If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” It’s a truism that applies to people at all levels of society. Not surprisingly, it applies equally to both nouveau riche homeowners and to candidates running for president of the United States.
A CASE OF CHARITY: If you’ve ever watched ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” you know the show begins with host Ty Pennington and his crew reviewing a videotape submitted by a family in need as a sort of sales pitch for why they believe they deserve a new home — paid for, of course, by the network and the sponsors of the show.
During a six-day period in January 2005, according to an accessAtlanta report published Friday, some 1,800 professionals and volunteers joined forces to tear down a small, problem-plagued ranch-style house for a family in need — in this case, the family of Milton and Patricia Harper in Lake City, Ga., a community of 3,000 just south of Atlanta. In its place, they constructed a spacious two-story, four-bedroom palace — it’s the largest in the neighborhood now — at a cost of about $450,000.
After moving in, the beneficiaries of the charity, according to same article, used the house as collateral for a near-half-million-dollar bank loan. That loan, in turn, was used to launch a construction business that later failed. As a result of that failure, the house built by charity is now in foreclosure and set to be auctioned in August.
Though I have little evidence other than that contained in the aforementioned article, I would be willing to stick my neck out and venture that the failure of this family’s new business resulted, at least in part, from a failure to plan.
A CASE OF POLITICS: Unless you’ve been living under a rock, cut off from civilization, you’re likely aware of Barack Obama’s meteoric rise from a relatively obscure position as the junior U.S. senator from Illinois to a highly-visible role as the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee in 2008.
During the past 18 months, Obama has experienced a windfall not unlike that of the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” family. His campaign has not only set fund-raising records and turned out more supporters than any previous presidential candidate, but it also defeated — at least it seems that way at this point — former First Lady-turned U.S. senator from New York, Hillary Clinton.
Unfortunately for Obama, his campaign seems to be operating without a plan — or, at a minimum, without a plan he’s willing to share with the American public. In place of any plan, the 46-year-old is campaigning on a short-on-details platform of “change.” Soon, however, he should expect his “bankers” (a.k.a., “American voters”) to call him on his loan. In other words, they’re going to demand specifics on matters that mean the most to them (i.e., the economy, national security and the Global War on Terror).
Once they see his plan — or lack thereof — is full of holes, they’ll likely “foreclose” on his bid to star in “Extreme Makeover: White House Edition.”
12 responses so far ↓
1 Theodore Corwin // Jul 31, 2008 at 10:24 am
And I assume that McCain has offered up a detailed plan? Are you serious?
2 hotoffthepress2 // Jul 31, 2008 at 10:43 am
Theo — Yes, I am!
3 Theodore Corwin // Jul 31, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I think it’s disingenuous of you to say that McCain has a plan w/out providing an example of that plan. Especially when all we have heard from McCain the past couple of weeks is how bad, inexperienced and famous (infamous) Barack is. I ask you for one example where McCain is elaborate on what his policy would be & Barack is vague. If you can’t provide the same, I would dare say, at the risk of offending you that you are either naive or mendacious.
4 hotoffthepress2 // Jul 31, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Theo — Take the war on terror as one example. Against all others, McCain advocated the surge, and it turned out to be the right move. Now, we’ve won the war in Iraq. Obama, on the other hand, won’t admit the surge has worked because such an admission will make him look like a fool and play into the hands of McCain. With Obama, it’s politics first, country and common sense later. He’s lame as are those who support him!
5 Theodore Corwin // Jul 31, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Did you really say the war has been won in Iraq? Let’s be brutally honest here. The Surge is working, yet the War has not been “won” yet, as you have declared! President Bush stated as much this morning and I quote: “General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker caution that the progress is still reversible, but they report that there now appears to be a “degree of durability” to the gains we have made.” The Iraq war has not been won yet!
As to your so called “example” I can say the same for Barack: (Take the war in Iraq as one example. Against all others, Obama advocated against it, and it turned out to be the right move.)
You conviently are missing the forest for the trees. McCain also had the “wisdom” to choose to vote for the War in Iraq. Maybe if he didn’t vote for it, there would be no need for the “surge” and it’s costly price! (American lives)
So are you as proud of McCain’s vote for the War? And who else stands w/ you seeing Iraq as essential to the war on terror?
Fact: McCain is a politician, Barack is a politician. Let’s be real and have honest discourse as to who would be the best POLITICIAN to lead our country.
What we need is objective discourse & not blatantly partisan views.
You’re letting me down, I thought you would present an viable argument for your guy.
6 hotoffthepress2 // Jul 31, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Theo — Imagine there are no clouds in the sky and I say it’s blue. I bet you’d say it’s red just to argue. Sorry, but I don’t have time to erase your knowledge base and reload your gray matter with sound thinking. Adios!
7 Theodore Corwin // Aug 5, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Right….clearly you are busy pandering to your base! Your “Iraq war has been won” is eerily familar to a certain President’s “Mission accomplished”. Fool me once, shame on you…
8 hotoffthepress2 // Aug 5, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Theo — It has been won, and you’re in denial if you believe otherwise.
9 Theodore Corwin // Aug 29, 2008 at 10:36 am
I want you to provide your readers some sources, some credible leaders of our great country, who have declared the Iraq war as won. How about John McCain, can you please provide us with an example of him declaring the war won? I think it’s fair to say you are in denial if there is no one else declaring the war won. You just ignored the example I provided you of President Bush saying the war is not yet won.
Provide some credible examples or wear the moniker of Novice blogger with distinction.
10 hotoffthepress2 // Aug 29, 2008 at 10:49 am
Theo — I’ve spoken to soldiers and others who’ve served in Iraq. I’ve heard Gen. Petraeus describe the situation. Read the Argus Journal description of the war and Obama’s take on it: Without the surge in Iraq that, lest we forget, Sen. Obama strongly opposed, and whose success he tries to deny, Iraq would be in chaos, America’s enemies crowing, terrorism revitalized, our allies demoralized and the rest of the Middle East quaking. I would call that victory. Now go away, will ya?
11 Theodore Corwin // Aug 29, 2008 at 10:51 am
Yup, that sure spells Mission Accomplished. I’m out of here. Timetable what timetable.
12 hotoffthepress2 // Aug 29, 2008 at 10:52 am
Theo — I’m glad you finally came around!
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