One thing is clear: Obama is no Bill Clinton

William Jefferson Clinton.  Democrats love him and admittedly, even some Republicans are now longing for the good ole' days when the disdain we felt for our liberal president was based on a little blue dress and an intern named Monica.

Longing for the good ole' days when bipartisanship was attainable and compromise was achieved.

Last night as our former president took the stage, he reminded us of his successes and the achievements he experienced during his presidency.  He talked about his legacy and how his approach to governing brought about real results.  He then boldly endorsed Barack Obama and made the case that despite our broken economy, trillion dollar deficits and high unemployment, this president has placed us on a path to prosperity.

Really?  Sounds good.

Hmm.  Still not buying it.

Image from BET.com

It was a feel good speech and Democrats are hoping that his rock star status will distract from the dismal record of this president.  Time will tell if it was successful, but there is one blaring reality to emerge from his speech: President Clinton was successful because he mastered the art of compromise.  Obama hasn't even tried.

Like it or not, President Obama is no Bill Clinton.

It is hard to sell the "Bill Clinton Success Story" when Obama's approach has been the exact opposite.  I think it is important to remember that starting on Obama's third day of his presidency, he brazenly declared to his rivals on the other side of the aisle, "I won."  No compromise.  No respect for the opposing position.  No interest in finding a middle ground.  Starting on day 3, this was our president's approach to leading his country.  This has been his approach from the start.

Is it any wonder that our government is broken?  Is it any wonder that his presidency is overshadowed by failure and lack of accomplishments?  Even his few successes only came about without one Republican vote.

Why doesn't it concern anyone that rather than follow the lead from his predecessor Bill Clinton and learn the "art of compromise," Obama is now bypassing Congress all together and is applying Executive Orders? (Namely immigration).

Yesterday, CNN contributor William Bennett quoted Newt Gingrich who once said that there are two types of conventions for a party in power: accusation conventions and achievement conventions.  Does anyone have to guess what type of convention has been presented over the past few days?

I don't think so.

Perhaps if Obama had been willing to follow the lead of the former president, it would be a different story.  Perhaps we would not be facing the fiscal cliff we are now facing.  Perhaps if Obama were showing signs of being willing to learn from his mistakes, he wouldn't be virtually tied with an "unlikeable murderer from Massachusetts."

Tonight Obama will make his case to the American people that there is somehow still reason to believe that he will get this done.

But the blaring truth that will haunt him?  Obama is no Bill Clinton.