Obama is a mere mortal
WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON
What happened to President Obama? His wax wings having melted, he is the man who fell to Earth. What happened to bring his popularity down further than that of any new president in polling history save Gerald Ford (post-Nixon pardon)?
The conventional wisdom is that Obama made a tactical mistake by farming out his agenda to Congress and allowing himself to be pulled left by the doctrinaire liberals of the Democratic congressional leadership. But the idea of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi pulling Obama left is quite ridiculous. Where do you think he came from, this friend of Chavista ex-terrorist William Ayers, of PLO apologist Rashid Khalidi, of racialist inciter Jeremiah Wright?
But forget the character witnesses. Just look at Obama’s behavior as president, beginning with his first address to Congress. Unbidden, unforced and unpushed by the congressional leadership, Obama gave his most deeply felt vision of America, delivering the boldest social democratic manifesto ever issued by a U.S. president. In American politics, you can’t get more left than that speech and still be on the playing field.
In a center-right country, that was problem enough. Obama then compounded it by vastly misreading his mandate. He assumed it was personal. This, after winning by a mere seven points in a year of true economic catastrophe, of an extraordinarily unpopular Republican incumbent, and of a politically weak and unsteady opponent. Nonetheless, Obama imagined that, as Fouad Ajami so brilliantly observed, he had won the kind of banana-republic plebiscite that grants caudillo-like authority to remake everything in one’s own image.
Accordingly, Obama unveiled his plans for a grand makeover of the American system, animating that vision by enacting measure after measure that greatly enlarged state power, government spending and national debt. Not surprisingly, these measures engendered powerful popular skepticism that burst into tea-party town-hall resistance.
Obama’s reaction to that resistance made things worse. Obama fancies himself tribune of the people, spokesman for the grass roots, harbinger of a new kind of politics from below that would upset the established lobbyist special-interest order of Washington. Yet faced with protests from a real grass-roots movement, his party and his supporters called it a mob—misinformed, misled, irrational, angry, unhinged, bordering on racist. All this while the administration was cutting backroom deals with every manner of special interest—from drug companies to auto unions to doctors—in which favors worth billions were quietly and opaquely exchanged.
“Get out of the way” and “don’t do a lot of talking,” the great bipartisan scolded opponents whom he blamed for creating the “mess” from which he is merely trying to save us. If only they could see. So with boundless confidence in his own persuasiveness, Obama undertook a summer campaign to enlighten the masses by addressing substantive objections to his reforms.
Things got worse still. With answers so slippery and implausible and, well, fishy, he began jeopardizing the most fundamental asset of any new president—trust. You can’t say that the system is totally broken and in need of radical reconstruction, but nothing will change for you; that Medicare is bankrupting the country, but $500 billion in cuts will have no effect on care; that you will expand coverage while reducing deficits—and not inspire incredulity and mistrust. When ordinary citizens understand they are being played for fools, they bristle.
After a disastrous summer—mistaking his mandate, believing his press, centralizing power, governing left, disdaining citizens for (of all things) organizing—Obama is in trouble.
Let’s be clear: This is a fall, not a collapse. He’s not been repudiated or even defeated. He will likely regroup and pass some version of health insurance reform that will restore some of his clout and popularity.
But what has occurred—irreversibly—is this: He’s become ordinary. The spell is broken. The charismatic conjurer of 2008 has shed his magic. He’s regressed to the mean, tellingly expressed in poll numbers hovering at 50 percent.
For a man who only recently bred a cult, ordinariness is a great burden, and for his acolytes, a crushing disappointment. Obama has become a politician like others. And like other flailing presidents, he will try to salvage a cherished reform—and his own standing—with yet another prime-time speech.
But for the first time since election night in Grant Park, he will appear in the most unfamiliar of guises—mere mortal, a treacherous transformation to which a man of Obama’s supreme self-regard may never adapt.
Charles Krauthammer is a columnist for the Washington Post. His e-mail address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com.
Sep 8, 2009 at 7:37 p.m.
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Sally , Sally , Sally. When are you going to start typing something that holds any value in here? Seems to me that all you do is want to counter everything most of us type. I won't miss you while I'm on vacation and have no access to the internet. It will be nice not to have to bore myself with your so called ramblings and degrading people who just want to make their comments here. Oh and one more thing Sally, keep thinking of ways to warm the underside of the rock that you spend most of your time under..........Peace
Sep 8, 2009 at 11:27 a.m.
