Barack In Limbo (Guest Voice)
Jan 4th, 2009 | 15 responses
President Elect Barack Obama often notes that until he’s sworn in there is only “one President at a time.” But, in this Guest Voice Post, conservative talk show host Michael Reagan wonders whether that’s the reality or an excuse. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers.
Barack in Limbo
by Michael Reagan
As he stands on the sidelines, seemingly oblivious to what’s going on in the world, President-elect Barack Obama opts out of the game by proclaiming that there’s only one president at a time.
That’s another way of saying, “Let George do it,” when the Middle East erupts in violence, the economy continues to slump, and the governor of his state defies demands that he step down.
His almost nonchalant approach to the turmoil around him has thus far protected him from adverse reactions from his real base — the media — but that immunity from harsh criticism has not extended to his political base, the far left. They are after him hammer and tongs.
Barack Obama will not become president until January 20, but the far left of his party is already blaming him for all sorts of alleged omissions. He seems to have violated the liberal’s major shibboleth, “No enemies to the left.” He’s suddenly acquired a whole slew of them.
He may have chosen a few bomb throwers to serve in his Cabinet or the White House, but that hasn’t satisfied the more dainty of the lefties who are appalled at his selection of Pastor Rick Warren, who committed the unpardonable sin of not only opposing gay marriage, but actually promoted Proposition 8, which banned the aberration in California.
Up on Capitol Hill the Democrats are out of sorts because he failed to act more quickly on his planned stimulus package, and Barney Frank — an openly homosexual Democrat from Massachusetts — is enraged over the choice of Rick Warren.
They simply don’t buy his only-one-president-at-a-time alibi. They want him to start acting presidential now, and all he’s been doing in Hawaii is physical exercise (when he’s not showing off his pecs to the gaga media).
The left is also unhappy with the economic team he’s assembled — a group of moderates who embrace traditional approaches to economic policies rather than the openly socialistic nostrums the Marxist wing of his party cherishes.
His problem with Congress lies in the fact that Congress never accepts responsibility for anything. They shift whatever blame there is in any situation downtown to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., but wallow in the glory of anything that goes right.
The boys and girls on Capitol Hill were more responsible for the current economic mess that any other entity, but they shift the blame to the Bush administration, which had in fact tried to forestall the crisis and was blocked from acting by such top Democrats as Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, who were drinking heavily at the money fountains of Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.
The fact that they haven’t done anything worthwhile is all Obama’s fault, and starting on January 20 they’ll blame him for anything that goes wrong. His honeymoon will more quickly resemble a marriage on the brink of divorce rather than a joyous romp at Niagara Falls.
All this, sadly, is simply a sign of the decline now evident in Washington with the utter absence of backbone and leadership.
The taste of Barack Obama’s triumphant victory could well turn out to be ashes in his mouth rather than that of honey. He has climbed the hill to the top and found it covered with thorns and thistles and poison ivy, instead of the roses he expected.
Shortly after the Bay of Pigs fiasco, Sen. Barry Goldwater dropped by the White House to see his friend and former Senate colleague President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
When Barry asked him how he was, JFK looked at him, threw up his arms and said “What a lousy fouled up job this has turned out to be.”
Welcome to the White House, President Obama. Enjoy your stay. Have a great New Year. You are in our prayers.
And Happy New Year to one and all.
Mike Reagan, the elder son of the late President Ronald Reagan, is heard on more than 200 talk radio stations nationally as part of the Radio America Network. ©2008 Mike Reagan. I Mike’s column is distributed exclusively by: Cagle Cartoons, Inc.
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15 Responses to “Barack In Limbo (Guest Voice)”
Michael Reagan has yet to write a balanced piece. Criticizing President-elect Obama for silence seems petty. The man has yet to spend a single day in the “Big Chair.” Reagan looks to be as partisan as Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh. Any chance TMV can find a right-of-center columnist who can at least occasionally concede a point to the other side?
“seemingly oblivious to what’s going on in the world,”
When you start with this kind of bullshit, it's impossible to take the rest of the piece seriously.
Oblivious? Really? Because he's made a policy and stuck to it?
I live in a relatively conservative community and over the past year a number of commentators in our local media have repeatedly defended Bush’s record. They claim that a series of rapidly accumulating disasters – the economy, middle east, asian subcontinent, etc., etc. – are being unfairly pinned on Bush. Their argument supporting this position is that we (the voters) really misunderstand the amount of control a president has over these “externalities” as well as the long lag time associated with actions and effects in these areas, and that if we understood them correctly, the blame for these really should lie elsewhere than with the president (e.g., we need to be patient to see the results of this president’s policies, or that presidencies prior to Bush’s should be blamed). I have wondered how long it would take these Bush apologists to attack Obama for these very problems after his inauguration. Now I have my answer through Michael Reagan – they are blaming him for these disasters before he has even laid his hand on the bible.
George Bush is still President and so why doesn't the Press focus on his actions as president in these current and critical times? I want to know what my President is doing to the last day.
As a lifelong democrat, all I can say is – Michael Reagan is no Ronald Reagan! It is truly astonishing that so many people are hoping for discord and failure in the new administration. At the end of the day, who cares if the dems or repubs are to blame for this mess we're in. What matters is how we're going to fix it. The repubs have a chance to be part of the solution. I hope they take it.
Joe
Do have this joker on because you can't get Sean Hannity? I'm disappointed because I fear that Obama will not bury the discredited policies of Reagan's late father. It was Reagonomics that got us into this mess. Customers with no money and deregulation do not a strong economy make. Kat99611 is right – people like Reagan who are hoping for failure really hate this country.
