Other than the choice of Hillary Clinton (who is herself a very conventional pol) at State, there has been nothing much to report of a sensational nature in Barack Obama’s pre-Presidency. The dramatic “agent of change” is nowhere in evidence. All we hear about are minor tax cuts and (mostly) the same old foreign affairs and financial management names, nearly a continuation of Bush policy everywhere except at the margins. We had an endless election for this? Although relieved, on a certain level, I am also bored. The only interesting thing about Obama so far is that he broke the Presidential color barrier. Good for him, but now what?
I suspect in the long run history will be the big player here, not Barack Obama. Who could have predicted the Bush presidency? The man (and eventually the woman) in the White House is almost irrelevant.
The federal government has grown so immense that it has become an untamable beast. Any organization that annually spends $3,000,000,000,000 (and counting) cannot be controlled – or even significantly influenced – by any single person.
The person in the White House is no more in charge than Leonardo di Caprio was when he declared himself King of the World. (More like Jimmy Cagney: “Top of the world, Ma!”)
That being said, a president can seriously influence the nation’s mood and attitude. Bush didn’t really recognize his responsibility in this area, squandering the boost he got post-9/11. As for Obama…well, attitude is really all he’s got.
Scott
The story that isn’t being published in any media, blogs, MSM or otherwise, is that Obama has requested a recount of all ballots in all states and has asked Soros & ACORN for assistance.
Roger, I must disagree with your last sentence. Although “events, my boy, events” are in control, they will constitute a severe test of the mettle of the president. GWB in some ways rose spectacularly to the occasion; but in others–particularly with regard to communicating with the American people–failed to do so.
May boredom remain our heaviest burden, Roger. It’s the events you speak of, and Obama’s potential handling of them that worry me a little. I’m pulling for him, at least in that regard, even as I hope he’s voted out in four years.
As far as Bush – okay, he’s no great orater, but regardless of how he said it, I understood him just fine. Dangerous enemy, long war, many fronts….all clear as a bell. The lead character from ‘Mad Men’ would have had a tough time selling a global war to a country lulled to sleep by the 90′s so-called vacation from history. I’ll give him a pass on the lack of sizzle and panache – 9/11 should have been all the inspiration anyone needed in itself, and for many it was. Still is, especially in light of what happened last week.
Roger, don’t tell me that you’re swinging back left and buying into the inevitability of history?
Seriously, I think what you’re seeing is the temperament of the American voter at work, if you want to take about abstractions as forces that shape human events. It seems that Obama is at least smart enough to understand that he has to move to the center to govern this country, not move left. If he stays left, he and his party will pay as early as 2010. And like Lightnin’ Hopkins, I very much hope that a little boredom will be the worst of our worries.
Barry hasn’t had his gut check yet, but it’s coming.
An empty suit. All we can hope for is that he’s an empty non-ideological suit, his background notwithstanding.
I am admittedly fairly pleased concerning many of Barack Obama’s initial appointments. Nonetheless, there is one major exception—Eric Holder! This man is a politically correct whack job. Does anybody believe that he intends to investigate the criminal behavior committed by the Obama presidential campaign and the ACORN scoundrels? We are not so subtly witnessing a justice system that practices reverse racism. Let’s not kid ourselves. There would most assuredly be arrests of white Republicans if they behaved like numerous black Democrats in the most recent presidential election.
Mr Thomson, I’m surprised to see you using a phrase like “reverse racism”. If Hillary had slept with another man, that would not be “reverse adultery”; if Republicans stuffed urban ballot boxes it wouldn’t be “reverse voting fraud”; and when black people discriminate based on racial origin, that’s racism.
Not only has the train not left the station, it hasn’t even pulled in yet. Not a clue as to what kind of foreign or domestic policy will have in most respects.
david thomson, Department of Justice is the one executive office where the Left certainly will get its way. And, frankly, few in the thorougly “neoconned” mainstream Republican and conservative leadership really seem to care. When was the last time you heard a major party candidate for President talk about affirmative action? Republicans will be too busy trying to groom Bobby Jindal or Michael Steele for higher office to have the inclination to care about Eric Holder.
“Mr Thomson, I’m surprised to see you using a phrase like “reverse racism”.
