The Professor
04-28-2009, 02:40 PM
The following is 100% opinion:
Leadership/Politics:
Obama spent the first several weeks of his administration attacking Rush Limbaugh, reducing the post of president to prime spokesperson of one side in some national debate. Such petty partisanship is not wise leadership even in the most comfortable times, let alone in a CRISIS. In times like now, to expend even an ounce of executive energy arguing with the LOSING SIDE is sign certain that leadership doesn't get it, doesn't know its responsibilities, doesn't recognize the difficulties facing it.
After the Tax Day Tea Parties expressed loudly a grassroots, nation-wide resentment and reaction against Obama's massive, totally irresponsible spending and his general attempts, socially, to turn the USA into one giant San Francisco, Obama's Karl Rove, David Axelrod, went on Meet the Press, I think it was, to warn that TEA is "unhealthy."
The AIG bonuses were removed from what was it, TARP? Plan Pelosi? The half trillion dollar omnibust with the 8000 earmarks according to dems? I forget. Doesn't matter. But the bonuses were taken out, then put back in, grandfathered, indeed. You recall the language: something like, no bonuses of a certain size can go to any CEO of any bailout recipient AFTER a certain date---February, 2009, if I recall correctly. Then the admin did some dizzying dance with Dodd which was dreadfully damaging. The media POUNCED on that one, before DROPPING it in a way they'd never do if, say, Newt Gingrich were involved. But we all recall how Dodd said he did it, then he didn't and Geithner did, then, no, neither did but both. Or some such similar nonsense. Were you to possess The Prof's fine EAR for US politics, then you too would have heard distinctly that the AIG BONUSES constituted not a turning point, but more like a last straw. That is, for many Americans inclined to give their exciting new president every opportunity, every doubt's benefit, when we saw billions in bogus bailouts banked out to the very bums and boneheads who bungled it all in the beginning, that was IT, enough was enough, we'd had IT. It is my sincere belief that had the AIG bonuses not gone down, the Tea Parties may still have proceeded, but far less Lipton would have been lapped up.
It all started with so-called Obama's stimulus. So-called because by all accounts the prez had almost nothing to do with it. He let the House write it, the Pelosi Plan is its most apt appellation, Obama's INTRODUCTION to the American people, our first glimpse of the great campaigner's governance, ie, leadership. He won historic! Both Houses, almost SIXTY Senators! A whole WORLD rooting for him. Facing a crisis NO ONE BLAMES HIM FOR. Empowered thereby to have ANYTHING he wants, ANY piece of legislation, whatever size, shape, scope. So, what's he do? He turns it over to the most base political operatives in LOWER parliament. The most stunningly stupid play imaginable. The Prof was sincerely astonished as he watched that go down. The result was the worst of business-as-usual pork, the exact opposite of change anyone can believe in. That was the beginning, less than a month in, the BLOOM was OFF. After Plan Pelosi, Obama no longer looked to most Americans, even his supporters, to be the post-partisan agent of change he promised in his campaign.
He's preempted primetime twice to bore the hell out of us saying nothing new while appearing presidential. Boring trumps inspirational. He doesn't seem to comprehend this. He bumps American Idol and doesn't even sing. He could at least trot out Michelle in a new sleeveless. He's gonna do it again this week, Wednesday night, apparently. Maybe this time when he interrupts Simon he'll do John Denver's, "I'm Sorry (for the way things are in China)."
His DHS Secretary Napolitano released the admin's DOMESTIC ENEMIES list, comprised pretty much of imbibers of TEA.
His AG Holder once called us all a bunch of cowards, but at least he said it to our faces instead of talking behind our backs like the time his boss told Europe we're not Christians.
And in 100 days of false steps and political pratfalls he has made not a SINGLE move to separate himself from Frisco Nance, personification of EXTREMISM in American politics. Americans reject EXTREMISTS of all stripes when it comes time to vote. Obtuse Obama is so AGENDA DRIVEN he's oblivious to all this, how radically changed is his image since Election Day.
I could go on and on, believe me. Notice how his supporters offer no defense for the myriad rookie errors committed by their bigeared kid. See also how they put forth NARY a one positive step, politically, taken by our tin eared new leader, who flies his AF1 inches over the rooftops of still shell shocked Manhattan, panicking the millions there who generally adored him just a few short months ago.
