As Predictable as Clockwork — the Obama three-step
I think we could see what was coming. This presidency has about as much subtlety in plot as a grade-B western, soap opera, or teen-age tantrum.
Stage One: A lackluster McCain candidacy, the September 2008 meltdown, weariness with eight years of Bush incumbency, conservative anger over spending, liberal furor over Iraq, a toady media, and Republican congressional corruption all led to a 50/50 electorate that was open to being mesmerized by Obama’s rhetoric and the dream of the nation’s first African-American president.
With congressional majorities, a compliant press, soaring public support, a soon-to-be President Obama was convinced, as he had been convinced by his success in the Ivy League, in Chicago, and in the Senate (surely praise in Cambridge means those in Toledo would be similarly wowed), that he had a left-wing mandate and he could hope and change his way to almost anything he wanted — thin record, self-contradictions, constant inconsistencies, and general confusion be damned.
The hard left was salivating that at last they had an effective delivery system that could usher in a long awaited European socialism. So what followed was predictable: In his hubris, Obama cast off the campaign mask of moderation. Thick and fast came proposals for state-run health care, government take-overs, talk of nationalizing the student loan program, bailouts, mega deficits, more borrowing as stimulus, multicultural mea culpas abroad, loony symbolic appointments, and promiscuous talk of higher income, payroll, inheritance, and health-care taxes, but only on “them.”
In other words, we saw in a trendy, new cool form, the age-old attempt to institutionalize an equality of result, as freedom and liberty give way to mandated egalitarianism and fraternity.
But wait — two thorny problems arose.
(1) The country not quite yet is left-wing, but voted for Obama for the perfect-storm reasons outlined above. Anyone who had read the history of America could see that it was always a different sort of place than France, Germany, or Sweden — at least for a while longer.
(2) So to ram down a left-wing agenda, the thespian Obama would have to continue his role as the bipartisan healer, centrist, reformer, purple-state uniter, transracial unifier, etc. But, alas, instead old habits die hard; and the public soon began here and there to get glimpses of the old reality behind the new mask.
The wages of years with Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers, the easy path through the Ivy League, the Axelrod at our throat politics, and the snow job that had wowed deans, philanthropists, and tony suburbanites all reappeared. How could they not? Still, if one is going to hypnotize the electorate to sleep-walk them into Belgium, then one cannot in Pavlovian fashion revert back to hard-left idolatry.
So even as Barack Obama sought to convince the farmer, plumber, and insurance agent to accept state health care, a landscape of windmills, and an EU-foreign policy, he slipped back into his old self. Thus we got the nut Van Jones and his racist, truther bombast. Anita Dunn praised Mao. Commissars at the NEA boasted of the new Caesar.
Stimuli were in part apportioned on red state/blue state agendas.
The Skip Gates incident prompted the president to trash the police first, and get the facts second. Creditors were politically rescheduled for bailed-out businesses. The president thoughtlessly weighed in on everything from the Special Olympics and the tea party movement to Fox News and America’s purported sins.
Suddenly we were no longer exceptional, but the Muslim world in fact had jump-started the Renaissance and Enlightenment. The old bad guys — Ahmadinejad, Assad, Castro, Chavez, and Putin — earned new kind talk; the prior president was reduced to contemporary satanic status. Readers, you can cite far more footnotes to these now run-of-the-mill absurdities.
Symptoms
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Common characteristics of those with malignant narcissism include:
* Grandiose sense of self-worth
* Impulsiveness, doesn’t finish projects, or attempts to finish a project too quickly to move onto something else
* Recklessness (psychology) tendencies
* Pathological lying or exaggeration of the truth
* Shallow affect
* Creates illusions of superiority
* Strives for constant recognition or prestige
* Exaggerates and boasts about accomplishments
* Feels ashamed or attacked by negative judgments from others
* Preoccupation with fantasies of a perfect partner or future
* Lack of empathy or selective empathy
* Pulls attention from everyone else onto themselves to feel unique
* Tendency to idealize their own superiority, devalue other people’s worth or accomplishments
* Sensitivity to how others react to him/her
* Inability to tolerate boredom
* Manipulativeness
* Indifference to or rationalizes having hurt or mistreated others (underdeveloped conscience)
* Drug and alcohol abuse
* Narcissistic rage
http://www.answers.com/topic/malignant-narcissism
Well stated Dr. Hanson. Two thousand nine, gave the people who took the time to look into candidate Obama’s very thin record, substantial evidence that Obama is incompetent and amateurish and was not well equipped or suited to be President of the Unite States.
Disclaimer: My niece is half black/half white so I’m not speaking as a racist. My niece also didn’t think Obama would be a good President.
“…as he had been convinced by his success in the Ivy League”
This is not entirely accurate. It should be rephrased to read:
…as he had been convinced by his unearned success in the Ivy League
Barack Obama is obviously an affirmative action recipient. He is poorly read and intellectually shallow. The Ivy League schools dropped their soft-science academic standards over thirty-five years ago. Both racial minorities and majority white students take inflated grades for granted. These universities are often nothing less than scam operations. Deceit and fraud are the norm. Professors openly admit to being pressured into giving their students unearned grades. In other words, it might be argued that these universities could be indicted on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges. Am I exaggerating? Well, think about it. How many employers have been conned into believing that these Ivy League graduates actually earned their credentials? How many voters last year were convinced that Obama had attained a good education?
“We can predict it in our sleep. ”
Dear Professor,
You can predict it YOUR sleep. That’s why we come back here.
Still, it’s gratifying that I’ve read lately one or two former hopeychangy guys jump off the bandwagon.
It was interesting that nemesis appeared in the 11th hour.
Obama’s type always needs to blame someone else.
Who can believe a word he says anymore?
When will the media turn?
I have to say I think the shift in his rhetoric will be less obvious than Prof. Hanson suggests. I don’t think Obama wants to be a centrist, and he seems to think that his personality, personal charisma, and charm, will let him talk his way out of almost anything he gets himself into. He seems frustrated that his talking hasn’t solved the health care debate, though of course he’s tried to remain above the fray, and leave the dirty work to Congress. I think it’s obvious though that the “I’m not going to stop fighting” rhetoric of a few days ago signals that he’s going to continue in this vein, and thinks that his talking will eventually persuade everyone (or a large enough majority for it to matter) to go along with him. If it doesn’t work, then he’ll go down with the sinking ship.
Well said, Dr. Hanson.
“Barack Obama has had no previous identity or independent ideology. By osmosis (rather than by carful study or life-long experience) he absorbed the trendy leftwing cant that variously manifested itself wherever the traveled, from the Occidental lounge dorm to the Ivy League salon groupthink to Chicago organizing to Rev. Wright’s pulpit to the liberal caucuses of the US Senate. For a while, it was all as easy as sonorously thundering “hope and change.” He never before had to articulate his leftism in any real detail, defend it, debate it, or analyze it.”
That describes Stage One of the Clintons, as well.
“What’s next?…I doubt we get genuine effort at balancing the budget, keeping businesses competitive, cutting waste, restoring American alliances, securing borders, centrist appointments, real bipartisanship, or a simplified tax system.”
Unless we get a 1994 congressional redux this fall with a 2nd Contract With America that promisdes those very things, and delivered, with Clinton dragging his feet to the table to sign the balanced budget that Newt presented with his 23 pens (one for each letter of “William Jefferson Clinton” to make each pen a “historic” one).
If that happens–as things are shaping up to happen–will Obama hunker down in the Alamo, or open the gates and stroll out to sit down with Santa Anna to discuss the terms of surrender, negotiate, cooperate, and find a way to come out the winner, anyway? (as Clinton did against Gingrich, to this day enjoying the credit he stole for the economic reforms introduced and legislated by that reactionary Republican congress).