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When the industry (law and lawyers) donates more than any other industry in our country they are buying something...
More than 1 Billion dollars in the last 20 years, with 230 Million dollars spent during the last election cycle alone: http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/in...
2nd and 3rd place, health profession and education (for 2008 cycle).
Sep 8, 2009 at 9:14 a.m.
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Funny how those who constantly blather on about smaller government support the federal power grab of tort reform. Currently, tort is vested in the states. Nice hypocrisy.
Yes, let's pass a law that protects incompetent doctors from being held accountable. Is this how Conservatives promote personal responsibility?
Sep 7, 2009 at 7:50 p.m.
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darwin isn't there a rock somewhere that needs warming up on the underside by you??
Sep 7, 2009 at 7:48 p.m.
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I'M GETTING DIZZY
Sep 7, 2009 at 6:39 p.m.
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The question was,"what powers does the President have to enforce the Constitution," not "what powers does the President have to enforce the Constitution WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN?" Whether by Congress, or by the Constitution, the Executive Branch is the one tasked with enforcing the laws. The Attorney General is the top law enforcement officer in this country, and has been since 1789, as you stated. He is appointed by, and answers to, the Executive Branch, the President.
Sep 7, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.
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Pharm reality is much different than what the dolt thinks and you have echoed here. The constitution has nothing about any of the agencies you cite nor does it state anything about enforcement by the executive branch. Laws later passed by congress, for example the Judiciary Act of 1789, helped create these and other agencies...none of which have powers vested by the constitution...by congress yes.
Sep 7, 2009 at 5:11 p.m.
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The Department of Justice, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration Service, Secret Service, Coast guard, Transportation Security Administration,FCC, SEC,etc., are all parts of the enforcement arm of the Executive Branch. That does not even include the National Guard, and all the Armed Services.
Sep 7, 2009 at 4:55 p.m.
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DIGriz, again not to be on the wrong side of the fence, it is not my interpretation, there are multiple web sites that enumerate the jobs of the Executive Branch, including government ones. They all say that among the responsibilities of the Executive Branch are "the implementing and enforcing of the laws of the U.S."
Sep 7, 2009 at 3:10 p.m.
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DizzyGirl, clearly has a reality issue. Yes, the FBI, Attorney General and Federal Prosecutors have no power. What reality do you live in? What country do you live in? In the 50's, President Eisenhower, a real Republican, deployed 101st Airborne division to ENFORCE desegregation, TO ENFORCE A SUPREME COURT RULING. For Christs sake man, come back to reality. With soldiers like you, who needs enemies.
Sep 7, 2009 at 1:36 p.m.
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sadly, girlydiz, they have to interpret the Constitution before they can decide if a law is Constitutional and then the Executive branch enforces the decisions of the courts. See Brown vs the Board of Education of Topeka Kansas. More non-facts from the ignorant.
Sep 7, 2009 at 1:34 p.m.
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I guess the house of cards is starting to fall now with the steppong down of that fool Van jones! Now if only a few will follow suit up in the czars house we could get something done. We need to keep Obama responsible for all these lunatics he has appointed! Thank you Glenn Beck and some of the other fair and balanced news people out there for bringing this to a head!!!!
Sep 7, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.
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DIGriz, I obviously don`t want to get on your bad side, but Government 101 states, "the primary purpose of the Executive Branch is to make sure the laws of the U.S. are followed." They, Pres., V/P., Cabinet, Fed. agencies are tasked with this.
Sep 7, 2009 at 9:02 a.m.
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dizzygirly, once again devoid of facts.
With soldiers like you, who needs enemies?
Sep 6, 2009 at 10:33 p.m.
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I second that Pete.
Sep 6, 2009 at 4:04 p.m.
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dizzygirly is wrong again. The executive branch enforces, the judicial branch interprets, congress legislates. Get your facts straight before you get them wrong.
Originally, originally, originally we were a colony. Yes, we originally were one thing and then we changed and enfranchised more and more people. Sadly, you are too ignorant to realize you wouldn't have been allowed to vote in your own Republic because you would never have passed the poll test. You are the epitome of traditional elitism and arrogance.
