The Obama Spell Is Broken

The Wall Street Journal ^ | FEBRUARY 2, 2010, 9:33 A.M. ET | FOUAD AJAMI

[dixjea]

The curtain has come down on what can best be described as a brief un-American moment in our history. That moment began in the fall of 2008, with the great financial panic, and gave rise to the Barack Obama phenomenon.

.. The speed with which some of his devotees have turned on him—and their unwillingness to own up to what their infatuation had wrought—is nothing short of astounding.

There was cultural "cool" and racial absolution for the white professional classes ... There was understandable racial pride on the part of the African-American community...

The white working class had been slow to be convinced. The technocracy and elitism of Mr. Obama's campaign—indeed of his whole persona—troubled that big constituency, much more, I believe, than did his race and name...

Mr. Obama .. had won an election, but he took it as a plebiscite granting him a writ to remake the basic political compact of this republic.

Mr. Obama's self-regard, and his reading of his mandate, overwhelmed all restraint...Better ram down sweeping social programs—a big liberal agenda before the people stirred to life again.

But no sooner had the country recovered its poise, it drew a line for Mr. Obama. The "bluest" of states, Massachusetts, sent to Washington a senator who was unapologetic in his assertion that it was more urgent to hunt down terrorists than to provide for their legal defense.

Then the close call on Christmas Day ..demonstrated that the terrorist threat had not receded. The president did his best to recover: We are at war, he suddenly proclaimed. Nor were we in need of penance abroad... The generosity of the American response to Haiti, .. was a stark reminder that this remains an exceptional nation that needs no apologies in distant lands...

[Iron Munro]

There was understandable racial pride on the part of the African-American community...

Doesn't anyone at all have the guts to call it by its correct name:

RACISM

[Tax-chick]

Bingo! Can you imagine a major newpaper’s including the phrase, “understandable racial pride on the part of the White American community”?

FReep ‘em, anyway. “Racial pride” is for people who have never done anything, personally, of which they could legitimately be proud.

[HerrBlucher]

He may want one but he won’t get one, and even if he did they would be useless against 80 million patriots.

[teletech]

He will never own up to his failed ideology as being the problem, or his lack of leadership, after all he is delusional.

DemocRAT means never having to say you're sorry.

[teletech]

He does that 5 times a day now, while facing east, on the rug in the oval office.

All to true.

[T Minus Four]

I think we can consider the reparations paid in full now.

[teletech]

I don’t think there will be any “IF” about it. I suspect it will be the first order of business for the next House, that is if the Rats don’t throw him under the bus before then. They are all running very scared that they may actually have to go find a real job.

One can only hope the lie that is Obama will finally come to light and he is removed from office.

[teletech]

With obama, it is swim across that bridge if we can find it. Most likely, the bridge is gone.

Almost makes me hope he can't swim.

[dixjea]

Good points. From your mouth to Gods ear.