A Humpty-Dumpty View of the World

pajamasmedia ^ | Today | Victor Davis Hanson

[jessduntno]

What might explain the inexplicable like the following?

A president comes into office facing a $500 billion deficit and grows it to $2 trillion.

A president comes into office facing a threat of radical Islamic terrorism, and at home changes the very name of the struggle from war on terror to a variety of wishy-washy euphemisms.

A president comes into office facing a variety of Middle East thugs, from al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Hamas to Syria and Iran, and employs the ancient kowtow, the postmodern apology, and the Carteresque reach-out to allay the threat?

A president comes into office after record high energy prices have nearly crippled the American economy, and he ignores new drilling and brushes off nuclear power — only to wax about wind and solar that provide less than 5% of our energy needs, and crushing cap and trade taxation to come.

The Wrong Narrative

I think candidate Obama had the wrong narrative. Many presidents do. Bush railed against nation-building and decided he would do just that. Reagan raised not lowered deficits. Clinton ended up being a moderate after 1995. But rarely has a candidate’s entire world view been so abruptly refuted in the first year of a presidency.

As president, Obama suddenly found himself a stranger in a strange land, far from that of the Ivy League dean, the upscale liberal suburbanite, the radical chic, hip world of Chicago yuppies, and the brooding, shrill pulpit of Rev. Wright. The result is that his fantasies are out of place in the all too real world of the White House.

When he started his campaign in 2007 the U.S. economy was still strong, and he felt his redistributive agenda would merely need to skim off a few trillions from the wannabe rich.

[jessduntno]

"So if he seems bewildered, angry sometimes, and more at home in warm, lush Hawaii, you would be too — once you discovered that your easy fantasies and winged rhetoric of the last thirty years have no relation with the here and now."

Oh, Victor...you've got him so right.

The respnses are priceless.

[RobinOfKingston]

From the comments:

30. Yes We Did:

This is just another in a long series of vile, racist attacks on our new Leader.

There was an election last year. We won, you lost, and you will never get another chance. President Obama rules this country now and he will lead all people of good will into the light of a new world of peace and justice.

The racist white males who exploited and oppressed the people who built this country are finished. All their ill-gotten wealth will be used to pay reparations to their erstwhile victims.

Peace and justice.
Dec 30, 2009 - 1:38 pm

[mamelukesabre]

I agree. white males are finished.

[LFOD]

No one is oppressing anyone.
Stop already....stop being a professional victim who believes the rest of us owe you something.
Get out of bed, put down the remote and educate yourselves.

Awhile back I saw a movie clip featuring Dennis Hopper lecturing this young black man about racism, particularly the Jews. I’m paraphrasing here so bear with me. The black man was berating this & that displaying his view on unfairness and so on. Mr. Hopper looked him in the eyes and said something to this effect.....

“The Jews took in their young, homeless and destitute. They fed them and educated them. Now, young man, you don’t see much of that going on in your neighborhood do you?”

[Jack Black]

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[Tolik]

 

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[Billthedrill]

Back from a brief hiatus and thanks for the post, it's a good one. One can think of few contemporary examples of hubris more extreme than 0bama and his supporters, and one longs for a dramatic resolution that doesn't take down the rest of us along with them. I recall a real Greek, not a fictional one, named Nikias, and how he thought to avoid a disastrous course of action by making it ruinously expensive. Poor fellow was put in charge of it instead, by those who thought Athens incapable of failure. It turned out to be a cruel punishment, and it wasn't only Nikias, but Athens, who paid the price.

I mention that as a cautionary note to those who are eagerly anticipating 0bama's inevitable failure due to hubris. We may actually pity the arrogant SOB before it's over but it's going to cost us all dearly.

[Tolik]

Welcome back! I’m always looking forward to your posts.

0bama was not kidding when he was promising to fundamentally change the United States of America. If implemented, his agenda will bring changes that I am not sure can be undone with GOP victory in 2010 and 2012. If not undone, the effect will be as long lasting as FDR’s “improvements” and, as you say, “it’s going to cost us all dearly.”