Sep 6, 2009 at 3:57 p.m.
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Sarah please explain how you expect preauthorizations to be any better with a public option.
Sep 6, 2009 at 2:12 p.m.
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SarahB1--I can pretty much agree with your assessment of the insurance companies, but the only ones caring even less are the liberal politicians/bureaucrats that want to take their places.
Sep 6, 2009 at 1:06 p.m.
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obama doesn't have a clue on how to run a counrty,just look at the czars he has helping him .... nough said.
Sep 6, 2009 at 9:51 a.m.
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No, dizzygirl the courts decide how the actual Constitution is interpreted - not you. Sadly, I have never seen someone blather on so endlessly while providing so few facts. You don't have an "advanced degree" because you actually have to earn one.
Sep 6, 2009 at 9:12 a.m.
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Could the house of cards be imploding??
DiGriz......Wow you sure do know how to talk to Sally!! LMAO.........I love it!!
Sep 5, 2009 at 10:41 p.m.
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darwin1--Just caught the latest poll from CBS (NOT FOXNEWS), showing 40% of Americans supporting Obama's handling of health care & 47% disapproving. How does even a rabid, tunnel-vision liberal spin that into, "a majority still supports him & health care."?
Sep 5, 2009 at 10:13 p.m.
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I just love the way the eternally naive (i.e. liberals) pronounce the issue of "death panels" debunked, because...the Great One said so! And, if you need a second "proof", that exact terminology isn't used even once in that 1100 page doorstop! How much more evidence can reasonable people demand?
Sep 5, 2009 at 8:58 p.m.
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I just wondered why anyone is surprised at the politics coming from the POTUS. He is from Chicago.
Sep 5, 2009 at 4:31 p.m.
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dizzygirl, could you be more wrong. The Original Constitution doesn't matter because we no longer live in that time - slaves taking care of Madison, Jefferson and Washington; women not having any rights. If you wanted that Constitution, then you should have the right to have a musket and not an assault rifle. Medicine was a lot different back then, you do understand this? There are no property protections in our actual Constitution. Yet the government is required to "...promote the general welfare..." which is actually in the real Constitution. That general welfare has always led to better living standards and longer, more prosperous lives. I understand that you and the rest of the Dark Agers would like to go back to throwing your sewages in the streets because it was free - no one else does.
Sep 5, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.
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hannah, your "death panel" scenario has already been debunked. You're about a week behind the current anti-reform talking points.
Are you aware that INSURANCE companies currently decide what treatments they will pay for, assuming you still have insurance after losing your job or being saddled with that pesky pre-existing condition?
Sep 5, 2009 at 10:37 a.m.
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Darwin, I don't know where you get off saying the majority still support him and govt. health care. Really? I dont know anybody who even considers Obama care a good idea. Not one.
We all know We cant afford it! Were gonna be a bankrupt nation!
If President Obama wants to make heath care "reform" as they like to keep putting it, How about some price freezes on procedures, and medications, and how about more monitoring of the bills sent to Medicare. They constantly get ripped off. Just like our 10,000$ for a toilet seat that costs 5$ at Menards.
Get Real.
Time and time again we have to keep reminding ourselves why our fore fathers created this nation the way they did. And why it has worked, and why ours has historicly been the best nation on the planet.
Untill LOTS of New non govt. jobs are created, and money fills the treasury back up, we cant afford trillions of more debt. The coffers are beyond empty friends.
Sep 5, 2009 at 10:05 a.m.
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hannah, while his polls are down, a majority still supports him and health care. You "hear" about his lies but provide none. This is dogma: you already believe something to be true and try to find evidence to support your belief. You don't care about the truth - just yourself.
Sep 4, 2009 at 8:21 p.m.
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obama just told bigger and better lies when running for POTUS, that is why he is falling faster then most that have been in office .... all tells lies but he's got the gift for gab over any .... how do you like CHANGE now?
Sep 4, 2009 at 7:33 p.m.
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hannah, your inarticulate disagreement with the president is a symptom of your ignorance and not the reason for it. Why do you disagree with the president? Do you have some facts? Do you have some details? If you think he is violating the Constitution, then what part of it?
Sep 4, 2009 at 7:06 p.m.
Sep 4, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.
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It doesn't matter compared to the other presidents.
He's still in office...they're not.
