Larry, a reader from Santa Monica, CA, called us out on our last article saying both that we were picking on President Obama, and that we don't spend enough time raking the Bush Administration over the coals. TPP is a forum for education, and we saw this as (to borrow from the President's lexicon) a teachable moment.

TPP has always sought to elevate the debate, and entertain an open forum. This is borne out by the diversity of opinion that shows up in comments following the articles. We make this forum available for those with specialized knowledge to educate our readership. We also modify our views when new information comes to light, as we did on our assessment of President Lula da Silva of Brazil. We strive to find common sense solutions, in the midst of all the posturing and soundbites.

With that in mind, we concede that Larry is correct in his assessment. We have spent a good deal of time lately calling the Obama administration and Congress to task. We also have not spent much time raking the Bush administration over the coals. It seems like a good time to examine why that is.

The Bush Administration has not received a lot of bad press here. This is partly due to the birth of TPP occurring in the closing months of the 2008 Presidential campaign season. By the time we arrived on the scene, Bush was essentially done, and there would not be much change he could effect before turning the reigns of power over to his successor.

The views of John McCain and Barack Obama were the focus of our analysis, as either man's views would shape the state of affairs in the United States for the next era of our history. We prefer not to snipe about mistakes that have already been made, and prefer to address solutions to problems before they get to crisis proportions.

For the record, TPP believes that the Bush Administration's first year was no better or worse than Obama's. They were caught with their pants down on 9/11, and the events of that day defined the Bush Presidency. There was no grand agenda other than tax cuts (which he won on) and keeping the terrorists from hitting us again here (with which he also succeeded).

The Afghan and Iraqi wars were badly mismanaged for 5 years, and financed by going a trillion dollars into debt to China. We are willing to give him credit for mopping up the mess in Iraq by changing strategies and generals. The timeline that the Obama administration is living by in Iraq was made possible by the "surge", and was negotiated by the Bush administration.

We stood absolutely opposed to the Bush bank bailout as structured. The bailout essentially shoveled money at banks with no regard as to how it was to be used. We instead have been promoting the idea of responsible banking reform - once again separating personal banking from commercial or investment banking. We also believe that structures built into the banking industry by congress were as much to blame for the real estate meltdown as the banking speculation. When banks are required to loan to those who have no ability to pay the loan back, no one is being served.

We stood against the immigration proposal sought by the Bush administration. We did this not out of any nativist bigotry, but because codifying the illegal alien to legal status as a "guest worker" would create a permanent underclass with limited rights. It is akin to the situation France faces with it's Muslim population which is not "illegal" but not fully benefited by French rights or laws. This is the cause of the frequent rioting that has been reported emanating from the large number of unemployed young Muslims.

We also questioned the Bush administration's efforts to "save" a Social Security and Medicare system that was destined for imminent bankruptcy on the one hand, and introduce a major new expense in the form of a prescription drug benefit on the other.

The list can go on. Where we stood against the Bush administration was that the proposed ideas did not make sense, or just papered over the problem. It did not address the issue with a solution based in reality - there was no "common sense".

The Bush administration is gone now. They made their mistakes and we are all paying for it. However, continuing to rail against them is ultimately beating the proverbial dead horse. We are a little put off by President Obama's default position of mercilessly beating that dead horse whenever he hits a speed bump or some opposition. President Obama and his team are in charge now. We acknowledge a learning curve, and can forgive rookie mistakes - and Obama has made his share. It's been over a year since this administration took office. They have some ownership of the bad news at this point.

One of the founding principles at TPP is to comment on policies, not personalities. In seeking to find solutions to the challenges that America faces we look at ideas proposed, and examine the likely effects of the implementation of those policies. This is applying “common sense”.

It is why when we publish an article, we open the forum for all points of view to comment. It is through the discussion among readers, and at dinner tables across the nation that creative solutions are formed. TPP has gathered these ideas and submitted policy initiatives to the proper departments in the Federal government. Papers have been submitted on such diverse issues as health care reform, job creation, educational opportunity, financial reform and airport security.

TPP also has a working relationship with members of the House and the Senate in which we share the dialogue that represents the mood of our readership. TPP represents solutions created by people who don’t live in the bubble of government, but who live in the real world.

TPP stands solidly on the ground of common sense. Common sense does not fix a trillion dollar deficit by making it three trillion. Common sense does not fix the problem of 30 million uninsured, by scrapping a system that is providing 300 million people service that they are satisfied with. Common sense does not demand healthcare reform, then does not participate in crafting the reform or giving it direction.

Common sense does not pretend that buying off developing countries is solving climate change. Common sense does not acknowledge our enemy's grievances as legitimate, and our allies concerns as unimportant. Common sense does not lead by refusing to lead, and by refusing to build consensus. Looking from the viewpoint of common sense, the Obama administration has put out much that needs to be challenged.

In a fair and balanced note, the Republicans aren't doing much to counter this except to hit the brakes. While that may be necessary at times, it is not enough. President Obama acknowledged that he didn't communicate his message as effectively as he might have. The Republicans are equally guilty of not forcefully and plainly stating their solutions. No one except the punditry is going to take the time to go the either whitehouse.gov or gop.gov to look up policies. The average citizen is too busy trying to stay ahead of the economy. Every elected official needs to communicate their ideas to their constituency. "Just say No" won't work for the Republicans any better than "We know Best" worked for the Democrats.

Common Sense Dictates

Nature abhors a vacuum. Right now the sizable lack of leadership has created a vacuum that is being filled by Nancy Pelosi on the Democrat side and by no one on the Republican side (though Sarah Palin is trying awfully hard). All we have is two factions of rabble at war with each other. Both parties have made the task of winning more important than the task of doing the people’s business.

No one expects any individual to sacrifice their principles for the sake of a deal, but there are serious challenges that need to be addressed. Politics has been called “the art of the possible”.  There is a wide swath of ground that is both possible, and acceptable to most Americans. As we have so often stated, the loony ends of both parties do not represent the majority of Americans. Yet it is those fringe ends that are defining the debate.

Ronald Reagan and JFK resembled each other far more closely than they would represent what their respective parties have devolved into. While no one person can make or break America, we do need leaders to step up, convince us of the rightness of their cause, and persuade us to come along. That is the essence of leadership.

While the first is in the process of happening, the second and the third requirements are not being met. TPP is one voice among many seeking to convince and persuade for the commitment to common sense in governing. That remains our guiding principle, and the foundation of our mission.

We continue to look to the American people as the best possible source of real solutions, and we continue to welcome all input and comment. It is through the participation of everyday, ordinary Americans that the country will become “a more perfect union”. That is how the Founders designed our country, and that is the essence of Common Sense.

RLB