“Instead, we’ve come full circle from the idealistic-sounding, centrist candidate Obama, to the Carter-McGovern President Obama, back to the wannabe Clinton triangulator. The only constant—no real identity, no firm belief, no core convictions from which to make the argument that his leftwing vision is good for the country.”
Yes sir. Exactly. He does not have the convictions of them required to push them through “at any cost necessary,” as the true-blue radical Malcolm X avowed.
He’s a “Clinton wannabe,” not a Carter one.
Coincidentally, he told Diane Sawyer just today that he would “rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president.”
Nonsense. Obama must know that if he was a “really good first term president”–or even good enough–a second term is pretty much assured. So why say that, if not to deflect attention away from the discernment of a self-conscious ambition that is selfish in nature and contra to the populist image he is quickly triangulating towards which hopes to change the jaded perception of him by emphasizing selfless servitude?
The Narcissist–whether in Hollywood or Washington–does not want people to realize that they are madly in love with themselves and that the advancement of their own personal agenda–i.e. self-glorication and apotheosis–is not only their Number One priority, but pretty much their only one, as their publicised words and actions advertised as selflessly altruistic are at the service of that priority.
A similar desire to deflect attention away from the truth by inverting it (180 degrees, mind you) was behind Bill Clinton’s assertion during the ’92 campaign that never really thought about running for president until he saw the mess that Reagan-Bush 41 made of the country.
Nonsense. He was obsessed with becoming president ever since he shook JFK’s hand as a teenager.
A Narcissist is a Narcissist is a Narcissist. Clinton and Obama are of a feather.
“You see, Mr. Obama never had to (make a conviction that left-wing dogma was good for the country): left-wing dogma was always a state religion in the circles Obama thrived, and once Obama the nightingale started in his song, few of the hypnotized worried about inane message that followed.”
And such shallow absorption of an ideology as opportune to belong to a group is unmoored and will be set adrift–and allowed to sink– if a bigger boat with a bigger group (i.e. Conservative America) passes by with a lowered gangplank.
Like Clinton–and especially (and perhaps only) in a swelling sea of economic recovery–Obama would gladly take off the sailor’s cap of Gilligan and put on the braided one of Mr. Howell and push away the dinghy made of coconuts and carrying the other castaways away with his toe while boarding.
That’s not a prediction, but I think it’s a good bet.
And I really hope I’m wrong, because adopting those kind of theatrics –with an assumptive recovering economy as the backdrop–are his best (however remote at this juncture) chance at winning the coveted second term.
Even before Obama started campaigning for president enough about his past was known for any intelligent person to reject him, even if that person was inclined for other reasons to vote for him.
VDH: It’s far too easy to say that you’re right about President Obama, yet you’re on the money. And that’s the problem. So, how far will Obama go in pushing his visible agenda, the programs you’re mentioned above? Instead, IMHO, Obama will push his real agenda, more state control over our lives.
What will be interesting will be how Obama makes that push? And, how much turmoil will his effort generate? The only thing we can really do now is to present our best case against Obama’s efforts to remake this country. How we present our best case is always going to be the question! I for one will not go quietly into that night of darkness.
Essential vdh
The question arises why did the above vdh outlined facts happen?
Why are current “weak” Americans and political hacks so willing to accept and use the Utopian words that have historically been used for subversion and enslavement.
Words in brown shirts and lock step with loss of personal freedoms and the value of individual ownership of personal property.
The pitting of the haves against the have nots. The indoctrination of belief that something can be obtained for nothing. That others have obtained theirs by “stealing” from yours.
Calling themselves Progressive thinkers. Class war fare, not a real American thought in their brains. Where have they come from these idiots, the BHO’s who call themselves Americans. Piss ants all running around like ants grabbing at straws to defend the indefensible.
In recent historical times within memory the Utopian language used by revolutionary Marxists/Socialists to implement “enlightened” murderous governments have ended in abject poverty and failure with millions of people killed, no winners–all losers, and those alive remorse and wounded for the remainder of their lives.
Waiting, hoping to be revived. Sniffing the air for just traces of freedom, needing it like oxygen. If generational not even the memory of freedom’s taste to allow them to start over. Just dead husks of humanity.
Could it be that humans have a genetic need to be free, independent, self reliant, creative and above all able to maintain ownership of their possessions and created “wealth”.
Our founding fathers were smart men. It appears much smarter than the AA, PC Ivy league lightweights now pretenders to govern all Americans on a “we know better basis” regardless of what “you Americans” think–”we are of the world”.
This arrogance coming out of indoctrination without integrity, honor, or of self knowledge of human needs. No knowledge or understanding of history. Not even history within recent memory.
America’s founders had a gut level knowledge that freedom and private property is an extension of themselves, representing a culture, America, that is a culture of mind and matter. For previous generations America was A defining of those individual Americans and their families.
The real America provided A proof of their survival and value, no matter where they came from, and the ability to move their gene pool into the future—against the accepted adversity of life they readied themselves to deal with any adversity in freedom and a knowing of what needed to be done or at least try.
Win, lose or draw. there is nothing worse for humans than the loss of individual freedoms that sucks their strengths–physical and mental. Loss of freedom creates weakness and goes along with the Utopian communist or socialist cult like indoctrinations. An ant in an ant hill is what is needed for the BHO’s not Americans.
What would the efficiency and evolution of nature given mankind to survive. Those without “it” would have died out. It would not have been survive as a victim! We do not have long ears nor eyes at the side of our heads. Nor do we run at 50+ mph. And surely not a helpless human being with the outstretched hand. We have relative short arms, but strong. The eyes face forward with a need for awareness but not pure flight and avoidance.
In nature’s omniscient intelligence it is likely we need just the opposite of Socialism or Communism. It is not so surprising then that what we think we all need in our Utopian dreams will in the end destroy us?
Who will tell the current crop of Ivy League idiots, who are hot house AA, PC BHO’s and Political Hacks to get lost.
Americans must have the freedom to put themselves back to work. Not wait around for the idiot BHO’s to think beyond their means.
Now more than ever is a time for Americans to be counted on. Not triangulated and manipulated.
And lonely too apparently. Poor guy.
Now while we’re all feeling bad for him could we please elect some leaders that will bring back the will to do business?
Thanks.
Community organizers survive via government funding; they make extra monies or advance their career by sending to pals larger government contracts or getting the inside track on such. Wheeler dealers, wind talkers…basically do nothing people who think they do a lot by keeping those low on the social scale…there, at the bottom as victims and complainers for life if possible.
Me against the bad guys….there’s lots of money in this game, ask Rev. Wright.
Well, life itself isn’t fair, and isn’t meant to be.
BUT – can we say that the objective to “transform America” has been abandoned?
No indeed, the DECONSTRUCTIONIST program is still underway, with weigh on. The systems (a-la-spending) are being intentionally overloaded to cause breakdowns – if not now, then in the foreseeable future; all so that the systems so fractured can be put back together in a fashion to achieve a “just” or “more just” social order [meaning political control to replace what has evolved in freedoms that will be restrained].
And on the “Fat Cat Bankers;” who owns the banks? We do, with 63-77% owned by pension funds, endowments, charitable trusts, mutual funds, and the balances of 32-37% by private investors. THEY is US that Mr. Zero is yapping about.
Is he talking about management? Will we substitute the management “skills” from Washington for those of professional managers – and get the results we now have in our budgets and deficits?
Feral Cats for Fat Cats??
There is also an appalling short-sightedness about everything Obama.
- The attack on the banks is really just firing for effect. It will have a terrible effect upon employment if it goes through.
- Support for the absurd commission that would curtail spending and impose taxes; never mind we elected congressmen and senators to make the hard decisions.
- Cash-for-Clunkers was ill conceived economic nonsense.
- Obamacare was billed as a vision for a better America, but just what was the vision? Backroom deals, vindictive clauses, favors for unions, etc. A fabrication of corruption and incompetence.
- The stimulus was passed with such urgency that there was no time to really plan anything out, no, just pass it now!