Sep 4, 2009 at 5:04 p.m.
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Sprout doesn't like no education because he doesn't have an education - clearly.
hannah, what exactly did Obama say that lead you to believe he thinks he is immortal. I have yet to see any actual quotes from the delusional Republicans. Let me guess, you don't have an education either.
Sep 4, 2009 at 3:19 p.m.
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Thank you sprout for making my point: more cliches. Do you actually know any facts or details? You probably don't even have a high school education but you know everything.
Sep 4, 2009 at 2:35 p.m.
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thank you sprout.....
Sep 4, 2009 at 2:34 p.m.
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well darwin1.....I see you still are typing a lot of hot air.
Sep 4, 2009 at 2:25 p.m.
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Mr Kraut is a cliche like most of the Conservative hypocrites here. And like most cliches he says a lot but provides few facts and makes absurd comparisons. By his own logic Obama must be doing great because his poll numbers are not the same as the idiot Bush's at the same point in his Presidency: he is a cause in search of a correlation. It is quite intellectually convenient to pull meaningless poll numbers out of the air in a democracy that votes. See you next election.
Also, if all of these Conservatives know so much about the Constitution then why aren't they Constitutional lawyers and judges? Oh yes, because those professions have standards and Republicans don't.
Sep 4, 2009 at 2:21 p.m.
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ok I'm dumb........what is POTUS? and DiGriz I didn't know you were serving....THANK YOU!! and Pastafarian....Please tell your sons THANK YOU!! also. RAF you too!! All vets no matter where or how you served. another THANK YOU!! you all give so much and we will not forget those who gave all for us. God bless and god speed.
Sep 4, 2009 at 11:05 a.m.
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Sorry that's ;they are "not"serving "with" like minded people.
I have reservations about our troops thinking POTUS is attempting an over-throw of our gov. I guess, to each his own. Stay safe DiGriz. We do need you back. RAmen
Sep 4, 2009 at 10:33 a.m.
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Say RAF both my sons are in uniform. I was hoping they are serving like minded people.
Sep 4, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.
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Wow thanx sprout.
Sep 4, 2009 at 10:06 a.m.
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Pastafarian, why don't you put on your uniform and go to Afghanistan to relieve him? Either that or hide behind your keyboard and try to say sensible statements.
Sep 4, 2009 at 9 a.m.
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Say DiGriz, are you stating that you believe that your "Commander in Chief" is not "defending"or "upholding" the US constitution?
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Why do you stay where you are?
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The statement of
DiGriz
Sep 4, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. is troubling, in that this is a tax payer educated man. Me thinks you should be taken off your tin-foil hat till you get home. RAmen
Sep 4, 2009 at 8:31 a.m.
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confuzzeled yet?
**Yet faced with protests from a real grass-roots movement, his party and his supporters called it a mob—misinformed, misled, irrational, angry, unhinged, bordering on racist. All this while the administration was cutting backroom deals with every manner of special interest—from drug companies to auto unions to doctors—in which favors worth billions were quietly and opaquely exchanged.
Well I'm glad that I'm part of an angry mob. standing up for what is right. we all have questions that they don't want to answer....so that makes us an angry mob.
Misinformed? nope, just using common sense.
Misled? ....I don't think so unless I'm misled by him and his supporters of idiots. (I'm not)
Irrational? nope not when it comes down to believing in MY country.
Angry? Yep very much so.
Unhinged? nope all my screws are in place and the hinges are well oiled for protests in a peaceful way.
Bordering on racist? Why is this even an issue? I could care less if someone was purple green or what ever color. Why is it when things don't go their way they have to play the racist card? Well if HE says so then I guess I am one. OMG I have been branded!!!
What a joke this has all become but a lot of "us" are not laughing. Wake up America before it is too late.
Sep 4, 2009 at 7:54 a.m.
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You go Chuck!!!!!
DiGriz is correct - wheather you are left or right there HAS to be Term Limits, and just for sake of it lets get "what's good for 1 is good for all" & require ALL of Washington is contributing to Social Security & have the same insurance available to them as we all have - no matter what "plan" it ends up being & lets throw in TORT reform while we're at it.
Sep 4, 2009 at 7:16 a.m.
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Are you referring to the SELF-proclaimed communist or the one who ONLY believes in forced abortions?
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