A few quick thoughts on Obama’s state of Obama speech.
The whole time I am listening to it, I know he is lying and I suspect that he does too. Back in the Clinton days when I listened to Bill delivering this type of speech, I knew he was lying also. Somehow, though, I always got the impression that Bill had managed to convince himself of the lie. In his belief in his own virtue, he seemed convinced and convincing even when he was as far from the truth as could be, even to the point of the wagging of the finger. Watch that denial again sometime, that man really believes he is the victim. Somehow, for me, it made it easier to get past such things with Clinton because underneath you could always see the weakness that allowed him to really believe his own lies.
For all that, it occurred to me that Barack Obama is far scarier. He lies, he knows he is lying, and he doesn’t care. “I don’t believe in bigger gov’t” – “Tax cuts for 95%” – “No earmarks” Lies all. His lies seem to be pre-meditated fabrications to give him what he wants, more power. With Clinton, the truth always seemed distorted. Cloudy. With Obama, truth is simply irrelevant.
When I read the story about the bank exec who gave the money to all the employees, I was impressed. Seeing him in the gallery being used by Obama as a prop meant to bash all the greedy CEO’s who have only managed to keep hundreds of thousands employed for years, I was not impressed.
When Obama relayed the story of the girl and finished with “We are not quitters!” I cringed. This is one time he might actually be telling the truth. So much the worse for us.
Michelle Obama continues to look …
Bobby Jindal. Said all the right things and absolutely no one will remember tomorrow. Oh, by the way, it may not be PC, but for the next four years, does every Republican who offers a response to Obama have to follow McCain’s lead by recognizing the historic nature of Obama? Please, please give it a rest.
When he got the nomination “I would like to recognize the historic nature of the first black nominee of a major party”. When he won, “I would like to recognize the historic nature of the first black president-elect” and tonight “I would like to recognize the historic nature of the first black president to have a pretend Sate of the Union” How about recognizing the historic nature of the first president – period – to spend a gazillion dollars in his first four weeks in office. Enough with the “historic nature” crap. He won, its over, no one cares.
And if you think that anyone who thinks that Republicans are all racists will suddenly say to themselves, “Oh look Weezie, they recognized the historic nature of the first black president to spend our great great-great-great grandkids money, maybe the Republicans aren’t so bad,” you have another thing coming. Repeat after me. No One Cares! So stop it already.
Anyway, that’s all for tonight. But if I can leave you with one thought. One thought only, it is this. Remember, nobody messes with Joe. Well, except Joe of course.
February 26, 2009 at 4:49 am
I decided to give up criticizing Obama for Lent. Honestly. I will try to focus on the positive at least until Easter season. But I am glad that you remain steadfast; I am heartened by the passion of your opposition. Would that there were more of it. As for Bobby Jindal: he should be the president, but I am afraid that going up against the incumbent in 2012 will be suicide for whomever tries it. What we need to do is concentrate extraordinary energy on the congressional elections of 2010. It’s our best hope. Then maybe we could put the brakes on some of this legislation that is killing us; maybe we can keep some leftist radicals off the courts. Then in two years and going forward, the President will have to sing a different tune, and won’t that be great. Kit.
February 26, 2009 at 5:48 am
“Enough with the “historic nature” crap. He won, its over, no one cares.”
Well, some people care.
People whose ancestors were raped and shoved in the bottom of ships to be brought to a country of people who hated them, enslaved them, ripped apart their families, created “white-only” policies for 150 years, and then fought and were killed for equality only to see the promises of integration still crumbling, still failing and still unequal in terms of schooling, equal pay, equitable opportunities in the 21st century etc, etc CARE about the historic nature of this.
Why don’t you?
February 26, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Obama flew into America from Hawaii, didn’t he? And his mother’s ancestors certainly didn’t come to America after being shoved into the bottom of a slave ship.
February 26, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Well, some people care. […] Why don’t you?
Forgive the strident tone of this reply, but: it might have something to do with the explicit, decisive and expensive efforts of Pres. Obama to throw wide the doors to a “legal” procedure (defended by SCOTUS “case law”, just as was slavery!) which is (at a conservative estimate) ripping/burning 2500 children to death each day, in our country (to say nothing of the taxpayer-supported subsidy of forced abortions in China, etc., via UNFPA… but hey, the fate of black Americans is far more important than the lives of those millions of Chinese, right?).