- and on and on; short-sightedness on a scale rarely seen before.
How’s B Obama going to fudge this job on his reume!? He’s never going to get another job.
Hey, that’s Wright, he won’t need one since he’s going to legislate himself an income equality.
This may seem odd to say, but this is somehow going to cost lives, the same way PC is deadly a la Fort Hood. It sounds disconnected as a statement, but it’s precisely the case.
The ignorance – to not know – to choose the current person as President is going to be deadly.
Another great exploration of the paradox of ideological thought Prof. Hanson. Empowering within the tightly regulated conceptual landscapes of exclusive social cliques; good for honing manipulative narratives and techniques – but mostly useless for dealing with the wider reality of a chaotic and unpredictable world, or for relating with those who think clearly. And finally, a mental prison for those who fully succumb to its lures. It wouldn’t be a problem if they would only stop trying to impose their destructive fantasies on the rest of us! But in the end ideological thought draws those who are mostly interested in power (they think it will solve their problems), so it shouldn’t be a big surprise I guess.
I suppose its unnecessary to tell your readers that The One’s current course correction is a sham. They are as alert and insightful as any group I’ve ever had the pleasure to encounter, virtually or otherwise (except for a handful of rather sorry Trolls who don’t seem to mind wasting their main asset… time.)
Thanks to Michelle Obama for championing military families and programs to support them. My instincts are to distrust any seemingly sensible moves from this administration (what are the strings attached?), but one wants to believe that she is sincere in this.
Even though this triangulation is obviously tactical, a sop to toss to independents to stanch the hemorrhaging (“see, I’m angering my base, I can’t be all bad!”), and a foil for the left to use against us (“we’re making concessions and reaching across the aisle, its the tea-baggers who are nihilistic naysayers…”), it provides us with a weapon. Rich Lowry at NRO made an excellent point: it is a rhetorical concession. For now, again, The One has placed himself between two contradictions: “We need to spend our way out of this mess vs. we need to cut spending.” It’s the beauty of fighting an opponent who is trapped in an ideological box: every time they make a course correction, they run straight into a contradiction. As Prof. Hanson implies, we can exploit those…
At any rate, the charade won’t work. Once the little boy says of the emperor “but, he isn’t wearing any clothes!”, the scales fall from the eyes. His erstwhile subjects can never look at their Emperor with the same eyes again. They resent him for being either deceitful or a fool (in the fable, the Emperor really believes he’s wearing a beautiful suit!), and more than that, they are angry at themselves for going along with the farce. Self-deception is a painful thing to awaken to, but it is the first step on the road to wisdom. For the villagers it is a moment of great learning.
An aside: I enjoyed Rachel Peepers comments on VDH’s previous post. Others here have commented on The One’s precarious mental state. I have to agree. To the Left of him stand his puppeteers and paymasters (who have the drop on him), to the Right, the roused, clear-eyed villagers. In the middle stands poor BHO. He grabbed the tiger by the tail thinking it would be an easy ride, instead he faces pressures that few mortals can handle, let alone prevail over. He is the proverbial hollow man. I would sympathize if it weren’t for the fact that the security of the free world is in his hands. This is no time or place to discover that you are not cut out for the job. Besides, his attempt to subvert freedom has sapped away those sympathies I normally feel for those who have lost their way. If he’s as smart as they all say he is, he’ll find a way to bow out graciously before The Fall.
David Sheedy and Gylippus:
I once saw someone who was utterly unprepared for her job, faced with immense pressure and disgust, have a mental collapse. She created chaos in the workplace — students and faculty equally screwed over — and reached a point where she, herself, neglected her personal hygiene. I don’t know exactly what Obama’s breakdown is going to look like, but I don’t think it’s one bit excessive to say that there will be blood.
Considering the self-created national disaster that he is stewing in, can you imagine the level the reverb will be set at tonight? Get ready for smoke and fire from Sinai. Prepare to be impressed, to be amazed, awed and bullied. It’s all coming. In about 15 hours. Reverb. Lord obama. Unfortunately, I’m having my hair cut later this morning, so will have to brush stray hairs off my shoulders this evening and thus will not be able to see the speech.
I have to agree with #5 and #9, Mr. Obama will go full steam ahead with his left wing agenda.Just yesterday he said he would rather be a good one term president then a mediocre two term president. He wants (because of ego) to be a ‘transformative President’.
We the American people will suffer because 53% of the population had a momentary flirtation with unseriousness
In one year, we let Obumboy get away with most of what he wanted to accomplish already: trillions in debt, weak-willed and vulnerable, with enemies, inside and out, at our throats.
#1. cfbleachers – thanks for listing the narcisist characterics and traits. Very interesting to see the specifics of the collage of this dysfunctional state of being.
Is it any wonder so many are describing Obama as a narcissist. On a scale of 10, he would must be an 8 or even pushing 9+ I would bet.
In addition to your excellent post I would add one thought. It would appear that nothing in President Obama’s past prepared him for leadership and he simply does not know how to lead.
This came accross to me strongly in his recent speech in Ohio where he used the word “fight” some 20 times. He does not appear to understand that what the people want is for him to effectively craft policies and programs that will improve our condition, leveraging his huge majority. We do not need, nor do we want someone to valiantly sally forth to slay an army of straw men.
He doesn’t know what to do and doesn’t know how to do it. He also does not appear to be able to listen as Summers, Romer and others do understand the folly of his economic policies but apparently go unheeded.
Obama will continue to bleat about appearances and perceptions until faced by a genuine crisis. He will be unprepared by temperament, ideology, and real-world experience to address the situation. The president will face two choices: bad and worse. Let me offer just one scenario.
Israel decides unilaterally to strike the Iranian nuclear program. I can only believe that last year’s meeting between the president and Mr. Netanyahu was meant to deliver a timeline: “X must occur by Y, or Z will be our response.” Israel strikes and Iran attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is drawn into the conflict as the disruption in oil supplies causes markets to panic. We find ourselves suddenly at war. What then?
You can’t talk a missile out of the sky, Mr. President. It’s time to act. Mr. Obama will find it distasteful to call on the one institution he so deeply loathes: America’s military. Events suddenly sweep away all thoughts of ideology as terrible necessities impose themselves on the decision making process. Nemesis has arrived at last on the field of battle. She will feed on his bones.
“No knowledge or understanding of history. Not even history within recent memory.”
Ross Douthat openly admits that someone can graduate from Harvard University without studying even one minute of American history. The typical Ivy League student is not particularly well educated regarding the softer sciences. Their parents basically tell them to suck up to the liberal professors. They are strongly urged to place their wet finger into the air to see which way the wind blows. Genuine intellectual independence is not encouraged. When everything is said and done, the majority of the Ivy League graduates are primarily concerned with the superficial appearance of their resumes. Are they intellectual prostitutes? Well, the case can legitimately be made that this is so. The main thing is that we know their degrees are often fraudulent. Those in leadership roles in other business endeavors normally get arrested for such outright corruption. An Ivy League education cost somewhere in the range of $200,000—and therefore we are indeed talking about grand theft.
Well, Obama is ‘unique’, and we are very glad that there is only one of him.
With the puppeteers on the left and the villagers on the right, then the Reasonable Man would go to his principles
What are Obama;s principles?
He believes that America is not exceptional.
He has been raised and mentored by Communists (Grandparents and Frank Marshall Davis),
He has appointed followers of communism (Van Jones, Cass Sunstein)
He has appointed admirers of Mao (Anita Dunn and Ron Brown)
He has appointed failed economists who are in bed with Goldmann Sachs (Geitner and Summers)
We must understand that they will lie and hide their true intentions as we go forward. We must use Nov. 2, 2010 as our Independence Day. We must root out the truth as to his background, trascripts etc. The Republic is at risk.
America is at a precipice.
