36 perecent

A recent national poll, I forgot which, indicated that 54 percent of the public think Barack Obama is doing a weak job in the foreign policy realm, but 36 percent think he's acting commendably.

36 percent! That. Is. Amazing!

Sure, it's likely that a combination of "low information voters,"  mindless Obama supporters, and other citizens who never look at the news might reflexively agree that this president is doing a good job in his dealings with Russia, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Gaza, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, and ISIS, along with his  blatant anti-Israel positions. But 36 percent? Come on. Can't be. But it is.

A headline in Obama's favorite media outlet, The New York Times, states: "Obama Urges Calm in Face of Two Crises in Ukraine and Syria."

Richard Fernandez responds:

The president’s right: it’s not time to panic. The time to panic was about six months ago. It’s essentially too late to halt the dynamic of events now. Timing matters. Once the batter misses the ball it doesn’t matter how hard he subsequently swings. Someone should tell the president the time to bat is over and the janitor can’t keep the stadium lights on much longer.

Recently, Obama was criticized for stating: "we don't have a strategy yet," but that's not true. Obama's  strategy is:

• dither for as long as it takes for events have become so screwed up that there are no good moves left to make, then
• send mixed signals, having members of his Team of 2s (e.g., John Kerry) say one thing about a policy and then have Obama say something else entirely, then
• complain that there are no good moves left to make, then
• blame others for your own inaction.

And once criticism from across the political spectrum grows (e.g., Democrat Senator Diane Finestein was harshly critical of this president on this Sunday's morning shows),

• look like you're considering alternatives, but
• always place pre-defined restrictions on what you're going to do (e.g., limited air strikes against ISIS), so that
• your alternatives become meaningless or counter-productive. 

That's the strategy. This past Thursday, Russia invaded the Ukraine, and ISIS continued its march in the Levant.

And 36 percent think Obama is doing a good job.

You would think that because Barack Obama is the 'smartest guy in the room,' he'd be a quick study. That after one or two foreign policy debacles, he would learn. He would jettison fantasy and embrace reality. You'd think he would recognize that projection of strength, decisiveness, and national will are all that keep hard men at bay.

You'd be wrong.