Perhaps you could look at what I mean, to get some idea of the motivation behind our (or at least my) lack of enthusiasm for the “historic” nature of this past election?
If Alan Keyes (or someone with his sane sense of ethics) had been elected, you can be sure that my joy would be full, and that I’d celebrate the “historic” nature of the election with a full heart. But the silent screams of the dying really do a number on my ability to celebrate the “historic” nature of Pres. Obama’s election, I’m afraid. Hiroshima was “historic” as well, you know…
February 26, 2009 at 2:32 pm
C.L. – not only that, his Mamma’s family were slave owners. Ah, the irony.
But to “anonymous'” point, I used to think the same way; Obama comes from a white slave-owning ancestry on his Mother’s side, and from a 1st generation African/Kenyan tribe (the 2nd most prominent/dominant) on his father’s side, being raised in Hawaii as well as Malaysai–FAR from the “black American” experience. He never had stories of his grandparents being slaves, his parents growing up under segregation (well, the black ones anyway) or struggling through the most fundamental of civil rights (i.e. the right to vote). But when I brought this up to a number of my black American friends (note: not African) I would usually get a similar response; “don’t you think he got the same treatment hailing a cab in DC, ordering food at a nice restaurant in New York or driving through a nice neighborhood in Chicago?” In other words, to many blacks in the US, it’s not his heritage, but his skin color, which unfortunately all-too-frequently dertermines how someone will be perceived or treated by others in the US. So, I definitely see their point on that level.
So, while he definitely didn’t grow up eating collie greens, he still shared in some elements of what it is like to be black in the US. And this is what many black Americans identify with.
February 26, 2009 at 5:36 pm
In other words, it’s not so much the content of his character as…well…nevermind.
But back to Barry “Pants on Fire” Obama. Do check out the NY Post run-down of the pork.
God Bless,
Ryan
February 27, 2009 at 7:24 am
“but hey, the fate of black Americans is far more important than the lives of those millions of Chinese, right?”
Isn’t a life a life? Isn’t a soul a soul? Essentially what you are saying is that the lives of some are more important than the lives of others.
I really don’t understand how people who claim to be Catholics and want to imitate Christ can spew so much hatred and anger out on this site. It makes me hope that no one who is searching for God find it— because we would definitely lose that soul. Can’t you strive for good without being so unmerciful, judgmental, and frankly, occasionally racist?
This is the problem when people mix politics and religion. Religion gets used in the service of politics. Perfection in Christ is love, not voting republican.
February 27, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Anonymous: If it talks like a duck & walks like a duck, it must be a duck. If it supports the murder of the poorest & most defenseless persons created by Almighty God, what would you call such a monster?
February 28, 2009 at 3:19 am
Hey guys, give Jindal time. Also, remember that we now have Michael Steele working to recruit fresh blood in the party.
I would like to personally challenge (yes, that’s a dare!) every single CMR reader to do something to get involved in grass roots between now and 2010. Yes, that means you! There are a million ways you can help. If you don’t like the state of affairs of a particular party, do something about it. The best way to solve a problem is to take action, get involved. What have you done today to make this country better? What have you done today to help solve the problem? You needn’t run for public office, but you can start by registering to vote if you aren’t already… write letters to the editor, know your talking points on various issues, contact your legislators, help with campaign needs, etc. Most importantly – PRAY PRAY PRAY!
If you sit back and do nothing but gripe, well, you’re nothing but a pinhead. Who wants to be one of those?
For my fellow GOP types, give Michael Steele a chance to do his thing. He has a lot of work ahead of him – and we need to be supportive. The same goes for Jindal and Palin, two young faces in the party. Pray for them and other young Patriots that they may rise to become great leaders.
February 28, 2009 at 3:19 am
Well, speaking of one who is almost exactly the shade of brown as Bobby Jindal, the whole fuss about Obama’s being elected to the presidency because he is black is itself racist. And Obama is racist in that part of his message was “Vote for me because I am black.”
That said, Jindal is only doing what he really needs to do in order to be heard. The clever thing he did was to mention his own origins in a way that meant he wasn’t being racist.
I thought his speech was a very good one, and I can’t see why people expect it to be some sort of a knock-out punch. It was all that could be expected of someone who has a lot of years to go before he is called upon to run for the presidency.