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When Reality Catches up to Rhetoric [Victor Davis Hanson: 0's soaring oratory not matching reality]
NRO Corner ^ | November 18, 2009 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 11/19/2009 12:56:45 PM PST by Tolik

The growing problem for the Obama administration is that the public has finally caught on that the president's tough rhetoric and soaring oratory don't match reality.

"Considering all options" and "wanting more information" essentially mean dithering and voting present on Afghanistan, even after announcing the adoption of a new bold strategy.

"Saving jobs" means conjecturing about the effects of massive borrowing and enhancing your figures through the creation of fictitious congressional districts and bogus employment reporting.

"Punishing KSM" means giving the liberal community a world platform for legal gymnastics designed to repudiate the past administration and demonstrate that community's "tolerance" — without much worry about justice for KSM or the adverse effects of giving such a monster a public megaphone.

The health-care mess grows worse: The Chinese have caught on that Obama wants to borrow more billions for us, who are cash poor, to create entitlements that they, who are cash rich, would not create for their own people. The new government suggestion that women not begin receiving routine mammograms until age 50 comes at a bad time, given that critics of Obamacare have been arguing that it will lead to rationing of service.

Guantanamo is about to go the way of tribunals, renditions, intercepts, Predators, and wiretaps — damned in rhetoric, but kept intact in reality.

"Transparency" did not quite happen either: The Obama administration has offered more photo-ops and fewer press conferences (cf. Anita Dunn on that tact), and Washington has as many lobbyists as ever. Meanwhile, the administration has not fulfilled its promise to post pending legislation on the Internet; it has politicized the NEA; and it has declared war on Fox News, the Chamber of Commerce, and the town-hall protesters. The president has even employed the sexual slur "tea-bagger" against his opposition.

Obama's "reset button" foreign policy in just ten months has made the Middle East worse and has delighted European leftists as much as it has terrified Europe's centrist leaders. In Latin America, the U.S. has gone from being an advocate of consensual government, human rights, and market capitalism to being an appeaser of Chávez, Zelaya, Ortega, the Castros, et al., inasmuch as these communist hardliners are now seen as problematic advocates for indigenous peoples and economic justice.

We are left with two conclusions. 1) A very inexperienced president has discovered that all the easy, Manichean campaign rhetoric of 2008 does not translate well into actual governance. 2) Obama is in a race to push a rather radical, polarizing agenda down the throat of a center-right country before the country wakes up and his approval ratings hit 40 percent.

We may see one of two things happen: Either the country will move more to the left in four years than it has in the last 50; or Obama will take down with him both the Democratic Congress and the very notion of responsible liberal governance, thereby achieving a Jimmy Carter–type legacy.

The next year will be one of the most interesting in memory.


TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: flipflop; obama; obamabreakspromises; obamalegacy; obamalies; vdh; victordavishanson
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To: Paladin2

He is in Afghanistan and Iraq.


21 posted on 11/19/2009 2:24:32 PM PST by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: Da Coyote
Having taught at the undergrad, grad, and post grad level, it’s easy to discern when a student has not done the homework.

post grad...? What classes do post-docs take, anyway?

Cheers!

22 posted on 11/19/2009 4:03:09 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Yogafist

I would like to know who the man (persons?) behind Obozo’s curtain are!


23 posted on 11/19/2009 4:59:49 PM PST by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
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To: Yogafist; Tolik

He’s am overrated POS.

If people really think he is “smart”, or a great orator, we are waaay more dumbed down than I thought we were.


24 posted on 11/19/2009 6:44:42 PM PST by Canedawg (FUBO)
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To: Canedawg

ELITISTS are the ones who think O is a great orator! Elitists are the dumbest people around....


25 posted on 11/19/2009 6:53:52 PM PST by goodnesswins (Become a Precinct Committee Person/Officer....in the GOP...or do NOT complain.)
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To: Tolik
It’s an accomplishment. Does he qualify as the most successful snake oil salesman?

Your point is well-taken.

But the most successful snake oil salesmen never repeated a location. The less successful were those who did make a second call on a town...and they often found themselves dressed in tar and feathers.

Obama's act isn't wearing well...

26 posted on 11/19/2009 7:01:32 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: goodnesswins

Nobama stammers, pauses, uses incorrect inflections and says nothing of substance ever. He is such an embarrassment as a person, as a man and as president. Those who say he is a great orator are the definition of delusional. The reality is that he is a pathetic person.