Let's examine Mr. Reagan's post point by point:
1) “As he stands on the sidelines, seemingly oblivious to what’s going on in the world, President-elect Barack Obama opts out of the game by proclaiming that there’s only one president at a time.
That’s another way of saying, “Let George do it,” when the Middle East erupts in violence, the economy continues to slump, and the governor of his state defies demands that he step down.”
Another idiotic post by M. Reagan. Does someone on the TMV staff think this guy is a talented writer? An incisive critical thinker? An articulate spokesperson for conservative values? HuH?
Point by Point
1) “There is only one president at a time, etc.” Mr. Reagan, is this false? Passing the buck to Incurious George? Let's say Obama did come out with a firm position on the Gaza mess, and then the real President made a move to do something incompatible with Obama's position. Does this improve things? Let's get this straight, because it is very simple: Barack Obama has no authority, none – full stop. Can anyone doubt that at least part of Israel's timing is an attempt to paint Obama into a corner.
2) “His almost nonchalant approach…” This is simply a statement which is either willfully ignorant, or simply a pure unadulterated lie. Obama has been more active, held more press conferences and consulted more experts in the critical areas than any prior incoming president in the last century, even Roosevelt. Again though, he has NO authority.
3) “but the far left of his party is already blaming him for all sorts of alleged omissions…..”. This is somehow a bad thing? Did you expect the far left to be any happier with Obama than the far right? To me and many observers, this is positive, not negative. Again, please explain what kind of action Obama could have taken.
4) “His problem with Congress lies in the fact that Congress never accepts responsibility for anything.” And this is news? The very idea that the Bush administration made any serious moves to prevent or lessen the financial calamity engulfing us all is nonsense. Where was the budget in January, 2001? Where was it before the credit collapse? It was Bush who told us we could fight two wars without raising taxes. Just as LBJ told us we could have Guns and Butter. This administration has, at every level, failed to take responsibility for its own failures, militarily, socially, or economically. Never have so few perpetrated such catastrophe at so many levels against so many people. No amount of spin, by Mr. Reagan or any other conservative commentator, will ever be able to stay the hand of history. This has been, and continues to be, the most irresponsible administration in modern history. It's nearest predecessor was Nixon, but in every conceivable way, Bush43 has indulged in blatantly criminal behavior, political corruption at a level not seen since Teapot Dome. It has also demonstrated massive incompetence in domestic, foreign and military affairs.
Stop trying to hand responsibly to those who are not in power. And, at some point, look in your political mirror and face the truth of the mess you, and those you helped get elected, have left for this incoming President – and the country. No administration since Buchanan has left such a horrific legacy.
If only the concept of shame still had any value.
4)
2
two points.
1–mr reagan says congress is primarily to blame for the economic meltdown. WTF? aka Where's The Freemarketeers? Wall Street's mega-millionaire COEOs are to blame.
2–on the charge congress hasn't done anything meaningful. It may be because harry reid has mainstreamed that other abomination (the one not involving sex organs of two people in love) the filibuster. Our democracy has been held hostage by 10 senators who seem to believe, as does Harry Reid apperently, that we are country governed by majority will, but only if that will isn't vetoed by the ten high priestesses of GOP.
bonus point–Micheal, the best way to keep away the gay is to bash the gay. god bless you and your
proud heterosexuality. because the gay thing, the way they do it just make my skin crawl. i can;t stop having nightmares about it. it's just so disgusting and filthy and unsanitary. it so not normal, like me. we must stop gay marriage or i don't know how will i cope. thinking about how they might be doing it next door or down the block, with the same rights as us. how dare they.
heterosexually yours,
One very straight, homo hating man
oh, and have a nice day!
Reagan is obviously ready to criticize whatever Obama does or says. Since, at the moment, Obama is letting Prez Bush finish out his term without interference– Reagan is motivated to find fault —even with his silence.
Reagan is part of the right wing media, that is so eager to pounce on the new administration, that
even doing nothing is seen as valid cause. Course when Obama was picking his transition team, the Dow was in free fall, and George W was busy pardoning Pumpkin the turkey, REAGAN was silent, LOL!!!
Reagan looks to be just another rightwing comedian… and history revisionist wannabee. As rfyork said, “If only the concept of shame still had any value.” If only…
Shorter MR:
The far left hates Obama because [insert MR criticism].
Do you even know anyone on the far left? Yes those of us “dainty” people think he could have picked a better choice for the invocation (how original a term too! hahaha! I get it, because gay people are almost as stupid and weak as WOMEN!). Other than that, this whole idea that it's the left that doesn't like Obama is generally nuts.
Green Dreams: This “moderate” [sic] Web site has, in this example of neurotic behavior by Reagan the perfect distorted stereotype of conservatives. (Reagan in this piece is more agitated and engages in more distortion than the “progressives” that were Obama's original front-line troops, who have felt frequently betrayed by Obama's less-extremist first steps in staffing and acting — even before he is inaugurated. It wouldn't surprise me if this piece by Reagan were selected with delight by this site's “moderate” editors.) (It is a cheap shot at generalizing conservatives; obviously Reagan is not extremist here, just neurotic and describing fantasy in place of reality.)
DLS, pardon me if I don't put a great deal of stock in your efforts to mind-read the editors here. Reagan has plenty of company when it comes to “neurotic” and “agitated” peers in his profession, so a certain amount of “generalizing” has been earned. When enough conservatives get fed up with the extremists within their own party, then your “generalization” defense will be more warranted.