Posted on 06/15/2012 6:34:31 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Now that we are deep into a presidential election year that promises to be a referendum on the direction of our nation, possibly even of the world, it seems appropriate to examine similarities between our current president and past presidents to see what that reveals.
Which former president most closely resembles Barack Obama? I have my theory. You may feel differently. Whoever the choice may be, the discussion of the subject may tell us important things about what we should be looking for in leadership.
The conventional wisdom, especially on the right, is that of all past presidents Barack Obama most closely resembles Jimmy Carter. Both men, after all, presided over parlous economic times and chose ultra-typical liberal solutions that did not work, apparently worsening the situation and leading to, in Carter’s own term, national “malaise.” Both men also had to deal with serious challenges from Iran and did so, to say the least, ineffectually.
So the case for Carter — who, as we all know, was not reelected — is strong. But I have another candidate, one who to me resembles Barack Obama more, especially in personality and style.
His name is Richard Nixon.
Now I realize the comparison is unfair to Nixon who, other than Watergate of course, was a pretty decent president. He and his cohort Henry Kissinger opened Red China and effectively changed history by triangulating the Soviet Union. What those two men did helped lead to the diminution of Maoism as well and probably saved a huge number of lives.
Tricky Dick also ratified the first, and ultimately most significant, U. S. environmental legislation, the kind that actually had a positive effect on the air and water, as opposed to the destructive self-regarding nonsense we have today.
Unfortunately, Nixon, for all his political brilliance, was an overly suspicious, many have even said paranoid, man.
And therein lies the similarity to Barack Obama. Call Obama “Nixon lite.”
From the very beginning Obama gave hints of Nixonian traits, but now, with his presidency crumbling around him, the global economy in freefall, and his signature healthcare legislation loved only by members of his immediate family (and even they have probably not read it), he is approaching the apotheosis of Nixonianism – sweaty brows, furtive looks, and a generally solitary and paranoid style.
Even the normally sympathetic Vanity Fair has portrayed him as an isolated man — one who has isolated himself. Is that not Nixon?
And his attorney general, Eric Holder, is being quintessentially Nixonian, repeatedly prevaricating in front of Congress on the “Fast & Furious” scandal. As with Nixon, it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up.
Although I admit the tone of this article is to some degree sarcastic, unlike Bill Maher, I take little pleasure in biting sarcasm toward my political adversaries. The condition of country is not good, worse, in fact, than it was even under Carter and certainly under Nixon.
The mainstream media, as again we all know, never examined Obama the man when he first ran for office, although there were many markers available to them. They received him instead with a swoon, the exact opposite manner from which they received Nixon back in the day.
But the American public deserves better than incompetents like Carter and paranoids like Nixon. They deserve grown-ups, perhaps devoid of flash and charisma, but competent enough to do the job. Maybe we need a new Calvin Coolidge.
If you don’t think my comparison is apt, let me know. I know it’s not perfect — history may repeat itself, but never identically — but it’s the best I could do at the moment. Have at me.
The first former President that Obama resembles which came my mind was Robert Mugabe.
Heinrich Himmler, without Himmler’s warmth and humility.
It’s a tossup for me....Carter....Mugabe....Mao.
RE: The first former President that Obama resembles which came my mind was Robert Mugabe.
Robert Mugabe is NOT a former president. He STILL IS the President of Zimbabwe.
Former? Comrade Mugabe is well into his tenth term as President,having won the hearts of so many of his fellow countrymen (and having "silenced" so many of his opponents).
1...2...what come after 2? Five!
It’s an insult to ALL previous US Presidents to suggest that Obama resembles any of them. However, he DOES resemble another former President...
Idi, Idi, Idi Amin
Most amazin’ man, that’s even been
He be General, de President, de king of the scene
Idi, Idi, Idi Amin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFeJJAQPiK4
This one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan AND this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson
Hugo Chavez
William Henry Harrison. He talked for four hours in a cold driving rain after his inauguration, contracted pneumonia, and died thirty days later. Obama is all talk and has contracted a disease that is killing America.
Roosevelt and he’s surrounded by as many communists as Roosevelt was
Not only is dictator Mugabe alive and well, he has been offered an additional honor by that august world body, the UN: Robert Mugabe asked to be UN ‘leader for tourism’
see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/29/robert-mugabe-un-international-envoy-tourism
Idi Amin ?
I think he was hoping that both would be former presidents.
P.S. I think it is still hilarious that FR Spell Checker can recognize "Mugabe" but has no clue who "Obama" is.
Resting the thesis only on personal psychology is weak.
When we KNOW Obama is a brainwashed-from-birth ideologue.
He has been called everything but the name fitting best imo is STATIST.
So when he creates bogey men, enemies lists, etc., he is doing what statists do.
And we know, he now sees that America will not go gently into that dark night of statism, so as a means to an end he employs what some call Nixonian tactics but in reality are despotic ones.
Is he psychologically twisted? Sure. But so are most despots. But the key is their despotic ideology, not their psyches.
Oh look! It’s Tiger Woods!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.