Amen. Your point is well taken. I employed the term merely to emphasize that the American justice system is now persecuting white people and allowing minorities to flagrantly break the law. Just imagine if John McCain’s presidential campaign engaged in credit card abuses? There is next to zilch doubt in my mind that a number of arrests would have already occurred! ACORN is perceived to be a black organization—and therefore above the law. The same holds true for the Obama campaign. Eric Holder will make things much worse.
“When was the last time you heard a major party candidate for President talk about affirmative action?”
A politically correct whack job like John McCain would never bring up the subject. He destroyed his own presidential campaign with his fear of being branded a racist. McCain’s knees turn to jelly whenever anyone even starts to talk about affirmative action. Republicans would also be foolish to ignore the very dangerous Eric Holder. He will cause enormous destruction in the next four years. He may even try to turn our country into another East Germany.
“He may even try to turn our country into another East Germany.”
Whoa, David… I think you may have this one backwards. I don’t think it’s even remotely likely Holder would (or could) turn America into a totalitarian state a la East Germany. The opposite is true – he would likely be too lax in the pursuit of true criminals, whether of the terrorist or white collar (rich donor) sort.
“I don’t think it’s even remotely likely Holder would (or could) turn America into a totalitarian state a la East Germany.”
Read this:
“After the 9/11 attacks, Holder wrote an opinion piece for The Washington Post arguing that a new law should give “the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms a record of every firearm sale.” He also said prospective gun buyers should be checked against the secret “watch lists” compiled by various government entities.”
http://tinyurl.com/6j8jwj
We are already turning in a politically correct dictatorship. It’s just so subtle that hardly anyone notices. There is indeed a conspiracy of silence. Once again, we know darn well that Republicans would have already been handcuffed and read their Miranda rights if they behaved similarly to the Acorn activists—and the Obama presidential campaign. Race guilt is perhaps the greatest threat to Western Civilization. We tacitly take for granted that black people can routinely break the law and get away with it. It’s called “pay back for past injustices.” Let’s not forget the O.J. Simpson trial. Things have only gotten worse since then. By the way, there is also no indication that Charlie Rangel is going to be arrested anytime in the near future. Try to imagine what would occur if he were a white Republican. Last but not least, let us not forget Scooter Libby. He was convicted only because he is a white, Jewish Republican. Sadly, the slime ball David Duke will take advantage of the opportunities indirectly provided to him by an Obama administration.
“After the 9/11 attacks, Holder wrote an opinion piece for The Washington Post arguing that a new law should give “the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms a record of every firearm sale.””
Based purely on logic, shouldn’t he have argued that a new law should give the ATF a record of every box cutter purchase?
“The only interesting thing about Obama so far is that he broke the Presidential color barrier.”
Which is the only good thing about his election. So if he just sticks to that, I’ll be happy enough.
One other option not mentioned, is the freedom to change our official political registration before the next primaries. The USA’s political system has one giant loophole, we are not born into our permanent ‘Caste’ for life. Working from the inside out is always more advantageous than a full frontal attack. Using the momentum of the adversary to gain the advantage in any confrontation, is long known in the martial arts. I recommend a full swing of all patriotic citizens to the Democratic Party. I am sure a call to ACORN telling them we finally ‘See the Light’, will be greeted with joy. As you can see, I embrace the ‘Trojan Horse’, better yet a Thundering Herd of them..
History, aka destiny, is always the great determiner in every new administration. It’s just that we remember to forget that it happens every single damn time. No exceptions.
At present Obama can do no wrong. His appointments should have mostly poured cold water on the Kos Kids, who should be spitting angry with him and feel betrayed. But when Bush took office, everyone said he had an all star team and all had strong personalities. What are they sayin’ now?
I don’t think we’ll be bored for long. The economy and the throwing around of money that seems unaccounted for will take care of any boredom. Given Obama’s appointments, I think he has less time than I would have predicted to “do something” positive (i.e., that has measurable positive effects). Since he has so many old insiders, they’ll be expected to produce results. If there is a terrorist attack on the US, Obama will be pulled to become as or more aggressive than Bush.
#2, why would Obama request a recount? He won. And how would Soros and Acorn be able to help him? Since when do they have possession of the ballots? I’m utterly confused by your post.
