Posted by
Virginia Daddy on Friday, March 06, 2009 10:43:45 PM
There has been much broo-ha-ha over Rush Limbaugh's comments that he wants Obama to fail. I say the Dems are playing an obvious game that anyone with half a brain should see through. Of course, it is probable that most of Americans either don't have half a a brain, or just don't want to use it. But that's another story.
I wonder, though, if Limbaugh is already going to be rejoicing, because I wonder if Barrack Obama, the man who came promising the world on a magic carpet, has already failed. Lets look at a few things: his ego, his treatment of the media, his delegation, his failures to unite, failure to fill various positions, his thoughts on Gitmo, his other "new" personell choices, and probably most importantly-- the economy. After all of that, I will raise a simple question, too-- based on these failings, is he even running the show?
First, his ego has already been shown to be large. We knew this from before he was elected, though it has only become more manifest since his inauguration. He doesn't take kindly to those who disagree, and he has certainly trumped himself up.
Second, he has already shown disdain for the media, cutting them out of much of the process and showing favoritism to those who share certain thoughts... The attack on Limbaugh is indicative of this tendency, but it goes even farther and closer to the White House. He is already calling the shots on what will be presented through the 4th branch of government.
Third, he has delegated quite a bit. The stimulus bill is a good example-- he basically seems to have told Congress to go at it, and come back to him with a good plan. There are other examples, and the results have been less than what the public expected. Congress is not willing to play the same game he is, yet he is staying out of the firing range.
Fourth, he has not united Congress. At best, it remains as staunchly divided as it was before he took office. I'd actually say that the GOP will be more vocal and be less willing to comprimise now than before. At the same time, the Dems will certainly be less willing to work with the GOP since they have less to lose by sticking to their guns. And because Obama is staying out of the fight, he is doing nothing to bring folks together, beyond saying people should do so. He is not involved enough to make that happen.
Fifth, he has had trouble filling various positions, most notably Commerce Secretary. In fact, some of his nominees have only called into question his wisdom and trust. By them failing to pay taxes (not just one), his decisions and appointments have really called into question his decision making abilities.
Sixth, his rush to judgment on Gitmo really is interesting. He pretty much immediately says we are closing it down in one year, but when asked what he would do with the prisoners, the response is aking to "I dunno." And unless things have changed, he as having trouble finding alternatives- other nations didn't want them, either. And then when his advisors go check it out, the response is actually that these guys are treated pretty darn well. Go figure.
Seventh, how much new blood has he brought in? I think it is well documented how many Clinton holdovers he has, who certainly do not indicate change is a comin'.
Finally, the economy. Isn't interesting how it has not stabilized like most thought since he took office? Heck, even I held out hope for it to find some bottom and stay there pretty quickly after a) his election and b) after his inauguration. We have seen a market that is anything but stable, and the bottom continues to drop. We were just at a 12 year low. I hate to put something on a president specifically, as to be fair, he typically has limited influence. But this is different, I'd say. Businesses are scared and confused as exactly what this man might do to them. The market reflects this uncertainty, and I think it is fair to place much of the blame on the new president for creating this fear.
So, what does all this mean? It means we have a president who doesn't seem like he knows what he is doing, and that is full of empty promises. It means he really is an empty suit. OK, he may well pull things together and save the nation. But that looks like a distant dream.
Here's why: people rarely change. Obama has shown some character traits that are likely to dominate his term as president. His ego and short leash on those who disagree with him are not likely to go away. He will rush to decisions again, and he will allow Congress to act so he can wash his hands over their policy mistakes. Despite his lofty rhetoric, he has not instituted an ounce of change, and likely will not attempt to bring it any more than he has. And despite the rhetoric, he will not be able to change the conservative movement against him (something Bush experienced going the other way).
So, through all of this, I really wonder how much Barack Obama is truly calling the shots. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I think he is heavilly influenced by his most trusted advisors. I think many in the Democratic party saw early on a dynamic candidate and a person who could draw a crowd-- to his credit, Obama is a great speaker. They found someone who perfectly fit the mold as a change candidate-- a "black" man with a Harvard education who came from a poor background, who could speak of unity like few others, and who had no problem bringing attention to himself or doing whatever he needed to win.
And I think they, as much as him, will drive decisions in the White House. They got him there (I don't think he could have done it without the likes of Axelrod), and they will continue to pull strings. A great example is the current outcry against Limbaugh. They cater to the portion of our population who either does not care, or who doesn't know enough to care. I do think everything has been calculated to this group, and my bet is that when they start to see who they really elected, they will turn.
So, do I know that he has already failed? No. There is no way to know. But I think he's heading that direction. Rush Limbaugh, you may well get your wish.