On Monday, President Obama likened the economy to an earthquake. That would make him a first-responder, which is a frightening prospect. If this really were an earthquake and he were an ambulance driver, we’d all die waiting for rescue while he sat parked in the hospital driveway trying to figure out how to turn on the flashing lights.

“There will always be economic factors that we can’t control — earthquakes, spikes in oil prices, slowdowns in other parts of the world,” the President said. “But how we respond to those tests — that’s entirely up to us.”

So how about a response, then?

With the economy in shambles, our national credit rating downgraded by one of the big rating agencies, businesses afraid to hire, the stock market plunging, and public confidence falling, the President prepares for... his annual Martha’s Vineyard vacation. His only suggestions for improving the economy are the same ones he’s offered since elected: an infrastructure bank and an extended payroll tax break. But even those can wait until vacation is over.

His plans for debt reduction? “I intend to present my own recommendations over the coming weeks on how we should proceed.”

What if something else happens “in the coming weeks?”

America needs nothing so desperately as strong leadership right now. This President, alas, is not up to the challenge.