William & Mary Lawprof Nate Oman has more juice than you or me.  This is why he sat close to Barack Obama during the inauguration, and tells his thoughts as he experienced the spectacle of our peaceful transition of power.

I thought that Obama gave a good speech but not a great one. As usual, I found his rhetoric compelling, and I am hopeful for what he may be able to accomplish. Any president, I figure, is entitled to euphoria on his inauguration day, but gazing out over the sea of humanity inundating the Mall, I wondered what such an experience does for a person. It can’t be good, psychologically,

A very significant observation.  How does it feel to be adored?  Does it embolden someone to believe that he’s superman?  Does it strike fear in his heart that they may realize that he’s not?  Will he feel compelled to make decisions to pander to the crowd, to maintain the adoration by pleasing them?  Few of us will ever know, though I suspect the same psychology applies in microcosmic applications, and rarely do they result in any positive.  Of course, lesser officials aren’t the President of the United States, and perhaps someone who has reached the pinnacle of government is built better than the rest?

This story from Nate’s post at Concurring Opinions shines some light:

During the waning days of World War II, Sam Rayburn, the plain-talking Texan Speaker of the House, invited VP Harry S. Truman over for a visit. “Nobody ever tells Harry what is going on,” he said. During the course of their meeting (or in some versions, shortly before the meeting) word came that FDR had died, making Truman president. Rayburn then said to him:

Harry, this is the last time I am going to call you ‘Harry.’ From now on I will only call you ‘Mr. President’ out of respect for the office. You are going to go to the White House, where you are going to be surrounded by people who will tell you that you are the smartest son of a bitch on earth. Harry, both you and I know that isn’t true.

I don’t think anyone doubts that Obama is a very smart man.  But no one is that smart.  Some will spout stupidity like “I hope he fails,” rendering any further thoughts unworthy of note.  Many hope he succeeds, but that doesn’t mean that he will always be right, or that the President won’t benefit from a loyal, but dubious, following. 

Our last administration took comfort in the absolute knowledge that their choices were right, no matter what anybody said.  It didn’t work out very well for the nation.  This is not a reflection of conservative versus liberal politics, but a matter of being so absolutely certain in the righteousness of one’s decisions that they would breach no disagreement.  As Robert Draper’s book was entitled, they were “Dead Certain.” 

Does President Obama believe that he too can do no wrong?  I don’t think so, as he’s building a coterie of advisers much like John F. Kennedy, made up of the best and the brightest.  Of course, that didn’t really work out so great either, as David Halberstam tried to tell us.  With Nancy Pelosi sitting in Sam Rayburn’s old chair, it’s unlikely that she will express the wisdom that was offered Harry Truman as he assumed the presidency.  Will anybody tell Barack Obama that he may be the president, but that doesn’t make him the smartest son of a bitch on earth?

Even though we may not agree with every choice a president makes, it is his job to make decisions.  That’s what it means when the buck stops on your desk.  It’s my plan of action to try to help him to do so, since I know he reads Simple Justice regularly and I assume he will continue to do so throughout his term of office.  Okay, this may be a stretch, but I can dream. 

Sometimes, the only help I can offer is to disagree, perhaps present alternative thoughts.  But then, I’m not the smartest son of a bitch on earth either, and no one has elected me president.  If any reader thinks they have some thoughts that will help the President to make the best possible decision, it’s your patriotic duty to let him know.  But we will still all him Mr. President from now on.