On Irene, Will Obama Fare Better than Bush? (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | When historians look back at what turned the national tide against President George W. Bush, they will say that while Democrats disliked his decision to invade Iraq (though Democrats were disinclined to like him in the first place), the thing that turned the nation against him was his handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Flash forward six years (to the week). Different president. Different storm. Different location. Same potential for utter devastation. What Irene lacks in force, she picks up in pathway. Whereas Katrina hit land with a head-on and devastating blow, that ultimately did more damage by breaking the levies designed to keep a city from flooding. Katrina's devastation, while complete, was isolated. Irene seems to be intent on ripping up the entirety of the north-eastern coast, including major cities such as Washington D.C., Boston, and New York City. The damage will be different, but likely still severe.

The politics are different too. Whereas Bush was largely popular before Katrina, which ruined his popularity to the point of a mere 29 percent job approval rating before he left office, President Barack Obama is fighting an ever-growing sentiment amongst dissenters in his own party that fear he lacks the "chops" to even suit up for the tough fights, much less fight them. Bush had everything to lose from how he handled Katrina. President Obama has everything to gain.

So will Obama fare better? That remains to be seen. It's unlikely that Eminem will pull a Kanye West and cry foul-that the president doesn't like white people. Nevertheless, the president's ability to present himself in a commanding role, taking charge of the aftermath could play a key role in re-establishing his credibility as a leader that the people can depend on in a crisis. I'd caution the president to tell anyone that they're doing a "heckuva job." Instead, this president would be wise to roll up his sleeves and be seen getting dirty pulling tree limbs off of grandmothers, demanding that a crew "check that house over there," and proving that he's not the sort of guy to sit in his palace eating grapes while all around him Rome burns.

This won't necessarily be a defining moment for President Obama as it was for George W. Bush. But if he chooses for it to be, (and if his handlers are smart) it could be. President Obama needs a leadership credibility boost. He clearly can't stand atop a pile of rubble after the storm and threaten whoever knocked the buildings down, but in the life of a presidency there exist very few opportunities to shine...to prove that leadership is more than a buzzword, and that caring extends beyond the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The storm is coming, whether the president likes it or not. It's not likely to ruin him, but if he plays his cards right, I suspect it might just serve to re-make him.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110826/us_ac/9026809_on_irene_will_obama_fare_better_than_bush

fx gavin degraw gavin degraw warren jeffs james james hot air