From My Perspective - - -

It has often been said that the President of the United States has considerable leverage when it comes to initiating legislation or demanding and defending a desired result. It is called “The Bully Pulpit” because he can directly address an issue through the media and give his point of view to the American electorate. It is somewhat interesting that a suave and controlling individual, an excellent public speaker who has some mesmerizing qualities, loses his “cool” when things aren’t yet going his way. The media has often championed his causes and his manner. It makes it all the more interesting that the media discloses his human side and frustration.

The New York Daily News reported on July 14th, 2011: “A frustrated President Obama warned Republicans not to "call my bluff" before he stormed out on the latest stalled debt negotiation session, Republicans said. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va) said the President became "agitated" before warning him not to "call my bluff" when Cantor said he would consider a short-term debt-limit hike, something Obama has said doesn't solve the problem. The meeting ended with the President abruptly walking out of the meeting, Cantor told reporters after the session. I know why he lost his temper. He's frustrated. We're all frustrated." In his column (Washington Post) of July 15, 2011, Charles Krauthammer’s column is entitled: “Call His Bluff.” In that column, he writes: “President Obama is demanding a big long-term budget deal. He won't sign anything less, he warns, asking, If not now, when? How about last December, when he ignored his own debt commission's recommendations? How about February, when he presented a budget that increases debt by $10 trillion over the next decade? How about April, when he sought a debt-ceiling increase with zero debt reduction attached? All of a sudden he's a born-again budget balancer prepared to bravely take on his own party by making deep cuts in entitlements. Really? Name one. He's been saying forever that he's prepared to discuss, engage, converse about entitlement cuts. But never once has he publicly proposed a single structural change to any entitlement. Hasn't the White House leaked that he's prepared to raise the Medicare age or change the cost-of-living calculation? Anonymous talk is cheap. Leaks are designed to manipulate. Offers are floated and disappear. Say it, Mr. President. Give us one single structural change in entitlements. In public. As part of the pose as the forward-looking grown-up rising above all the others who play politics, President Obama insists upon a long-term deal. And what is President Obama's definition of long-term? Surprise: An agreement that gets him past Nov. 6, 2012.”

What may be occurring here is an example of Cognitive Dissonance Reduction. It means: “Mental conflict that occurs when beliefs or assumptions are contradicted by new information. The concept was introduced by the psychologist Leon Festinger (1919–89) in the late 1950s. He…showed that, when confronted with challenging new information, most people seek to preserve their current understanding of the world by rejecting, explaining away, or avoiding the new information or by convincing themselves that no conflict really exists…” Cognitive Dissonance becomes reality when the unthinkable and unimaginable become factual. Biblical examples are Lucifer in Isaiah 14:12-15 where Lucifer has such lofty goals and opinions without realizing the end result for him in Verse 15, “But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.” Another instance is that of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-33 when he was at the zenith of his power and prestige. The word of the Lord was that he would be brought low and in Verse 33 we find: “Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven…” A reverse situation is seen in John 19 where Pilate allows himself to be bullied by an unruly mob. We read in Verse 12, “From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." What is often missed of late is that God is in complete control of this world He has created. Anyone who ignores this truth does so at his own peril. Consider these things with me!