Posted on 03/30/2009 5:42:17 AM PDT by SJackson
I have been watching an interesting phenomenon on the Right, which is beginning to cause me concern. I am referring to the over-the-top hysteria in response to the first months in office of our new president, which distinctly reminds me of the “Bush Is Hitler” crowd on the Left.
Speaking of this crowd, have you seen any “I am so sorry” postings from that quarter as Obama continues and even escalates the former president's war policy in Afghanistan and attempts to consolidate his military occupation of Iraq?
Conservatives, please. Let's not duplicate the manias of the Left as we figure out how to deal with Mr. Obama. He is not exactly the anti-Christ, although a disturbing number of people on the Right are convinced he is.
I have recently received commentaries that claim that "Obama's speeches are unlike any political speech we have heard in American history" and "never has a politician in this land had such a quasi-religious impact on so many people" and "Obama is a narcissist," which leads the author to then compare Obama to David Koresh, Charles Manson, Stalin and Saddam Hussein. Excuse me while I blow my nose.
This fellow has failed to notice that all politicians are narcissists – and that a recent American president was a world-class exponent of the imperial me. So what? Political egos are one of the reasons the Founders put checks and balances on executive power. As for serial lying, is there a politician that cannot be accused of that? And once, the same recent president set a pretty a high bar in this category, and we survived it. As for Obama's speeches, they are hardly in the Huey Long, Louie Farrakhan, Fidel Castro vein. They are in fact eloquently and cleverly centrist and sober.
So what's the panic? It is true that Obama has shown surprising ineptitude in his first months in office, but he's not a zero with no accomplishments as many conservatives seem to think – unless you regard beating the Clinton machine and winning the presidency as nothing. But in doing this you fall into the “Bush-is-an-idiot” bag of liberal miasmas.
It is also true Obama has ceded his domestic economic agenda to the House Democrats and spent a lot of money in the process. But what’s the surprise in this? After all, Bush and McCain both proposed (and in Bush's case pushed through) massive government giveaways (which amount to government takeovers as well). This is bad, but it doesn't make Obama a closet Mussolini, however deplorable the conservatives among us may regard it. Moreover, he's already run into political resistance even within his own party. Charlie Rangel has made it clear that the itemized deduction tax hike is not going through his committee – and that should tell you that the American system, the one the Founders created, is still in place.
Even as astute a conservative thinker as Mark Steyn has been swept up in the tide that thinks Obama is a “transformative” radical. But look again at his approach to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In both cases, as noted, he is carrying out the Bush policies – the same that he once joined his fellow Democrats in condemning. And that should be reassuring to anyone concerned about where he is heading as commander-in-chief.
In other words, while it's reasonable to be unhappy with a Democratic administration and even concerned because the Democrats are now a socialist party in the European sense, we are not witnessing the coming of the anti-Christ. A good strategy for political conflicts is to understand your opponent first – not to underestimate him, but not to overestimate him either.
Once conservatives do that, they will find some silver linings in the first moves of the Obama administration. Through a combination of ineptitude and zeal, Obama has in two short months locked down the conservative and Republican base. On fetal stem-cell research, on borders (e-verification), on spending, on unions, on shutting down talk radio, Obama has flexed the leftist muscle so nakedly and unmistakably that there isn’t a conservative left who will vote Democratic in the next election (and there were many who did so in the last).
As we move forward, Obama faces increasingly tough choices in the wars against Islamic fascism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Gaza and Iran. Hopefully, he will make the right choices, and should he do so conservatives will need to be there to support him. If he makes the wrong choices, conservatives will need to be there to oppose him. But neither our support nor our opposition should be based on hysterical responses to policies that we just don't like. Let’s leave that kind of behavior to the liberals who invented it.
Whats the difference between the two?
While I normally have the highest respect for David H., I think this is a dangerous "misunderestimation" of Barak Ogabe being made by a number of conservatives. There has been nothing inept or bumbling about his implementation of socialism and his dismantling of capitalism and our republic. Obomber has been quite efficient instituting his *progressive reforms* and moving us along to a one word currency and government.