It’s hard to predict the details, but safe to say Obama and crew will choose the stupidest course available, the one most damaging to the country and to their own political party. My question is how many old fashioned Democrats will join the opposition. And, how well is Going Rogue selling in Boston?
But is Obama wearing the mask, or is Obama a mask being worn by others, albeit not so successfully?
The Obamunist agenda isn’t just Obama’s, after all. It might be even principally his.
Dr. Hanson poses an interesting question. Will Obama be a Clinton or a Bourbon (who learns nothing and forgets nothing)? My money is on the latter not the former.
Gylippus @ #17 raises an interesting point when he says: “Others here have commented on The One’s precarious mental state.” This came home to me when I heard that he (POTUS) said that the voters of Massachusetts voted for Brown for the same reason that voted for him. Frankly, for him to think that is to think incoherently and to raise questions about his mental state.
The problem is that although this man should just go away, in reality he can’t. Even if he were to step down or were impeached, we would be stuck with Biden. If Biden couldn’t serve – and arguably he couldn’t – next in line would be Stretch Pelosi. All we can hope for is a sweeping change in Congress which would leave the rube impotent.
WHAT? Has VDH gone round the bend? He thinks the 60′s radical left in charge only wants to “usher in a long awaited European socialism”?
They want to bring about MAOist totalitarianism, THAT’s what!
With that power the disparate gang leaders behind Obama will fight it out to decide what to really do now.
Pay no attention to those men behind Obama’s curtain . . .
With all due respect sir, it’s a grade B+ Western.
In November 2008 the electorate took a risk and kissed the frog. Now they are learning he is not a handsome prince — he is just a frog. A radical left-wing frog, to be sure, but still just a frog.
VDH has done it again;another excellent analysis of the societal illness that has permeated the American culture for the past few decades. Our leaders are all about talking and competely lacking in doing. Also David Thomson’s description of the Ivy League masters of the universe is right on the target. For too long we have been brainwashed into thinking that an Ivy League education is a sign of a superior mind and competence. In fact Ivy Leaguers now live in the most absurd world of deception. They are indeed the epitome of arrogance and vacuity. Obama is not an intelligent and learned man; every time he opens his mouth it shows. There is no evidence of learning in history, culture, language or philosophy; instead there is a surfeit of mindless political propogandizing. He has not had an original thought in his life because he never was required to do anything but play a part that was written for him by the amazingly ill educated American Left.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Indeed, the Bush/Republican tax and spend governance almost brought our country to total destruction and collapse, morally, ethically and economically. OBAMA has brought in new directions and although things are starting to change for the better, there is still much work to be done. Republicans have also been asking for another “bite of the cherry” lately and asking voters to consider giving them another majority. Polls show the public are skeptical about that, but the public is also skeptical about a “do nothing” democratic congress as well. Health Care Reform must be passed soon and if the democratic spending cuts work it might help things. But surely, more needs to be done. Good Luck to Congress!!
Obama: tragedy then farce.
PC@37: “Indeed, the Bush/Republican tax and spend governance almost brought our country to total destruction and collapse, morally, ethically and economically.”
Care to substantiate any of this oh so lame comment?
“OBAMA has brought in new directions and although things are starting to change for the better…”
Really???!! This should be rich. Go ahead and give us skeptics just a hint of any statistic that proves this comment.
PC better get the updated talking points from CAP or Dem Underground. These are getting stale.
Yeeeeeeah….First Obama demonizes Bush constantly, then he brings him in to assist in Haiti.
Makes as much sense as everything else O-blivious does.
Anyway, once again it says alot about President Bush that he gracefully accepts the invitation while Obama and the Dems, without missing a beat, continue trying to paint him as Satan.
“…if the democratic spending cuts work it might help things. ”
What the hell are you talking about? Deficit spending has doubled in the past year. And how is passing marxist health care, a program guaranteed to cost over a trillion dollars a year going to play into your “spending cuts”?
#37 You know, Poor Folk, reports are that Obama wants to significantly curtail important elements of the space program. This is not surprising. It is crazy, but not surprising.
Queen Isabama: You know as well as I, Sr. Columbus, that we must, just must level the playing field. I’m going to have to initiate more and more unfunded tax credits so my ignorant subjects don’t realize that I am recreating a new welfare system. (They hate welfare, the mean-spirited lot of them. They have this crazy idea that they, rather than the Crown, owns the assets they temporarily have access to.) I can’t afford to support your trip to India now.
Sr. Columbus: But, you majesty, travel across the great oceans is the future. The rich and open lands there await us with wealth untold. The oceans travels ARE the future. If we don’t do it, other realms will and we will be the worse for it.
Queen Isabama: No, I am Queen only because the Dukes of Axelgrease and Soreass stood by me in the face of my enemies. Now go and trouble me no more. There will be no long sailings while I am Queen, you dreamer and mooncalf. Be gone!
~Paules @ #24
Events suddenly sweep away all thoughts of ideology as terrible necessities impose themselves on the decision making process.
When the events you describe come about, The grown-ups will take over. When tactical decisions must be made in minutes Obama will be unable to function. There will be no time for focus groups or policy advisors. Our military commanders will simply brush him aside as an incompetent annoyance. What effect this treatment will have on the boy-king is predictable. Can you say melt-down? Like John Wayne said-”Life is hard, its even harder when you’re stupid”
Svin
Excellent, Dr. Hanson, as always. I think that Obama has nowhere to go but down. I sincerely doubt he will ever be able think outside of the doctrinaire liberalism box; no matter how horribly his progressive agenda fails, he will insist that the failures have nothing to do with him and his ideology.
For those watching the pomp and circumstance, the suggestion to to have a tally sheet which measures:
1. How many times the pronoun “I” is used
2. How many apologies(false humility)
3. How many subtle hints to Bush bashing
4. How many over the top reckless spending while pretending not to spend attempts
5. Bonus points if he uses “transparency”, “reform the way they do business in D.C.”, or “inherited.”
6. Finger wagging
7. Channeling his grandmother’s scolding voice with indignation
8. Cooking the books
1. cfbleachers:
You nailed it at #1. The malignant part may refer to spreading the psychosis to followers. “Yes we can.”
ATTN: VDH Addicts
Wednesday, January 27, article on nationalreviewonline dot com.
Excerpt:
“… he is running a country that still has millions of no-nonsense truckers, teachers, small-business owners, and general skeptics who don’t give a damn about either Harvard or Chicago. And in their eyes, after a year, the game is about up.”
Obama’s pattern of failure was established long before he came to national prominence. As a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago he became involved in “helping” the residents of Altgeld Gardens. The result? The people were left worse off and his friends and mentors (aka Tony Rezko et al) became rich and he moved on.
He then was given the task of fixing the Chicago Public School system through the Annenberg Challenge. Once again the school system was left worse off but his friends got rich and once again he moved on.
Now he is President and bringing his organizational skills to the entire nation. The result is the same but only on bigger scale.
To quote the Sultan of Morocco in “The Wind and the Lion:”
“It is so difficult to be Sultan!”
Agreed that Obama is a malignant narcissist; this means that he lives by manipulating people around him.
He uses three key tactics: misinformaton -he’s a pathological liar; he says whatever he thinks you want to hear and his commitment to those words lasts only as long as that statement. He manipulates using the emotions of hope and fear. And if you reject his control over you, he’ll accuse you of bias; that is, you are guilty of an emotional sin.
Notice that there is nothing rational in these interactions. Notice also that it works only when Obama can interact directly. These tactics don’t work in trying to manipulate large populations.
VDH is exactly right that Obama is not, himself, an idealist or idealogue. He has no interest in any ‘grand plan’ for society; he hasn’t arrived at his socialist leftist talk via hard study and analysis..for he is totally incapable of both actions.
He is embedded in the left because a socialist infrastructure sets him and his group up as elitists, as superior authorities destined to rule over the masses by divine right. This is obvious in his speeches insisting that dissent be silenced; that Congress pass bills based on trust in him without reading or debating them; in his total rejection of criticism and in his focus on himself as ‘fighting’ – with never a thought for those who fight to disagree.
