Kathleen Parker on Obama and North Korea

Syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker thinks President Obama has his hormones in the proper balance as shown by his handling of the recent missile launch by North Korea.

Did Obama do justice to the fire hydrant? Call me a mother of boys. Or call Freud, if you must. But would that life were really as complicated and confused as leaders insist it is. Unfortunately, most of world history seems to have pivoted on the balance or imbalance of hormones, with testosterone presenting the greatest challenge. (I note this as a fan.) In what may prove to be an epochal development, Obama seems to have his under control. He doesn’t strut, swagger or flex. He doesn’t even notice the hydrant. He says we should show leadership by listening. That we should work in partnership with others. That we should show humility. This is, of course, pure porn for women. But unfortunately, women don’t rule the world. Men still do. And we have to worry whether Obama will be viewed as weak and the U.S., therefore, vulnerable.

A man who listens may be perceived as weak by those who prefer to talk big. But playground wisdom holds that showoffs are usually overcompensating, and the strongest one has nothing to prove. To answer the original question: When you’re the big dog, you can afford to smile. The saber is understood.

In the spirit of the Bush-era bumper sticker " 'Yee-haw' is not a foreign policy," Obama is making an effort to listen to other countries while reminding them that the US will protect itself and its allies. Ain't competent diplomacy grand?

--Ballard Burgher