The not-so-long hot summer

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This president, like all who came before him, is being subjected to an avalanche of criticism on just about everything. His detractors in Congress, who are allergic to work, blame him for every problem. It’s fascinating to watch some senator who couldn’t run a peanut stand suggest giving out guns in all of the world’s hot spots. Members of Congress want to dictate foreign policy but not be held responsible for what happens if their ideas end up creating a disaster.

Everyone knows that the difference between President Obama and President George W. Bush is night and day when it comes to putting our troops in harm’s way. Bush wanted to institute democracy in countries that are used to having monarchs or dictators. Obama, who pledged to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, has no appetite for any more wars, which is the same way the rest of the country feels. But turn on the TV and you’ll see some Washington official calling for intervention with guns, planes, rockets and other tools of war. Once upon a time America was the world’s policeman, but today there is no appetite on Main Street or Wall Street for new battles.

On the subject of getting credit, it’s possible to write a book about Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Fortunately for him, New York is accustomed to getting things done, and he has worked hard to get one success after another. On some occasions things have fallen into his lap, but at other times he has seized the opportunity and won bragging rights.

Recently the governor showed a shrewd sense of timing on the issue of the Long Island Rail Road strike. He didn’t get pushed into the negotiations, and waited for the moment when he could use the power of his office to get a deal done.

On one side of the political coin, doing positive things and getting credit is just fine. On the other side, we’ve been subjected to a summer marked by blame, shame and mean-spirited rhetoric. I’ll take the credit side.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

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