Charles Krauthammer: Obama's Altitude Sickness or Obama’s Descent to Earth

NRO ^ | September 12, 2008 | Charles Krauthammer

[Tolik]

<excerpted>

... But Palin is not just a problem for Obama. She is also a symptom of what ails him. Before Palin, Obama was the ultimate celebrity candidate. For no presidential nominee in living memory had the gap between adulation and achievement been so great. Which is why McCain's Paris Hilton ads struck such a nerve. Obama's meteoric rise was based not on issues -- there was not a dime's worth of difference between him and Hillary on issues -- but on narrative, on eloquence, on charisma.

The unease at the Denver convention, the feeling of buyer's remorse, was the Democrats' realization that the arc of Obama's celebrity had peaked -- and had now entered a period of its steepest decline. That Palin could so instantly steal the celebrity spotlight is a reflection of that decline.

It was inevitable. Obama had managed to stay aloft for four full years. But no one can levitate forever.

... The problem is that Obama began believing in his own magical powers -- the chants, the swoons, the "we are the ones" self-infatuation. Like Ronald Reagan, he was leading a movement, but one entirely driven by personality. Reagan's revolution was rooted in concrete political ideas (supply-side economics, welfare-state deregulation, national strength) that transcended one man. For Obama's movement, the man is the transcendence.

Which gave the Obama campaign a cult-like tinge. With every primary and every repetition of the high-flown, self-referential rhetoric, the campaign's insubstantiality became clear.

[r9etb]

But his political career, for all intents and purposes, is over.

Perhaps. Obama's biggest problem is that his charisma is not backed up by any serious experience. Should he take the time to build it up -- maybe run for governor of Illinois -- then perhaps he can make himself a force to be reckoned with.

OTOH, his career up to now is marked by self-promotion and impatience -- a tendency which is made stronger by the sycophantic support his charisma engenders. He clearly wants now, what he should have started seeking 10 years from now.

I suppose the best comparison for Obama would be ... well, maybe Vince Young (as eviscerated by Jason Whitlock).

Of Young, Whitlock says,

But the truth is, I told you before the 2006 draft that Vince Young was primed for NFL failure. He entered the league with an attitude, mindset and supporting cast totally unprepared to survive the pressure, challenge and responsibility that goes along with the most prestigious and difficult job in all of sports.

Replace the sports words with their political equivalents, and you've got a fine description of Obama.

[Tax-chick]

We can't let these petty historical facts like Henry V's death get in the way of a great story.

This reminds me of the time one of my sons was acting out some drama with his brother, and he said, "You can't kill me, James - I'm the MAIN CHARACTER!"

[Christian4Bush]

mark for links

[carmelanne]

I agree that Cindy McCain and John alone made the decision to save John's last opportunity at salvation and become of value to the Country that has paid him well for his services, both good, bad and very bad.

I can appreciate having the ear of an “informed source” but heck y'all, did the informed source also disclose that they knew what was best for the Country and lobbied for a VP like smiling Joe Lieberman?

That is why IMHO, which is also MY informed source, the selection of Palin was more a benevolent gift than a choice by the same guy that lets Lindsey hump his leg like a dog in heat.

Cindy McCain made the choice for the little guy after threatening to lock him out of her seven houses and hiding his ball caps.

Just sayin

[Tolik]

I know what you mean and was kind of disappointed as well. After thinking on this article, I interpret his position as he treats her as adult and not as a celebrity - meaning that its OK to critique her selection and herself. See my post 39, please.

A politician as a cult leader is worrisome to me. As well as cheering for your side like we do for our favorite sports team - ALWAYS. It is actually good, that McCain was critiqued by conservative base a lot. Its just possible that it made him a better candidate.

[DungeonMaster]

Krauthammer reveals, again, why he is the best of the best.

AMEN to that. I was blown away the first time I saw him school the rest of the Panel on Fox News Sunday.

[ModelBreaker]

“. . . did the informed source also disclose that they knew what was best for the Country and lobbied for a VP like smiling Joe Lieberman?”

I am certain that this particular source would NEVER lobby for liberman. This person’s politics are nearly as conservative as ModelBreaker’s. And that’s pretty conservative.

[carmelanne]

Celebrity, cult goddess, mother of five, leader of the free world; every person can call her whatever moves them, but move them she does. She will be known for being a common American.

My heart is so glad that she is now on the scene and radiates a persona that we all recognize and can relate to!