But Obama is also, I maintain, being run by hardcore socialists, whose agenda is to insert a statist infrastructure in the US as rapidly as possible. They run Obama, in his narcissism, s their upfront Salesman to first, get them in office, but above all, to sell or slither through their policies.
The problem is – it isn’t working. Obama can’t explain or understand policies and programs; he has no ability to think through and analyze anything. His focus is strictly on manipulation of others into a state of submission and adulation. And this can only be done in small groups..such as a family or community oganizer. Obama can’t control the masses, for there is always one person who will say: But the Emperor has no clothes.
Obama contradicts the backroom gang’s agenda, he says things that Pelosi, Reid, Gibbs, have to amend the next day and retract and clarify. And he can’t answer questions; they haven’t let him have an ad hoc open press meeting since July.
Obama’s focus on himself as Himself ad his insistence that you do things ‘just because he says so’ (shades of the community organizer) doesn’t convince questioners. So, he’s becoming a useless Salesman for this gang.
What will they do? They can’t give up on their agenda for it is non-negotiable. A statist infrastructure. Obama is unable to change from his shallowness, his ignorance, his indifference to people, and his anti-Americanism, his divisiveness.
Therefore, I predict Obama will move to attack and divide. He’s divided people by political party and race already. Now he’ll move into attacks against wealth, he’ll present himself as Joe Plumber the common man who fights for the common man. And behind the scenes, the Gang will try to get their statist system through.
It won’t work. I think the critical threshold has been reached and there’s too much awareness, too much talk, about both Obama’s paucity as an individual and a leader, and that statist agenda.
Another steller memo by Professor Hanson. Thank you. Obama and the Chicago Thugs are doubling down with his agenda. Its obvious that we will have a major dose of mendacity coming out of his mouth at the State of the Union propaganda tonight. The man is a stranger to the truth and has reversed almost all of his campaign promises. The monopartisan media pukes will gobble up whatever still comes out of this Administration as: progress. Alice in Wonderland is Obamanation Administration.
More and more people are coming to the realization that the emperor (Obama) has no clothes and the media has been his tailor.
Hear Hear…Well said!
“We will air health care debates on C-span; and we will air them; and we will air them; and we…”
Hey, t’weren’t his fault. Nuttin’ was his fault. Got busy and no time for that transparency thing. It’s zat simple.
Obama (“the pure”) wasn’t even privy to Rahm Deadfish scrambling back and forth with Hair Reid to cut deals with Landrieu, Nelson, the unions…uh uh, no way…
I didn’t make a bunch of deals
Dead On Victor.
“He never before had to articulate his leftism in any real detail, defend it, debate it, or analyze”
Your right, Obama and liberals in general don’t have to because it is the liberal state religeon.
When they expresses or anylyzes their beliefs publically, its painfully obvious that they are anti-American.
by the way, Krauthammer explained the “freeze”. Obama jacked up all departments budgets by 20-30% (epa was 35%). Now he freezes them at the high rate. Normally budget increases are 2-4%.. I think he said they freeze onlyapplies to 6% of they economy anyway. This is a farce.
Another example of this guy being a pathological liar, i.e. , a chicago politician.
Obama as actor strikes me as the key theme. An actor has no core belief or identity because he is always playing someone else.
The scam, to me, was Obama acting as Denzel Washington who is playacting as JFK.
Obama is the last Kennedy brother; without any substance or conviction.
Obama is the biggest celebrity in the world.
WRT the takeover by the Left, concessions simply won’t suffice. Unconditional surrender is the only sustainable outcome worth persuing. Sounds like the problem with Islam, no?
Concessions to steal less of your money, this time? But with the ever present caveat that they’ll continue to try at every future opportunity and connive to use any means necessary, and we’re paying them to do it? And, it’s legal?
The list of sins against US is seemingly endless and growing, and many here including our host are terrific at identifying, clarifying and synthesizing them. Welcome to the “service economy.”
Maybe we ought to be spending more time defining the terms of unconditional surrender, should we ever have the chance to impose them; since absent the abolishment of the Left, we’re doomed to run out of money.
Hard not to see imposition challenges all round, when city, state, county and federal gov’t employment equals the private sector, as it does today.
I would advise against our making outlandish claims that we can turn the US economy around soon, or even save it. The Left needs to own the devastation. However and on the way, the Left can say those 20 million unemployed (growing to 25%+) will get work in gov’t. Freedom-loving conservatives can’t use such promises of new jobs to answer. Nor can we promise as much. We must in fact be the “party of no,” willing to live with the screams that we’re dispassionate, jackbooted hatchetmen. Inhumane-R-US.
Marketing the new national survival program will be difficult; especially when unemployment subsidies end for most, as they must. It’s not like we’ve got 20 millions new jobs available.
Are basic principles like individual freedom important, when survival is at stake? Today it appears not so much.
Late in “Atlas Shrugged” John Galt is begged by the government to step in and save the economy. He asks if he would have absolute authority to do it and the government assures him he will. He says Start by firing all the government employees. They say Well, we can’t do that. So here we are.
Dear Professor Hanson – As always a memorable and well-reasoned analysis. I would like to take issue with just one thing. You used (in part)this phrase….”President Obama was convinced (that) as he had been convinced by his success in the Ivy League…. surely praise in Cambridge means those in Toledo would be similarly wowed.
As a Toledo resident I can tell you that local citizens didn’t need Obamam to be “wowed.” This is a community completely dominated by the apparatchiks of the local Democratic party who are, in turn, deep, deep within the pocket of Big Labor. Whenever it is necessary for our local congressperson or officeholders to form an opinion they can be depended to rush to the UAW or AFSME leadership who will tell them how to think. Toledo is facing a 45 million dollar budget deficit this year (up from 30 million last year) and there is talk of a state takeover of city finances and even bankruptcy The local newspaper, which is “old media” in the oldest sense, came out early for The O and their response to everything during the last year has been to “blame it on Bush.” Toledo is regularly ranked as one of the worst places in the U.S. in which to start a business and local unemployment is over 12%.
In short, Toledo didn’t need Obama to explain anything to them. This city would vote for Zippy the Wonder Ferret for President if he had a (D) after his name. Obama was a comparitively easy sell. The local powers-that-be also could care less abvout his job performance as long as they can demonize Bush and look to washington for grants and other handouts. And Toledo is a template for what the Democrats want for the entire country – A corrupt one-party jurisdiction puffed up by business-hating propoganda that believes that “someone else” should be responsible for everything.
I know i am going off topic but I need help.
Anyone, what does “speaking truth to power” mean? Maybe I’m just a slow Texan but this phrase is confounding me!!
And how about “false choice”? What’s the deal?
What about “true choice”.
Do these phrases come from the people who “respond back” to my emails?
And there is no period after the “S” in Harry S Truman, right?
Right?
Maybe on a test in school?
Gylippus’”Emperor” analogy is perfect.
Based upon his self-proclaimed brilliance and stellar grades, Obama could have had any job he wanted after a graduating from Harvard Law School. He chose to hand out pamphlets and gum on the streets of Chicago and organize poor and uneducated people against the establishment. Bob Dylan wrote “if you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose”…and neither did his disciples. That was his life.
Fast forward…he’s still fighting the establishment. He’s still playing class war fare. People that earn a lot of money shouldn’t. People that have little are entitled to what you’ve got. It’s disgusting.
Obama has one year of executive experience on his resume. That same year is filled with lies and broken promises. How can anyone ever believe a word this man says? One of his first actions was to sign the pork-filled spending bill, and it’s been all down hill from there.
He had a chance for bipartisanship, but instead told those who made the mess to shut-up (referring to Republicans). Tonight, he’s going to say the same thing. Let’s not forget the Emperor isn’t wearing any clothes.