What amazes me is how the masses seem to be embracing the socialism you say is being crammed down our throat. People cheer when the administration interferes in the private sector, whether in trying to control bonuses or replacing CEOs of major companies. The problem is that we have been spoon fed socialism in dribs and drabs for the past 70 years and now, when the doses are increased it doesn't seem as bad.
I really believe the free enterprise system and capitalism will never return to this country once all of the plans of this congress and administration is in place.
FOCA is a deliberate attempt to close Catholic Hospitals. The secular-progressives can’t impose socialized medicine as long as the church continues in its ministry of caring for the sick.
Horowitz needs to wake up. He’s dreaming and doesn’t realize how radical Obama really is. He’s one of those ignorant “conservatives” who ignored the warnings that should have been obvious in Obama’s past and present associations.
While overestimating your opponent may cost you somewhat, underestimating him and perhaps not even considering him an adversary is stupid and dangerous.
Only whackos consider Obama to be the anti-Christ. Scripture clearly indicates he is not.
John Bolton on Fox and Friends this morning, talking about the dangers of attacks on America, was asked by Brian if he had trouble sleeping at night. Bolton said, “I’d sleep better if we had a different administration.” I nearly choked!! He always was one to say it plain and clearly; no political correctness for him. Maybe Bolton and Horowitz need to talk, or better Bolton talk and Horowitz listen.
So can I.
I think there is a difference here in that Obama has a background of involvement in extreme left wing politics, being a disciple of Saul Alinsky, his ties to ACORN, Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, etc. I think there is cause for concern. I suppose he might moderate and mature in office, but I think Conservatives should have some healthy scepticism.
Hey, David, go read your own book on George Soros and then go choke on this article.
On a more or less unrelated note, I was listening to Rush on Friday, and he was talking about BO's bretheren. Aunt "Tootie"(?)...who is about to be deported. The half brother who lives in a hut in Africa. Some other half-brother who currently has cholera. And so on.
Sez me, "I wonder if there are any other modern-day presidents who had close relatives living in huts and dying of cholera?" It's true, that you can't choose who you're related to - I'm sure that Jimmy Carter would have loved to hide Billy in a closet, same with Bill Clinton's Bother-In-Law - but they can be given a hand up.
Surprised that BO hasn't bothered helping out his family, if for no other reason than to shut up the commentators. Says a lot about the man, I think.
Constant repetition of the BDS lies destroyed the second Bush admininstration. We should destroy the Usurper by constant repetition of the truth, something Horowitz seems to have trouble grasping here.
Was this written before or after the author discoverd BO was assuming the power to hire and fire private sector CEOs?
Obama’s level of spending/socialism IS way beyond the pale of anyone in history.
Yes, conservatives can take things too far sometimes. Calling for unprovoked violence against the government is one way. But calling BO and his lapdogs (like the press) out on their hypocrisy isn’t.
Obama is doing WORSE than Bush ever thought of doing AND he was front and center ripping Bush for his actions.
I may not have always agreed with Bush - though mostly I did - but he was a principled man, told the truth, spoke his mind, and stuck to his guns. He never let polls dictate policy.
For those reasons, BDSers were sick, twisted, leftist nuts who spewed venom for venom’s sake. None of their complaints and accusations were rooted in any reality.
Obama, on the other hand, is a danger, a liar, a poseur, and an inexperienced, unqualified snake oil salesman who has taken over the government of the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world.
He and his Congress, have already shredded the constitution - a charge that was laughably and incorrectly made against Bush. So this is not derangement - this is being properly outraged and horrified at the actions of an anti-American who has the power to remake this country in his own, Marxist, collectivist, redistributionist image.
David, my friend, in this Easter season, you have no idea what Christ means, so how can you rule on an "anti-Christ?"
Zero hates America.
That was how he was raised, who mentored him, who sponsored him, who hired him, who churched him and who married him.
His hope and change is really retribution on America for us being successful and free.
So, no, David, I’m not being paranoid.
And his constant use of a teleprompter is far more sinister to me than just being a narcissist.
We’re into Jedi mind control, and along with a cheerleading media, and we are in deep kimchee.
**** you horowitz!
LLS
I agree... like I said before... **** horowitz!
LLS
I call it the Obama Reality Syndrome.
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.