The MSM in the United States is similar to Pravda and the other propagandist outlets of the former Soviet Union. However, just about any citizen can learn the truth if they are willing to take the extra time to do so. Only lazy and gullible people rely on the legacy media. To be blunt, they usually have no one to blame but themselves. But all this could soon change if Barack Obama is able to shut down talk radio and the alternative media. In that case, the East Germans of some twenty years ago and ourselves will have a lot in common. Let us not forget that Obama is something of a follower of Saul Alinsky—and he was also a buddy of Bill Ayers. Logically speaking, we should therefore worry about Obama turning America into an East German style dictatorship.
I am fairly pleased by many of Obama’s appointments. Still, it is not prudent to ignore his radical leftist background. The pick of Eric Holder to head the U.S. Justice Department is very worrisome.
It looks like the change that Obama is actually delivering is the inward sort. He seems to be gaining a new appreciation for W’s perspective. Thankfully, it looks more like conformation than transformation.
And the MSM looks more and more like a patsy.
I wonder if Obama’s sudden shift to the middle will drive the far-left supporters and X-File types into a frenzy, confirming their paranoia that no matter who is the President the “Smoking Man” behind the scene dictates the policy.
Where was all this ‘change’ Obama was proclaiming?
Right now, he has all the Clinton retreads (Including the Co-President Hillary), Robert (CitiBank) Rubin apostles (Who helped give us the financial meltdown), and Bush leftovers like Gates.
The Messiah and his ‘crack’ Chicago/ACORN staff have no idea of how to run things. Like his State Senate and US Senate ‘experience’, he prefers to either sit on the sidelines or vote ‘present’; with an occasional rhetorical display to make people get thrills up their legs and think he knows what he is talking about.
#19 Jorge-the comment I made will come to you this evening as you begin the dream phase of sleep.
#21 LSD- I wonder how much of that appreciation is coming from the fact that he is now sitting in on those all important briefings with W. One of those things that go hmmmmmmmm when he puts it in context of the community organizer briefings that he’s accustomed to.
History has not taken the next four years off. I think he will be fine as long as he is not challenged. Warren G Harding could do that. When the challenge comes, God help us. I think we are in a real bear market for most of Obama’s term which should make his next campaign interesting. If the economy recovers better than I expect, he will be re-elected. History rules.
#19 – Just last night I came across an anecdote by way of Shelby Foote, about the time Lincoln met the man who claimed to be the first to suggest his nomination for President. Lincoln’s final words to him were, “I hope you will feel perfectly easy about having nominated me. Don’t be troubled about it. I forgive you.”
Safe, boring – and yet the guy’s not even president yet. Yes, his administration is shaping up to reflect the Democratic status quo. I guess the question is whether you expect to see fireworks via people, or via policies. The latter will pan out only over time, as he ranks himself among some of the most activist liberal illuminati ever to see leadership in this country. But he can’t afford to risk too much, too soon: any wave in the economy could be linked to his election, were he to do so. He absolutely must start out cautious if he wants 2012 in the bag.
Promoguy:
I went ‘hmmmm’ when I saw Obama’s post-security-briefing press meeting. -He looked older.
If he is counting on laying low until 2012, then going through with his hopeandchange, that’s just kicking the nations problems down the road again, and a sure sign of a very poor leader.
What Presidential color barrier? That’s like saying FDR broke the wheel-chair bound, smoker barrier. There was no “barrier.” Just a previous lack of a plausible, black candidate. Jessie plausible? No. Al? Please. What plausible, black presidential candidate has ever lost. Even Kennedy could point to Al Smith as proof of a barrier to Catholics.
Obama reminds me of King Saul in the Bible. He too was chosen to be king, not because of any personal merits, but because of packaging and presentation. The suddenly-exalted Saul intuitively understood this, and started out by being humble, surrounding himself with older, wiser, more worthy counsellors. But soon the aura and immensity of the position wore off, and the audacious arrogance and narcissism kicked, as Saul started making disasterous decisions for Israel.
But there were prophets in those days too.
The issue here isn’t the conventionality, it is the lack of promises coming through. The “change” on the leftist illuminati agenda during campaigning… isn’t happening yet.
Here is Gov (commerce secretary elect)Bill Richardson saying in Spanish that Obama is an “immigrant.” (So he understands understands “immigrant” issues.)
You’ve heard people say “do not listen to what Israelis or Palestinians say in English. Listen to what they say in Hebrew and Arabic.
I wonder if the same rule applies here.
Here is the Kenyan Ambassador saying that Obama is born in Kenya.
The caution just shows us that the desire of the leftist illuminati to actually “change’ things might not happen in ways we were promised.