or because he did it himself. If people don't notice, he'll remind them, over and over again.
It's clear you want to be taken seriously and regarded with awe and admiration even when it's clear you're in over your head.
You're like the emperor who believes he's wearing beautiful, royal garments and parades around, showing them off. The only problem is he has nothing on at all – he's naked.
The people see it, but no one has the courage to tell him. The emperor continues in his delusions of grandeur until a little boy shouts out the truth.
In your case, you fully believe your vision of your knowledge, intellect, experience and capability. Those are the royal garments of your presidency. Unfortunately, too often in your mere two-and-a-half years in office, the insufficiencies of your abilities are clear. But you ignore them. The people around you ignore them. The media, which should report the truth, simply don't, thus enabling the continuing farce.
It's not until some brave speakers and writers bring the truth of the situation to the fore that people who care have their worst suspicions confirmed.
No, you're not like the Wizard of Oz, creating a visual image of what you think a good president looks, sounds and acts like. But, you are a man who was elevated far above his level of accomplishment, skill and abilities after an election campaign that painted a picture people wanted to believe.
Unfortunately, it was a false picture. It was a picture of a dream, and dreams don't get elected president. People are elected and now, in your case, the truth is coming out.
You campaigned by selling a dream – some might say "smoke and mirrors" – but you called it "hope and change."
Enough voters believed you to ensure your election, but they didn't go the step further and ask "hoping for what?" and "changing what?" and how it would all play out.
Over your short half term in office, you've not only alienated your own supporters but also independents who sought someone "different" who would end our security crises. You elaborated on which policies you would end, and we'd benefit.
As it turned out, you've reneged on most of your campaign promises, from closing Guantanamo to getting out of Afghanistan. Those are only two of many unkept promises.
If your election illustrated anything, it's that people still avoid reality and if a politician plays to that, he can win.
Any doubters should listen to your campaign speeches touting what you would accomplish if elected.
Well, you were elected and every word out of your mouth reminds us that you were involved, you make the good decisions, you are in charge and you will get all the credit, if not from us, then you'll credit yourself. You do it all the time.
But people are wise to you, and you're losing your base, losing the support of independents. While the polls give you a boost now because of bin Laden, there's a big mountain of reality on the road ahead: three wars, the deficit, the debt, the budget, unemployment and more.
It'll be a bumpy campaign.