27 posted on 11/19/2009 7:04:16 PM PST by hal ogen
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To: Tolik

The next year will be one of the most interesting in memory.

Absolutely, rank right up there with 1938.

Adolph Hitler named Time’s Man of the year 1938.
and final quote from that article.

“To those who watched the closing events of the year it seemed more than probable that the Man of 1938 may make 1939 a year to be remembered.”


28 posted on 11/19/2009 7:55:32 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Tolik

“The next year will be one of the most interesting in memory.”

No doubt. I only hope that life doesn’t become such a struggle that we have no time or energy left to ponder what is or isn’t “interesting”. People out of work with little hope of extricating themselves from their morass aren’t wondering what’s interesting...they’re wondering where their next meal will come from. And if they think it can come from you, escalating measures of force will be the separating element.


29 posted on 11/19/2009 11:56:26 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (It's better to give a Ford to the Kidney Foundation than a kidney to the Ford Foundation.)
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To: Tolik; Da Coyote

30 posted on 11/20/2009 3:11:00 AM PST by metesky (My retirement fund is holding steady @ $.05 a can.)
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To: Tolik
"...the adverse effects of giving such a monster a public megaphone"

That could actually turn out to be not that bad a thing.Let him speak his mind and beliefs for all and sundry to hear...it might clear a lot of smoke and mirrors.

31 posted on 11/20/2009 3:14:47 AM PST by mitch5501 (Yeah,but is it shatterproof?)
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To: metesky

Slick Willie must be seething. He worked so hard to be the number one con man. And indeed, his political enemies were reporting that he was so good at it, that they had to make an effort to resist his charms in the face-to-face meetings. Plus, Clinton is capable of talking hours non-stop on a myriad of wonkish themes. (Not that it makes him more right in our eyes, but anyway...) Now he is over-charmed by a guy who can’t even speak that well, without a teleprompter at least. Must be absolutely maddening for Clinton.


32 posted on 11/20/2009 4:56:29 AM PST by Tolik
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To: mitch5501
That could actually turn out to be not that bad a thing.Let him speak his mind and beliefs for all and sundry to hear...it might clear a lot of smoke and mirrors.

KSM is not going to convince many Americans, that's true. But all that hundreds of millions of the fence-sitting Muslims - he just might. Where Osama bin Laden was absolutely correct is that all this was about the message: who is a stronger horse - they or us. Letting KSM speak is a victory for them, and a proof that they are the strong horse.
33 posted on 11/20/2009 5:05:21 AM PST by Tolik
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To: mitch5501

See also Krauthammer’s take:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390597/posts


34 posted on 11/20/2009 5:09:39 AM PST by Tolik
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To: Tolik

Reality catch up to rhetoric? I doubt it because it seems that the health bill will be passed. The Democrats are going to do it, despite the reality of growing public disapproval and huge debt. That means rhetoric is still going strong. Obama is still smoozing, still fanangeling, still whispering sweet nothings in the senators ears. Rhetoric is still winning, just like in the Bush years, when there is no real hardship in the land. When there is no hardship dreams are never tempered with reality and pleasant, smooth words win out. People don’t know better... in three years time they will.


35 posted on 11/20/2009 10:01:58 PM PST by Blind Eye Jones
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To: Tolik
We may see one of two things happen: Either the country will move more to the left in four years than it has in the last 50; or Obama will take down with him both the Democratic Congress and the very notion of responsible liberal governance, thereby achieving a Jimmy Carter–type legacy.

Let's hope it is the latter. I think the people are figuring out the emperor has no clothes...or something like that.

36 posted on 11/22/2009 10:59:19 PM PST by redgirlinabluestate
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To: Tolik

Hello my good friend. I hope you are well?!? I have been missing your pings!


37 posted on 11/28/2009 10:33:01 AM PST by Lando Lincoln
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To: Taxman
I would like to know who the man (persons?) behind Obozo’s curtain are!

I have a feeling it is tied into the EU.

38 posted on 11/28/2009 10:43:17 AM PST by opentalk
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To: opentalk

George Soros is there, somewhere.


39 posted on 11/28/2009 10:56:39 PM PST by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
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To: Taxman

yep, and the UN


40 posted on 11/29/2009 8:08:22 AM PST by opentalk
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