Grade: F
The Prof
Leadership/Politics:
Obama spent the first several weeks of his administration attacking Rush Limbaugh, reducing the post of president to prime spokesperson of one side in some national debate. Such petty partisanship is not wise leadership even in the most comfortable times, let alone in a CRISIS. In times like now, to expend even an ounce of executive energy arguing with the LOSING SIDE is sign certain that leadership doesn't get it, doesn't know its responsibilities, doesn't recognize the difficulties facing it.
After the Tax Day Tea Parties expressed loudly a grassroots, nation-wide resentment and reaction against Obama's massive, totally irresponsible spending and his general attempts, socially, to turn the USA into one giant San Francisco, Obama's Karl Rove, David Axelrod, went on Meet the Press, I think it was, to warn that TEA is "unhealthy."
The AIG bonuses were removed from what was it, TARP? Plan Pelosi? The half trillion dollar omnibust with the 8000 earmarks according to dems? I forget. Doesn't matter. But the bonuses were taken out, then put back in, grandfathered, indeed. You recall the language: something like, no bonuses of a certain size can go to any CEO of any bailout recipient AFTER a certain date---February, 2009, if I recall correctly. Then the admin did some dizzying dance with Dodd which was dreadfully damaging. The media POUNCED on that one, before DROPPING it in a way they'd never do if, say, Newt Gingrich were involved. But we all recall how Dodd said he did it, then he didn't and Geithner did, then, no, neither did but both. Or some such similar nonsense. Were you to possess The Prof's fine EAR for US politics, then you too would have heard distinctly that the AIG BONUSES constituted not a turning point, but more like a last straw. That is, for many Americans inclined to give their exciting new president every opportunity, every doubt's benefit, when we saw billions in bogus bailouts banked out to the very bums and boneheads who bungled it all in the beginning, that was IT, enough was enough, we'd had IT. It is my sincere belief that had the AIG bonuses not gone down, the Tea Parties may still have proceeded, but far less Lipton would have been lapped up.
It all started with so-called Obama's stimulus. So-called because by all accounts the prez had almost nothing to do with it. He let the House write it, the Pelosi Plan is its most apt appellation, Obama's INTRODUCTION to the American people, our first glimpse of the great campaigner's governance, ie, leadership. He won historic! Both Houses, almost SIXTY Senators! A whole WORLD rooting for him. Facing a crisis NO ONE BLAMES HIM FOR. Empowered thereby to have ANYTHING he wants, ANY piece of legislation, whatever size, shape, scope. So, what's he do? He turns it over to the most base political operatives in LOWER parliament. The most stunningly stupid play imaginable. The Prof was sincerely astonished as he watched that go down. The result was the worst of business-as-usual pork, the exact opposite of change anyone can believe in. That was the beginning, less than a month in, the BLOOM was OFF. After Plan Pelosi, Obama no longer looked to most Americans, even his supporters, to be the post-partisan agent of change he promised in his campaign.
He's preempted primetime twice to bore the hell out of us saying nothing new while appearing presidential. Boring trumps inspirational. He doesn't seem to comprehend this. He bumps American Idol and doesn't even sing. He could at least trot out Michelle in a new sleeveless. He's gonna do it again this week, Wednesday night, apparently. Maybe this time when he interrupts Simon he'll do John Denver's, "I'm Sorry (for the way things are in China)."
His DHS Secretary Napolitano released the admin's DOMESTIC ENEMIES list, comprised pretty much of imbibers of TEA.
His AG Holder once called us all a bunch of cowards, but at least he said it to our faces instead of talking behind our backs like the time his boss told Europe we're not Christians.
And in 100 days of false steps and political pratfalls he has made not a SINGLE move to separate himself from Frisco Nance, personification of EXTREMISM in American politics. Americans reject EXTREMISTS of all stripes when it comes time to vote. Obtuse Obama is so AGENDA DRIVEN he's oblivious to all this, how radically changed is his image since Election Day.
I could go on and on, believe me. Notice how his supporters offer no defense for the myriad rookie errors committed by their bigeared kid. See also how they put forth NARY a one positive step, politically, taken by our tin eared new leader, who flies his AF1 inches over the rooftops of still shell shocked Manhattan, panicking the millions there who generally adored him just a few short months ago.
Grade: F
The Prof