Fred Beloit@42,
I too have enjoyed star gazing, all my life. However, anything that doesn’t directly involve putting food on the table will increasingly be a waste of time for US. Moonrocks are indigestible and really expensive, for some time to come. Closer focused priorities seem in order.
What a wonderful definition of the man! Thank you so much for the article, professor: you helped me to formulate my own broad thoughts: indeed, “by osmosis”, no core beliefs, no firm views, earned by learning or experience.
So many other politicians are exactly like that! Makes you wonder, why is that happening? Are they deep down just little children, driven by pure narcissism, ready to make their parents happy by memorizing and, afterwords, reading aloud – in front of adoring guests – verses they don’t understand?
So why are left views so prevalent in politics, here in Israel even more than in US ? Why don’t we have more politicians like Tatcher, who once hammered on the table with Hayek’s book: “That’s what we believe in!”
Can’t we find a way to tap in the same psychological mechanism to make the future Obamas imbibe the conservative values, not the statist ones? How it can be done?
Now that Obama has been characterized to a T, American voters need some in-depth analysis. Whatever possessed most of them to elect this man, and how can they be introduced to clear thought?
… I realize VDH gave some circumstantial reasons, but what is the true underlying problem?
Exactly. It happens whenever a Marxist achieves a position of power. They never learn, nor do the envy-hypnotized masses who put them there.
Exactly. It happens whenever a Marxist cons his way into a position of power. He never learns, nor do the envy-stunned rubes who buy into his scam.
Exactly. It repeats every time a Marxist cons his way into a position of power. He never learns, nor do the envy-soaked rubes who put him there.
#44. Chris is dead on in his assessment of O’bumbler. It’s going to be a very long three years. Good grief. Well, as Adam Smith said, “There’s much ruin in a nation.” I’m afraid we’re going to discover how fitting that statement will become.
Anyone, what does “speaking truth to power” mean?
I associate that phrase with Valerie Jarrett. I think she got it from the guy that made her gush, Van Jones :) It has that grandiose, vapid ring to it.
Over this last weekend, Valerie was on the airwaves claiming the creation of thousands and thousands of jobs as a function of the Porkulus, giving numbers which differed rather markedly from Axelrod’s and Gibbs’ numbers over the same weekend.
This gang that can’t shoot straight can’t coordinate “truth”, let alone tell the truth itself. (Not to mention that most of the “jobs created or saved” have been bureaucratic positions as opposed to jobs where people actually do things besides generate, and exchange, words)
(I googled the phrase and see its origins and meaning in Quakerism, Valerie might drop it like a hot potatoE if she knew that)
Concerning the State of the Union address..
Why should we be waiting with bated breath for what a congenital liar has to say to us?
I don’t think we would be having this conversation apart from the recent epochal Massachusetts election.
The Christmas Day Bomber didn’t even wake these guys up! The only thing that got their attention was realizing that when they lost the voters in Massachusetts, they lost the entire country. They have a real Charlie Foxtrot on their hands.
For all their pivoting to this and that, they didn’t see this coming; and now they are playing ball on Downtown Scotty Brown’s court.
V.D.H.
I received this email today and of course many like it before but it fits:
1. The American people elect a black president with a total of 142 days experience as a US Senator from the most politically corrupt state (city) in America whose governors have been ousted from office.
The President’s first official act is to order the close of Gitmo and make sure terrorists civil rights are not violated.
(honest mistake?)
2. The U.S. Congress rushes to confirm a black Attorney General, Eric Holder, whose law firm we later find out represents seventeen Gitmo Terrorists.
(An honest mistake?!)
3. The CIA Boss appointee, Leon Panetta, has absolutely no experience, has a daughter Linda, we find out, who is a true radical anti-American activist and a supporter of all the Anti-American regimes in the western hemisphere. (There were socio-economic factors involved!)
4. We got the second most corrupt American woman (Pelosi is #1) as Secretary of State; bought and paid for. (You can put lipstick on a pig, but it still stinks!)
5. We got a Tax Cheat for Treasury Secretary who did not properly file his own taxes for 12 years.
(He misspoke!)
6. A Commerce Secretary nominee who withdrew due to corruption charges.
(Another honest mistake???)
7. A Tax cheat nominee for Chief Performance Officer who withdrew under charges.
(Hmmm… another screw-up?)
8. A Labor Secretary nominee who withdrew under charges of unethical conduct.
(Ok, maybe this person was just plain stupid.)
9. A Secretary HHS nominee (Daschle) who withdrew under charges of cheating on his taxes.
(I’m running out of excuses for these idiots!!)
10. Multiple appointments of former lobbyists after an absolute campaign statement that no lobbyists would be appointed.
(Dear God, I am getting a headache!)
All this occurred just during the first three weeks. . . but who’s counting?
America is being run by the modern-day Three Stooges ; Barry, Nancy and Harry and they are still trying to define stimulus…”it’s spending!!!”
The congress passes the $800,000,000,000 (that’s $800 billion) pork-loaded spending bill where the government gives you a smidgen of your tax dollars ($13 per week), making you feel so good about yourself [stimulated], that you want to run out to Wal-Mart and buy a new Chinese-made HDTV and go home and watch Telemundo!
Only with the Liberals…
Here’s the good news though – Obama took Air Force One to Denver to sign the stimulus package, wasting as much as 10,000 gallons of fuel OR 24 JOBS FOR ONE YEAR.
Don’t you just love hypocrites?
Speaking of praying, Obama has now been president for eleven months and yet he & wife (first lady) Michelle, the Christian family they claim to be, have not attended church since the inauguration.
He must miss Reverend Wright!
In these times ‘I’ll keep my God, my freedom, my gun and my money.
Anyone that supports this insanity can keep
“THE CHANGE”.
End of email.
No matter what the Liar in chief does from here on out there is no saving this administration, this congress or this senate; they have been exposed for what they are and we are not yet finished exposing them. At the same time we are getting a glimpse of what it will take to clean up this mess and it isn’t pretty and will take a serious amount of time, effort and sacrifice. So for the left the following is true:
“for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”
Enjoy the speech everybody. (if you can stand watching)
55. Sure we can. Here’s our three step program:
1. Open up all Federal lands and waters to mining and drilling.
2. Strip the courts of all jurisdiction over matters of energy policy, freeing us to build nuclear power plants, oil refineries, new power lines, wind farms, geothermal plants and solar plants.
3. Institute the Fair Tax to greatly reduce compliance costs, increase productivity, and render half of all lobbying moot.
All this can be accomplished by the end of President Huckabee’s first term, and by 2020, we’ll be begging immigrants to come to this country because we won’t have enough workers to fill all the job openings we have. Stave off Obama’s agenda for three more years, crush him in the 2012 election, and elect Mike Huckabee to the Presidency, along with veto proof majorities in both chambers (needed for constitutional amendments, but filibuster proof majorities will suffice for much of this agenda).
#50! Excellent!
Personally I don’t care if Obambi’s agenda is one big massive failure which it sure appears to be. Or at least appears to be heading down that path. I don’t, however, like the idea of his failed ideas taking the country down with him. This Barry Obambi is such an egotist that he cannot or will not accept the fact that his programs are being rejected by the majority of Americans. He’s still so enraptured by his own self that he’s going to try and jam his program down our throats no matter how much it hurts.
STAGE LIGHTS COME UP
TWO MEN ONE THE PRESIDENT, THE OTHER, JAMES LIPTON, SEATED NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER IN COMFORTABLE DARK LEATHER.
OBAMA IS LIT BEAUTIFULLY. LIPTON, IN SUBDUED LIGHTING. THEY BEGIN DISHING.
LIPON’S LINES ARE IN QUOTES.
“I’d like to begin by talking about a difference.”
Be my guest, James. Can I call you James? You can call me, Mr. President.
“Mr. President, what’s the difference between the Republican resurgence in the mid 90’s and today?”
