I recall watching an hourlong special about Allen Iverson a few years ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Sadly, it did not feature his favorite word, yet least favorite thing – “practice”. Towards the end, viewers were treated to an analogy with which I was unfamiliar. An interviewee compared him to a duck in the water. On the surface it appears to be gliding smoothly and effortlessly, hardly creating waves. Under the surface, the paddling is deliberate, strong and often incessant.

I certainly believe that there are reasons to criticize the President. I believe that his responses are too often staid, seemingly too lenient, and I think that he has been too soft on Syria (I won’t even bother to discuss Israel – I hate that it even crossed my mind because it annoys me to that extent). However, I find it laughable, in the least funny way possible, for some to suggest that he doesn’t know everything that’s happening with phone taps of other world leaders including allies and the healthcare website debacle, when he could have delved more deeply into those issues had he not been inundated by momentum altering, but entirely unnecessary and fruitless hurdles such as… a government shutdown. Or a threat to the credit worthiness of the United States of America, which has prospective and global implications. Those issues were running in parallel only weeks ago, within this very month… as the most recent and grave examples. It should be obvious that he has been paddling incessantly, unyieldingly against the economic and political currents. With no sign of let up.

Having said that, the CEO of the country, as with the leader of a company, is ultimately held liable for what happens under his massive umbrella. He can not know everything, but he must own it all nonetheless. Ownership must also include pulling out the guillotine on occasion and not just for show. I hope that there will be more stories about culpability actually resting and residing where it should, though naturally I am hoping for a perfect world.