Barack Obama: The Fortune Cookie of Politics

Way back in February of 2008, I wrote a blog post that compared Obama's promises of hope and change being akin to the false promises you might get from fortune cookies.  On this election day of 2012, what I said then is as true today. So, I think it's worth repeating.

Barack Obama: The Fortune Cookie of Politics

In many ways, Barack Obama's speeches are a lot like the messages inside a Chinese fortune cookie. Typically, the "fortune" inside that cookie, if written well, will apply to the wants of most everyone who reads it. It is this type of "universality" that gives Obama a broad appeal.

Whether or not the message of Obama, like the fortune in the Chinese cookie, is actually true or has any chance of being true is immaterial. People take from it what they "want" to hear. That is what his message of "hope" is all about. Hope is more of a feeling and, often, less of an actual reality. When I buy a lotto ticket, I "hope" that I will win. However, the chance of being hit by lightning is more likely.

The people that believe that Obama represents "hope" through "change" may actually be hearing the hollow message of a fortune cookie. If they truly looked at Obama's past actions, his beliefs, and his proposals, they would know that what he is selling is "high hopes" with little reality.  And, don't ever forget that the purpose of putting the "fortune" in the cookie is a "gimmick" to sell more cookies.  Nothing more than that!

The Lawlessness of the Obama Administration

Under our Constitution, it is the Congress who makes the laws; that's why we refer to Congressmen and Senators as "lawmakers".  The responsibility of the Executive Branch is to execute and administer those laws, and it is the responsibility of the Judicial Branch to pass judgement on anyone who is suspected of breaking them.

Nowhere does our Constitution give the Executive Branch the ability to decide which laws are or are not to be enforced. Yet, last Friday, President Obama did just that by sidestepping Congress and granting certain illegals the right to be in this country legally, and attend school and work without the threat of deportation or imprisonment.

This is not the first time that Obama's people have refused to pursue and prosecute certain offenders of the laws of this nation. The Obama Justice Department did it when it refused to prosecute the New Black Panthers for polling place intimidation during the 2008 elections.   The same Justice Department has done it by ignoring the mandates of the Defense of Marriage Act.  Obama, himself, did it by making recess appointments while Congress was in still in session under the rules that define a "pro forma" session.  Then, too, Obama forced Catholic institutions to provide contraception when, in fact, the Constitution provides for free and clear practice of religion without federal intervention.  And, the list goes on.

Not since Richard Nixon have we had an Executive Branch who has so blatantly ignored the laws of the land and the Constitution.  I guarantee that Obama will only become a bigger violator if he is allowed to serve a second term.

Obama: Fundamentally Changing America

I would also add:

       If I wanted America to fail, I would:

• Cancel manned space flight, allowing other countries like China to take the lead. 
• Take over and ruin one of the best health care systems in the world. 
• And, most importantly, create so much crushing debt that capitalism can't survive and the country, in the process, is fundamentally forced to move towards pure socialism.

The video was produced by FreeMarketAmerica.org and was actually aimed at environmental extremism.  But, I felt it speaks volumes about Obama's 2008 campaign promise to fundamentally change America.

You Can Just Feel The Winds of Change

It now appears that, whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, the voters are angry and, if any politician is irresponsible in spending, taxation, or both, they will be soundly defeated at either the primary level or the mid-term elections this Fall. The change that Barack Obama touted during his candidacy is well underway and not in the way that this President seemed to have planned for. In fact, he is the catalyst and not the implementer of the change that we will see in Washington next year.

We are now more ideologically divided than ever; with the Independents increasingly moving to side with the GOP and leaving the Democrats to stand alone with their liberal tax and spend philosophies that may very well bring this country to its knees.

First, we saw it in the ouster of former Senator and then-Governor, Democrat Jon Corzine, in the heavily Democratic state of New Jersey. At the same time, Republican Bob McDonnell successfully retook the Governor's Mansion in Virginia. Then, the "iconic" seat of Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy was amazingly and "irreverently" seized by the Republican, Scott Brown.

But, it isn't just the Democrats who are in danger. For his embrace of the Stimulus Package and his appearance with Barack Obama, Florida's Republican ex-Governor Crist was forced by the upstart challenger Marc Rubio, to drop out of the running for the GOP Senate nomination. The once-popular Crist, in desperation, is now running as an Independent.