The difference, James, is me. Obama is here. The press calls me a bit of a word magician who can
take a thought and turn it into gold. As to Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts? (looks at audience of drama students) Don’t fret fellow progressives. The same tide
that brought Scott Brown in brought me, in.
“What’s that, sir?”
We both are wild about coffee. And so is the country as a whole.
“But, yesterday, President Obama, you said the common denominator was anger that swept you both into office.”
You’re right senator. They’re are many similarities between myself and Scott Brown. Plus, we both have great bodies.
“President, sir, do you mind if we share a few thoughts about the State of the Union speech you’re delivering tonight?”
Just between you and me, James, I just go into my friendly, thoughtful, reasoning, straw man, up volume Obama character and the
mainstream media just eats it up. They love Obama. It’s what I call my theatre face, my mask. I put it on and pour
on the charm. I fancy myself a bit of an actor.
Now, I don’t forget a line, or two, now and then. Don’t we all. Throwing Poland and the Czech Republic under the Russian bus over that missile defense thing was probably a flub, though missile defense was a Bush thing. Really his fault. Truth is, Bush left such a mess and every day we’ve been making hard decision
after decision to right the ship. Hard decisions. Hard choices. Of course, Bush’s grades were good on education and such, but that’s part of my speech emphasis tonight, suggesting Bush screwed that up, too. Besides, education initiatives focus-group-test very well.
War does not. Therefore, I’m keeping the war talk to a minimum. And somebody from Fox always brings up the fact that I can’t bring myself to admit, even today, that the “surge” in Iraq worked.
But enough war talk. Tonight, subtly I’m jumping on the global cooling bandwagon and talking about spending freezes. Across the board spending freezes, albeit
a very small board. We have big board and small boards
LINE? (obama loses his train of thought)
and the spending freeze will be playing from a mini-board amounting to (keep this under your hat) less that one tenth of one percent of federal
spending over ten years. (plus we just raised all the stuff I’m freezing 12%, but that’s something I don’t mention and the main stream media doesn’t mention it, either).
By this time in my speech, I’ll have ‘em in the palm of my hand. I go through audiences like a knife goes through hot butter.
Partly because I know what not to talk about.
Like?
Gosh, Lipton, you’re really asking for the inside baseball stuff tonight. But okay, this is a college group so I’ll make an exception.
(applause)
Like that silly terrorist trial under criminal law in New York. Those idiot tea partiers are making dumb as dirt statements like instead of spending money on lawyers to defend terrorists, I should be spending tax money on weapons systems to kill them. Luckily, the mainstream media doesn’t pick up lines like that which I think was first said by Scott Brown who, in a sense, was swept into Massachusetts by my coattails.
Then there’s the Black Panther voter intimidation thugs that I got off scott free. Didn’t want to do anything that could be construed as
hurting the black vote, you know.
Something else I won’t talking about to any length is transparency. I’ll explain we’ve been too busy to do that as yet. But I didn’t lie about it.
Transparency is on my second term agenda. Just like earmarks. I’ll get to those, too.
Also on the rear burner is any discussion of the NAMBLA supporting, self proclaimed Communist, tax cheating Czars and IRA heads that I packed into my administration. Geithner who’s head of the IRA I get a lot of flack about. Thankfully my friends on Sunday morning news shows, my White House cocktail party friends at NBC,CBS and ABC have keep the lids on these, shall I say, “indiscretions.”
Running up the national debt to 15 trillion is also a media topic no, no. Of course, Bush made me do it by making the first bailout. I love blaming Bush because it’s like you say it enough and people start believing it. Of course, around 2013, I’m going to start lowering the volume on the Bush did it theme. But I do love to go there. It works for most any subject.
I also won’t be talking in my big speech about all that silly apologizing I did to two bit thug tyrants around the world. They just love to
hear a U.S. President grovel while bashing his country on foreign soil. I’m making friends all over the world, and my mainstream media covers my butt by not reporting on it. I got to admit, I’m indebted to them. Many, many will be rewarded quid pro quo great jobs in my next administration.
Fingers crossed.
Applause
Golly, this is turning into a bit of a soliloquy which I didn’t intend. But it’s good warm up for tonight’s great speech.
“President Obama?” Yes, Lipton? There’s been talk that, like the crowd at some football games, the Republicans may begin the chant (their words,
not mine) of “LIAR, LIAR, LIAR, LIAR, LIAR.”
“What would be your reaction?”
That’s easy. I’d arrest them and force each one to French kiss Nancy Palosi.
“But, Mister President, I thought you were against torture.”
“(Obama) hasn’t arrived at his socialist leftist talk via hard study and analysis..for he is totally incapable of both actions.”
Barack Obama represents the typical soft science Harvard graduate. A hard science credential from this same institution is normally worthy of respect. This cannot be said, alas, for most of Harvard’s liberal arts students. They are often dumber than rocks. The affirmative action policies instituted in the 1960s have severely damaged even our allegedly best schools. Academic standards have declined considerably. Obama received his Harvard law degree sometime in the 1980s. What more needs to be said?
Why isn’t there a greater demand for “The One”‘s grades, SAT and LSAT scores. Even George Bush had no problem releasing those.The Media as usual are silent on this issue. There MUST be a reason “The Genius” refuses to make them public.
Even in our grade inflated era (my son finished Stanford with a 4 point average in 3 years and he’s no genius) my feeling is Obama did not do particularly well.He probably gamed the system and rose that way. Race certainly must have played a big role in making Obama a big man on campus.
Releasing records of Obama’s academic history would help puncture the Obama Myth so carefully fashioned by Obama, Axelrod, and the Media. Perhaps Mr. Hanson should open every article with “Release the records, so we can all marvel at the Genius of our Oracle!” It could shame the Media in taking up the cry.
Hey, it worked for Cato the elder. “Cathage must be destroyed!”
True, REALITY is swiftly uncovering the feet of clay of the Colossus of Chicago, but a little backstory might help finally topple it.
Some day this will make a great script. How did this modern Mesmer do it. Suddenly take over a great Republic. I know, small comfort for us who are now stuck in the nightmare acts of this great drama.
#1:
Did you leave all your marbles at home today, this is commentary, not a book. Commentary does not need references. It is current events and we, the people understand what he is saying.
Now I realize you TROLLS want handles on which to try and discredit Mr Hanson, but that means you will have to work at it and most folks on this site will only laugh at you and mock you if you go there, but don’t let me hold you back, go for it, you already have your laundry list. Expand it.
The President has been self-centered from the beginning. His profound bows to foreign dignitaries, particularly the Saudi Leaders, are most disturbing. The President thinks he is being conciliatory. They say to themselves, “We can handle this guy.” His speeches,using the teleprompter, show his eyes moving from left to right; from one teleprompter screen to the other, with an occasional pause in between. There is no communication with his audience; he isn’t talking to them. He’s talking to the outside world only the outside world isn’t paying any attention other than to conclude: “same old, same old.” The use of teleprompters to speak to a class of 6th graders (perhaps 30-35 in number) illustrates the above point. If one wished to speak effectively to 30 or 35 children, he’d walk among them and speak to them one on one. Not so the President. But, you see, he wasn’t talking to them. They were just “props”.
Gylippus;
While I like and agree with the naked emperor analogy in general I am afraid you’re in error on a not so minor point. The emperor did NOT believe he was wearing clothes. Remember? He knew he was naked but had to pretend he wasn’t to perpetuate the lie of the devious weavers/tailors. From wiki: … hires two weavers who promise him the finest suit of clothes from a fabric invisible to anyone who is unfit for his position or “just hopelessly stupid”. The Emperor cannot see the cloth himself, but pretends that he can for fear of appearing unfit for his position or stupid; his ministers do the same.
Properly understood where Obama is concerned perhaps even more fitting, pardon the pun. Today the weavers names are Rahm and David, the fabric is woven of leftist dogma.