Tell me truthfully, does she not remind you of your grandmother or other family member or friend who has touched you and has left their memory in your heart that brings a smile when you need it the most?

How in the hell can I relate or believe in Obama, he means nothing to me! He means nothing to my family! Are we such schmucks that we can not discerne for ourselves just who is worthy of our trust?

McCain can stick that little snarl of his in someone else's face but not mine! Can you imagine having to face him at a customer service desk. We are doomed with the choice of Obama or McCain. I can only pray for a benevolent outcome to this mess.

In the meantime; thank you McCain for your great choice and I hope many other great choices will follow!

Just sayin!

[carmelanne]

A ask good question. “I still would like to know who is actually driving the Obamessiah.”

It is a tad unsettling that his backer is shrouded in mystery. Many unusual people have been mentioned usually in response to questions, such as; how, with Obama’s unusual background, did he manage to get such an advanced degree from Harvard?

http://ingunowners.com/forums/politics_laws_and_2nd_amendment/9355-who_paid_for_obama_s_harvard_law_education.html

A for real flesh and blood civil rights activist has this to say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EcC0QAd0Ug

Also, Dr. Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour a/k/a Donald Warden. My choice as Obama’s sponsor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIrWrxuR_GM

I love YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YzW7_c6XvU&feature=related

Just sayin

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

To top himself, Obama had to reach. Hence his triumphal declaration that history would note that night, his victory, his ascension, as “the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.”

Heh heh.

[SunkenCiv]

Palin is not just a problem for Obama. She is also a symptom of what ails him. Before Palin, Obama was the ultimate celebrity candidate. For no presidential nominee in living memory had the gap between adulation and achievement been so great. Which is why McCain's Paris Hilton ads struck such a nerve. Obama's meteoric rise was based not on issues -- there was not a dime's worth of difference between him and Hillary on issues -- but on narrative, on eloquence, on charisma.

The unease at the Denver convention, the feeling of buyer's remorse, was the Democrats' realization that the arc of Obama's celebrity had peaked -- and had now entered a period of its steepest decline. That Palin could so instantly steal the celebrity spotlight is a reflection of that decline.

[GoLightly]

It is actually good, that McCain was critiqued by conservative base a lot. Its just possible that it made him a better candidate.

I agree. If the base had just fallen in line (Where else are they going to go, Obama?), I don't think he would have tapped one of ours (Palin) in his VP selection. We refused pleas for funds, weren't volunteering to help his campaign & many of us were talking about sitting out this election cycle. I think he realized that going for all of the votes from the mushy middle weren't gonna get the job done. Lo & behold, he needed the GOP base.

We needed a reason to vote for his ticket & he gave us one.

[bert]

That is a Caludian insult. He actually was even though the Pretorians thought he wasn’t

[WOSG]

The ‘change’ is the same-old hard-core progressive leftism that 30% of America ardently wants, and congregates in Seattle, Berkeley and Cambridge Mass and other outposts to get it ... and 70% of America is appalled at and dislikes immensely.

So Obama could be either (a) a dishonest politician (b) an honest liberal or (c) a vague hype-artist.

He tried (c), but then is shifting increasingly into (a) now.
He skipped (b) when he lied about:
- His pro-gun-control positions in the past
- His voting against Born Alive Infant Protection act (took the pro-infanticide position)
- His tax votes (he voted for tax hikes and now is campaigning as if he wants to cut taxes)
etc.

[fightinJAG]

I posted (maybe a dupe—sorry!) the Whitlock article on Young as a thread-—thinking exactly as you do, wow, this really applies to Obambi as well.

I agree that Obambi may wring out some sort of political career after this. I guess I should have said his *national* political career is over.

I can’t think of one Rat loser who did anything other but fade into oblivion. Maybe history escapes me at the moment.

[E=MC2]

OTOH, his career up to now is marked by self-promotion and impatience

And support from the Marxist Left.

[Graymatter]

Well, I’m partial to Charles K, but he did use a lot of leftovers in this commentary. Essentially the same complaint about Obama, expressed 8 different ways. Thus, “nailed it” 8x with one nail.
(Obscure allusion to the “magic bullet theory” of 1963.)

[dervish]

Soros is the puppetmaster

[DustyMoment]

Soros is the puppetmaster

Soros is an easy target, but I'm not so sure he is the hand behand the Obama sock puppet. I've seen other information that suggest that there are shadow figures behind the Obamessiah's meteoric rise other thanSoros.

Until we really know who is pulling his strings, Soros is just speculation.