Yesterday, Republican Senator Bob Bennett of Utah found out the voter's sentiment the hard way when he was tossed out of the GOP convention; abruptly ending this three-term Senator's bid for re-election. Like Crist, he was too cozy with the Democrats in Health Care Reform. He also was a big spender when it came to garnering earmarks for his state.

In the case of both Crist and Bennett, the Tea Party showed its strength by backing the opposing candidates against these once-popular mainstays of Republican politics. For these politicians and many others, the winds of change are blowing right into their faces. The cowards who have seen the handwriting on the wall -- mostly Democrats -- have already announced that they won't run for another term; and, that list is getting longer with the most recent "retirement" of the powerful Wisconsin Democrat, David Obey. It is looking more and more like we will have a blood bath in the fall for all those business-as-usual, tax-and/or-spend politicians; no matter what party they belong to.

Election 2008: Obama Beats Bush...McCain Wins

For months, Barack Obama has been the self-identified candidate of "change". As for change, his entire campaign has been based on a "change" from the Bush Administration. A "change" in the war in Iraq. A "change" from tax cuts for the rich. A "change" from special interests like the big oil companies. A "change" from no child left behind. Good or bad...just "change"!

Now, Barack Obama finds himself running against a Republican, John McCain, who is "no George Bush". All of a sudden his message of "change" doesn't ring as true because McCain would also be a "change" from George Bush. McCain has always been the maverick who has bucked the Republicans and, all too often, sided with the Democrats. Unlike Bush, McCain is against lobbyists and special interest groups. He had a much different view on how to prosecute the Iraq War than did either Rumsfeld or Bush. He was against all torture when Bush/Rumsfeld believed in its limited effectiveness. McCain didn't want tax cuts unless their was a fiscally responsible adjustment in spending. Most recently, it has become all too obvious that McCain was extremely wary of Vladimir Putin while Bush was too buddy, buddy with the guy.

So what does Barack Obama do in order to keep his concept of "change" alive; as in a change from George W. Bush? His only choice is to try and equate John McCain with Bush. That's why we keep hearing his message that McCain is 4 more years of Bush or the 3rd Bush term. But, I don't think people are buying it and that's why Obama is slipping in the polls.

It was fine to use George Bush as the whipping boy during the Democratic Primaries. It worked. But, Obama isn't running against George Bush in the coming general election. He is running against John McCain and he hasn't shifted his campaign to address that fact. That's why I think that election 2008 will be known for Obama beating Bush (in the Primaries) and losing to McCain in the general election.

Image by openDemocracy's photostream on Flickr with Creative Commons Licensing. All rights retained. (Click to View Other Works).

Filibustering FISA?

Back in October, it was obvious to his supporters on the "left" that Barack Obama would filibuster "any" FISA (Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act) bill that came before the Senate if it included immunity to for the Telecom companies. On October 23, 2007, this was said on behalf of the Senator and his position:

"Senator Obama has serious concerns about many provisions in this bill, especially the provision on giving retroactive immunity to the telephone companies. He is hopeful that this bill can be improved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. But if the bill comes to the Senate floor in its current form, he would support a filibuster of it."

Obviously, Mr. Obama has had a "change" of mind because, yesterday, he voted for the FISA bill; with Telecom company protection and all (See Full Story). His former opponents in the run for the Democratic Nomination, i.e. Hillary Clinton and Chris Dodd, stuck to their guns and voted against the bill. But, not Mr. Obama. He's so flexible. He's that left-wing caterpillar who has "now" emerged as the moderate butterfly! (On second thought... I think the analogy of a "wolf in sheep's clothing" is probably more appropriate than the caterpillar/butterfly concept.) Like he says about himself: "He is *change* you can count on!" And, he certainly does what he says!

Obama's NAFTA Canard

It's all about getting votes. Buying them and lying for them. That's old time politics at its best. And, it appears that Barack Obama is more the old-time lying "politicioner" than his promise of "change" would have you believe.

When running to win the Michigan primary, this proponent of change, Mr. Obama, said he would change NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) or abandon it because it has cost jobs in America. However, his economic adviser, Austan Goolsbe, had a meeting on the "QT" with Canadian officials to say that the abandonment of NAFTA was just campaign rhetoric and don't worry; we won't change a thing. Now, it appears that the master of "change", Mr. Obama, has decided that NAFTA shouldn't be scrapped as he had previously stated (See Full Story). No...now that we are past Michigan and trying to garner the votes from the center.

You've got to wonder, how much "change" is ahead of us from what he has said in the past!