I will not watch the state of the union speech.
I will not read a book if I think the author is lying and I have no reason to listen to a liar either.
I will be watching South Park. at least the laughs wont be at my expense.
I think the best putdown for the ONE comes from Salinger, “Cathcer in the Rye”. Read the passage here:
http://hyphenatedamericans.blogspot.com/2010/01/damn.html
Bob Miller @ 62 ” . . . but what is the true underlying problem?”
He’s out for blood, lots of it, the nasty little shit, that’s the problem.
37. Poor Citizen:
Indeed, the Bush/Republican tax and spend governance almost brought our country to total destruction and collapse, morally, ethically and economically. OBAMA has brought in new directions and although things are starting to change for the better, there is still much work to be done. Republicans have also been asking for another “bite of the cherry” lately and asking voters to consider giving them another majority. Polls show the public are skeptical about that, but the public is also skeptical about a “do nothing” democratic congress as well. Health Care Reform must be passed soon and if the democratic spending cuts work it might help things. But surely, more needs to be done. Good Luck to Congress!!
Jan 27, 2010 – 7:13 am
WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING?
Must really be strong, guess maybe you have drank to much coolaid.
Now that’s gotta smart. Obama just got a good old fashioned raisin farmer ass-whuppin.
Obama the communist is done. Massachusetts is just the beginning. In November 2010 his party will be absolutely crushed, when ever a far leftist like Robert Wexler resigns from the house from an extreme left district you know they know. As far as Im concerned Obama, Aholerod,Emanuel, Eric the Red Holder and the rest of the communist cadres need to be brought up on charges of treason. Blatant violations of the constitution and a DELIBERATE attempt to destroy Americas freedom, both culturally and economically, should not be tolerated. Obama and his commie clowns should be made an example. I always thought no one could be worse than Jimmy Carduh. Well, Carduh was just plain STUPID. Obama is not only STUPID, But he doesnt seem to understand just how stupid he is. And anyone who associates with Soros,Ayers, Wright and Khalihi(not to mention Van Jones) is also EVIL. He deserves no quarter.
59. geoffgo:
Why, geof, you said everything Queen Isabama said. Therefore, your shortsighted view, which does not take into account what other large countries want to do in space to put themselves in a better military position than we will be in, must be the correct one. Congratulations.
The Brother from Another Planet, our prez, has little experience with nor competency dealing with earthly matters. His entire existence has been within the confines of a liberal elite bubble, an intellectual construct, a make-believe world of theoretics. No real world experience. No dirty fingernails, or calusses. Totally unprepared, untested, and ultimately incompetent to deal with worldly matters. That so many were so deluded as to elect him POTUS is depressing. That he is flailing and failing is no surprise. Woe is he. Woe is us. Tragedy, fast becoming farce.
“What keeps his approval ratings in the forties is only the idea that the American people cannot quite yet accept a failed presidency after a mere 12 months”
Bingo !!
I suspect that his ratings could collapse suddenly to his core of hard left, anti-American supporters like the rather scary people who came to my door urging me to vote for Obama.
#18. arhooley, with respect to the breakdown you describe, I can imagine it was a terrible situation for all.
My comment is meant in plain terms and not as a figure of speech, nor to be inflammatory.
I believe the consequences will be fatal and as you describe, emotional and mental strain, in the extreme, can cause a human to breakdown where the consequences are personal and beyond.
Ole sarge number 78
dont be fooled devil dog, these soldiers suck, we have been fooled by those that in 2003, sold us down the long river. Your and idiot if your listening to these clowns my friend, my homer friend…stop..and listen…
cuz this sarge is tellin you, these guys are sellin you short….
your the loser
listen…
friend
72. lol Rach! Tho’ that closing image ruined my appetite – forever!
I agree on the reluctance of most Americans to accept a failed presidency after a mere 12 mos– we’re a forgiving lot in general.
Not me. I’m crotchedy prematurely aged cynical 45 yo who never bought a bar of this musical from the beginning. I’ll admit it– I’ve revelled in every one of the MANY entirely predictable missteps this empty suit has made since being elected.
But the “told you so” is giving way fast to worry. Not about the country. The fundamentals are ok– the past year offers some testimony to that (tea parties, VA/NJ, Scott Brown’s miracle)– but how steep will the cost be for this little experiment? 3 years overstay by a houseguest you’ve come to ignore at best, despise at worst…
My pragmatic side says “let him squirm” but my conscientious side says “start fixing this…”
It sure would be great if VDH is right about this moron being a leftist cast adrift into the real world.
Then there might be a chance he would give up the Alinsky playbook, the Chicago-thug tactics, the ram-it-down-our-throats determination, and the fascination with the underworld of the left.
I still think he’s a hard-core marxist. I’m waiting to se whether he is in charge of his handlers or vice versa. If he is, the country might survive. If he isn’t, there will be some rough sledding ahead.
I suppose VDH, your piece eased the angst from a 9 out of 10 to something less – maybe a 6 or 7, but it’s still lousy to listen to BO.
Disengenuous, hypocrite, and deceitful – it’s what he is.
He’s still talking about climate change for God sakes…
Ughhh – what a mess.
Boxing metaphor alert: Can he take a punch? Does he have a glass jaw? Many trainers and bettors have, to their sorrow, learned that a guy who looks great may not last the bout. State of the Union was an attempt to push out of the corner of the ring, but the rhetoric sounded, and the boxer looked, tired. As id GWB did after 6 years as President.
89. David Sheedy:
David, did you ever read my answer to your last question a few articles ago. I didn’t ignore you, honey. RP
Gylippus, come to think of it, that was pretty unappitizing. I promise to make it up to you somehow.
#57 Beatlejuice -
1) Truth to power is a 60′s hippy slogan. It was basically an indictment of the government. Basically, The Man is all about lies, and they were going to speak “truth to power”.
2) False choice is a term used to describe an unseemly debate tactic. One conflates two things, as if one necessarly includes the other. It can be used offensively or defensively.
In this case, Obama is using the CHARGE of false choice. In doing so, he is using the Strawman technique. This is the attribution to an opponent of a position he hasn’t actually taken, then knocking down the Strawman, which cannot fight back. It makes it seem like you’re winning the argument by defeating the opponent, when you are only defeating the false argument you, yourself, manufactured.
3) This last is a given.
But perhaps, you knew all this.
90. Poor Citizen
At least your name is half right.
You should have spelled ‘your’, ‘you’re’…twice.
Your name should really be Poor Speller or Poorly Educated.
So, we know all about you now.
It had to be a record. 92 self-references in the 71 minute State of the Union speech.
“we need a fighting Bob Lafollette!”
Wisconsin Farmer-Labor
Am I the only one who knows this off the top of my head?
96. RP – Now that’s change I can believe in!
Spot on.
Obama defines “self-righteousness” like nobody ever seen on the political stage.
When he says “We can all agree,” he means “You can all agree with me.” He appears to be incapable of comprehending any viewpoint but his own; anyone who challenges it is “bickering”, partisan, or a stooge of shadowy Big Interests.
He IS Obymandias.
As predictable as clockwork as well…VDH’s comments about President Obama…yawn..!
Plain as day that he never liked him, and will do everything to undermine him. I’m a republican too but put my country first before personal likes and dislikes. I thought he made an excellent state of the union address,covered all the bases, but it was obvious that even some in the chamber could not rise above petty politics…how sad. Back to Wal-Mart and reality as we try everyday to keep the system going..somehow..
Richard Gregg
To paraphrase Carville
It’s the stupid, stupid.
What the heck has the cartoon of “alex” got to do with this thread? Did you just google the name of the book and that’s what you got back? Have you actually read the book or seen the film? Have you got the foggiest idea what burgess even meant by “a clockwork orange”? If not, then why make the connection to obama?
I mean, it’s not an offensive reference, or anything. It’s just completely irrelevant. I sense the work of google in this. And low expectations.