How will Obama react?

So far Obama has responded to the crisis exactly correctly: above the fray, calm, reasoned, consistent. But as things progress from bad to worse it is becoming increasingly clear that a lack of leadership is absolutely killing this country. McCain had his try at leadership--it turned out to be a stunt that utterly failed and perhaps mortally wounded his candidacy.

This leaves Obama in a dilemma: how to demonstrate leadership abilities when you have not yet been given authority to lead anything? There will be increasing calls for Obama to step up and do something--anything--to prove that he is deserving of the presidency. But he faces a real difficulty in that he is not yet in control of any part of government. The danger is that he could take a stand on something--like McCain did last week by going to Washington--and then events outside of his control could make him look stupid for doing it.

I think the country will increasingly look to Obama for guidance, almost by default due to the lack of credible authority anywhere else. He has the power of his words, we will see if his oratory can rise to the occasion. The 21st century version of "we have nothing to fear but fear itself."