NEW ORLEANS , Louisiana ( CNN ) -- There was a scene from the `` West Wing '' that speaks to what happens when a leader says enough is enough and is moved to action . President Bush should step up to deal with Hurricane Katrina 's aftermath , says Roland S. Martin . The fictitious president , Josiah Bartlett , watches from a distance as the Teamsters union and UPS try to reach a bargaining agreement , but nothing is happening . As he attends a state dinner , he calls them all to the White House . When he walks in , the bickering begins . After a few seconds , he essentially says , `` Shut up . You guys have messed around , and I 'm not going to have this nation paralyzed by your inaction . You¹re going to sit in this room until you figure it out . Now get to work . And when I return , I want to see an agreement . '' Of course , this is easier said than done , and on television , everything gets solved during a one-hour show . But the basic premise remains the same : When the president of the United States wants to step in and make something happen , he will . He is the most powerful person on the planet , so what 's the problem with the Katrina recovery effort ? Bush said he was going to appoint a czar over the Gulf Coast , and he often refers to Don Powell as being that guy , but he does n't have the power . In fact , Rep. Bennie Thompson , D-Mississippi , says he is having to use persuasive powers -- as opposed to having the statutory power -- to make it a reality . You ca n't cut through red tape if you do n't have a pair of scissors to do it . So how do we make it happen ? President Bush needs to stop the back and forth taking place and order New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin , Louisiana Gov . Kathleen Blanco , certain members of Congress , Powell , and other leaders to come to Camp David , sit down , come up with a workable plan , and get it going . He should say , `` I do n't care how long you guys sit in this room . I do n't care how long it takes . But you are going to devise a clear and concise plan , and once you¹re done , we are going to go to the Rose Garden , hold a news conference for the rest of the world to hear it and then get to work . '' If there are onerous rules that are getting in the way of progress , give Powell the power to change them . If contractors are dragging their feet and doing shoddy work , fire them . Stick everyone responsible for recovery in one building and say this is the nerve center and all operations are being handled here . It 's pathetic being down here and listening to the finger-pointing , backstabbing , accusations of ineptness on the part of the city , state and federal government . All I keep hearing is `` We need a plan , we need a plan . '' Ask the mayor 's office and they will say , `` We 've got a plan . '' Call the governor 's office and they will tell you there is a plan . But when you ask to see it , no one seems to be able to come up with it . As a result , we get spending that is out of control ; waste taking place at all levels ; money sent to the state that has n't been spent ; and the people who need the help , those who lost everything , ­sit in limbo . Mr. President , you 've been accused of being John Wayne . Well , act the part . Pull a John Wayne and save the day . The only thing that is going to move this ball along is forceful leadership . And the only person who can do it is President Bush . No more paralysis by analysis . The money to build will come from the federal government . The head of the federal government is the president . If the president truly cared , and wanted to end the bickering and inaction , he could make this happen . People are desperately waiting for someone , ­anyone , ­to step up . President Bush , you¹re the commander in chief . Command the players to get to work . Today . Roland S. Martin is a nationally award-winning , multifaceted journalist and CNN contributor . Martin is studying to receive his master 's degree in Christian Communications at Louisiana Baptist University , and is the author of `` Listening to the Spirit Within : 50 Perspectives on Faith . '' You can read more of his columns at www.rolandsmartin.com . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer . E-mail to a friend .
No more paralysis by fear , Martin says . Create a new center of gravity for Katrina recovery , he says . Martin : It 's up to President Bush .