I have to tell you that when I hear anyone repeatedly throw themselves under the bus - however noble the cause - for something they didn't do, that the word “pussy” comes to mind.

Daschle’s fall from grace was political suicide caused because he didn’t pay his damn taxes, nothing else. There was no conspiracy to get rid of him; no stabbing from the Senate; no ‘et tu?’ Brutus.

Everyone has to pay taxes even the big people (as opposed to the rest of us, Leona’s ‘little people’). Daschle obviously thought himself too important, too busy, too above it all to bother. The price of his egotistic grandiosity? A government job that he spent his whole life waiting for. What an idiot. He’s done more than lose a job he’s changed history. Guess his only career option now is as a nauseatingly over-paid lobbyist. Bummer.

Obama, on the other hand, should have let Daschle alone; kept him at arm’s length. Nobody blamed him for dashing the dastardly Daschle (sorry).

Instead the President thought it appropriate to share falling on Daschle’s sword, for no apparent reason. In interview after interview he took the blame for Daschle’s failure to secure his appointment. “I take full responsibility” … “it was my fault.” He shouldn’t and it wasn’t. The position made him very Carteresque, which with just a week at the big desk, makes me a mite uneasy. His image on the TV was one of the touchy feely guy who just "want’s to understand – to feel your pain.” Ugh. Made me want to puke - frankly.

The President’s position comes, I hope with a manual. There are some basics when you’re the leader of the free world.

It’s ok to appear to be a decent guy; to appear coy; show a shadow of vulnerability as long as it’s from a position of strength. Presidents can’t appear weak. For the love of G-d their pinky hovers over the ‘destroy the entire earth’ button even when he’s in the bath-tub.

Obama gave up his humanity when he sort of took the oath on that frigid morn’ and slipped into the armor of office. “This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around” should be playing 24/7 in the Oval office; it applies to his life on the world stage as the top dog. There’s no room for "look at me I'm a nice guy."  This isn’t the Primaries any more. Presidents strut and sport large balls. If they trip over someone, they turn around kick him in the nuts and have an aid mumble an apology.

President’s can only go on TV and take responsibility for large – despicable - acts. For example:  “Yes, I ordered the nuking of Iran and North Korea this morning.” Way to fess up dude. Should be accompanied by a rigorous ass scratch and a stomping out of a fully smoked cigarette on the Oval Office carpet.
“I ordered the arrest of Cheney for crimes of treason and torture and his wife too just for shits and giggles.” Ditto.
“It’s true I did order the shuttering of Wall Street and the jailing of the bank Presidents…” These are apologies we can live with, even respect. Right or wrong it doesn’t matter, the apology, the taking of responsibility is the Presidential Mulligan to be used with great care (and infrequently).

Obama has no political experience; that’s an observation, not a criticism. His critics will use that against him at every opportunity. Don’t feed that beast. The Presidency isn’t business or politics; it’s leadership. Tough, balls-to-the wall leadership that turns young men into old, very quickly. There’s no room for what Arnold would call ‘girlie-men.” No room at all. As that Nazi-loving car maker Henry Ford used to say, ‘don't complain, don't explain.” Good advice especially for a President.

Daschle jumped off the ledge; he wasn’t pushed. We were there; we all saw it.

Don’t be a pussy, Mr. President.