To govern the GOP needs ideas and leadership not just slogans and name calling.

This speech by Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) was given to the Ripon Society. Many of the points that he made rung true to me including the example of Ronald Reagan.

Who is Obama most like?

As the midterm election approaches both parties are creating a sense of nostalgia for themselves. Republicans are using Reagan as the inspiration for everything that they stand for (and the yardstick to measure everything Obama is not). The Democrats are reaching much farther back into history and characterizing themselves as the heirs of the progressive era (TR and Wilson). Have you ever noticed that the shows on MSNBC no longer use the word liberal? They are now progressives!

I don't quite buy the argument that Obama will be the downfall of the Republic (sorry Glen Beck). He also lacks the big stick philospohy of Teddy Roosevelt on both foreign and domestic issues, rather I see him as Carter 2.0.

Jimmy Carter was swept into office because he represented everything that Richard Nixon wasn't: an all around nice guy. People felt the Nixon had betrayed the ideals of the presidency with Watergate and Ford was merely a caretaker president. Carter's ideals resonated with many people who had grown cynical about politics and the leaders in Washington. However his leadership has been defined by the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The crisis seemed to drag on forever and people could not believe that the indestructible country that could do anything and solve any problem could not seem to handle a small group of revolutionaries? Carter floundered and the American people questioned his competency as chief executive.

The BP oil leak such as crisis for the Obama administration. Instead of a foreign country causing the country heartache it is an environmental disaster and like Carter, Obama seems disconnected. Until recently, Obama had not allowed foreign countries to lend us their oil skimming boats. Efforts by State governments to defend their own shores were denied by the Federal Government. Currently the president seems more concerned about enforcing a moratorium on off shore drilling which many economist believe will be more dangerous to jobs than the oil spill itself.

Finally the $20 billion escrow fund secured by the administration has posed an interesting issue. Although I believe that BP should pay for the damage, it worries me that the White House unilaterally negotiated this fund. I would feel more comfortable if it was awarded by the courts (after a suit pursued by the DOJ) or a windfall profits tax was passed by Congress. Checks and balances were installed for a reason.

Mr. President, we need leadership. We need to know that are working with all affected parties to solve this problem. We need to know that we can solve this problem through our classic American ingenuity and determination. Please be the leader we want and need you to be!