Sunday night I wrote a post about the political lay of the land after this weekend. It was lined up for tonight. It essentially said Obama must be considered the favorite in the General. Axelrod is overseeing a brutal and effective campaign and with his help the GOP is proving to be inept and repellant. Yet it is still too early to know how things will play out.
But I only have so many variations on that theme in me. I wrongly assumed that not having a dog in the hunt would be liberating as a blogger. Then the field narrowed to two bridge trolls, a Sears mannequin, and a man with consistency and ideas (many of which I do not agree with) but who has no chance whatsoever. Still, interesting things are always brewing even if our leading actors are 3rd rate.
Axelrod, who never much impressed me in 2008, is schooling Republicans. It’s a sight to behold. The tactics are pure Alinsky and the GOP, once masters of the brutal campaign, has yet to figure out a way to defend against this, much less go on the offensive. Alinsky tactics are amoral, duplicitous, hypocritical, and in the main, evil, but they are effective since they are perfectly suited for the age of Facebook. It’s not far afield to say Alinsky presaged Twitter and Facebook. The man would have loved both.
Further, if Santorum and Gingrich stay in the race much past Tuesday it’s fair to say they are all but paid employees of David Axelrod. The GOP establishment’s inability drag these two men off the stage and chuck them onto a trash heap is not only harming their only viable choice, it’s also setting up the destruction of the Republican party. That is not an overstatement. The Santorum wing of the GOP is behaving like a regional rump party. They keep it up and it will become a regional rump party. This might be cause for celebration if the party left standing were led by upright, moral people. It’s not. Under Obama, amoral deviance is the norm. News emerging of Holder’s defense of extra judicial killings of American citizens while everyone is frothing over the Limbaugh/Fluke story is not a coincidence. No, I don’t see an evil, specific plan in the Obama campaign when gifts like Limbaugh’s idiocy burst forth. I’m not Alex Jones. But luck is the residue of design. Cue the conversation. Ensure it cannot be avoided. Allow the morons to be morons. Choose ideal moments to interject…and pick up the phone.
Whether or not Romney can figure out a way to combat the layers of attacks emanating from Chicago remains to be seen. I doubt he will without outside help. As willing as he will be to go negative, his campaign will remain straight forward. He’ll be a conventional war general in an asymmetrical war. He shows little sign he has the imagination to adjust. The people surrounding him show less. (What was that Ford Field fiasco? Who is that stupid on a major campaign?)
So what could upset the Obama narrative? Here’s something. It’s being reported that Israel has already decided to attack Iran. I hope this doesn’t surprise anyone. It shouldn’t. Of course, they’ve decided already. The question is when? I’m skipping the hellish implications of such an attack as discussions of them are better suited for other writers. Note I said an attack would upset Obama’s narrative, not that it would harm Obama’s re-election chances. In fact, it might help them. If we find ourselves embroiled in a regional conflict in September it will be very hard for many voters to change horses. But what if the attack comes in April and the spike in oil that will occur creates chaos here? Oil shock, add near immediate and substantial food inflation, which leads to hoarding…Crazy scenario? It’s not even in the vicinity of crazy. It’s plausible. And remember: Romney’s entire narrative is “I’m the fixer.” 3 or 4 months of economic dislocation and high anxiety? Short attention span Americans will be perfectly happy to switch horses.
Iran is one example of a brown swan. There are others.
- We’re lied to so often about inflation a breaking point is bound to happen, a moment when the lie is so far from day to day reality it explodes into open disgust. I’ll even guess right now that the disgust would take the form of an “on the exchange floor” rant by some uncontrolled CNBC talker that goes viral and confirms what everyone already sees all the time: Food prices are going up, up, up.
- And as always: Gas prices. So far the media has helped Obama get through our current spike up. This is doable for a simple reason. Most of the nation has yet to see the number “4″ at the gas pump. 4 is a psychological break point. When everyone is paying 4 or more dollars for a gallon things will change.
For now this election is going perfectly for Obama. It’s hard to see how that continues. If it does, I’ll be bored stiff.
Yes it will.
Ronald Reagan led a charmed life. During his presidency, criticism did not stick to him to such an extent that he won the nickname, the Teflon President. However, the Iran/Contra affair almost led to his downfall. Reagan acknowledged his culpability and asked for forgiveness. The American people forgave him, and Reagan avoided impeachment.
Barack Obama has also had a charmed life to date. When he ran for the US Senate in 2006, his principal opponent withdrew from the contest due to a sex scandal. The GOP found a weak replacement candidate who Barack easily defeated. In 2008, the GOP nominated John McCain and Sarah Palin, neither of whom were qualified for high office at the onset of the Great Recession. It appears that the GOP are intent on a repeat of 2008 this year by nominating someone not qualified to be president. The country deserves better.
Axelrod and the rest of the Obama team will prevail.
BARF.
The Obamabot blog pet returns with more fairy tales (Obama was/is qualifed).
“his principal opponent withdrew from the contest due to a sex scandal.”
Both of barry’s opponents, in the dem primary and the general, had their divorce records leaked. barry’s a little fucker and a rat, so ratfucking comes second nature to him.
barry is our Vladimir Putin — that make make him different than the GOP field, but not “better.”
“Barack Obama has also had a charmed life to date.”
Particularly charmed in striking a motherlode of sheeple in the electorate. Sheeple and robots.
Yikes! This one’s a true believer. He even mimics Obama’s Reagan love.
Yeah PJ, pathetic ain’t it. Barry=Raygun=Great Leader.
Honestly, these people are infants.
Yes, NES. Pathetic.
walthe310, the amount of bullshit in your comment is breathtaking. It’s kinda inspired, in fact. I do appreciate how closely you watch my blog, though. The rhythm of the regulars round here is such that it usually takes a bit for the comments to start rolling. Not with you on johnwsmart watch. I post. You dive in. I’m flattered. I’d like to infer that this means the Obot Patrol has assigned me to your Truth squad portfolio. This is probably me flattering myself but WTH… you’re a fine alinsky-ite. Kudos.
“Charmed” is an interesting word. In the sense you use it also applies to one Mr. Stalin, who managed to artfully dispose of any number of people who stood in his way. Obama has yet to wield an ice pick so I’ll give him cred for being more civilized in his brutalization of opponents. Either his disposal of opposition has been ruthless or lucky…charmed? Hardly.
Your reading of history is weird and hilariously inept. Reagan was a 2 term gov. of the largest state and ran twice for the WH before winning. Like him or not, he actually had a record by 1980. Obama sat around the state senate until some handlers saw his opening. A judge broke every rule to destroy his opposition, then in 2007-08 the media and the DNC connived to get him the nod, mostly because his blackness amused them. He had a D after his name. It was 2008. He won. “Charmed?” Ha!
As for this doozy “It appears that the GOP are intent on a repeat of 2008 this year by nominating someone not qualified to be president.” Wow. An ongoing thesis of mine is that Obama fanatics are mentally ill. Not being glib about this statement at all. I’m quite serious about it. There is a personality disorder with Obots that creates a perception that is entirely delusional. It’s usually not as extreme as say Larouchies, but it’s on the same continuum, which makes it more dangerous. Larouchies expose themselves in a few paragraphs. Obots stay connected to reality for a longer period and are therefore harder to pin down. But it’s usually evident after a bit.
That’s the lead up to this request…unpack what you mean by “qualified” in the above sentence. By the greatly lowered Obama standard Mitt Romney was more “qualified” in 1998 than Obama was in 2008. One could argue that McCain’s hotheadedness was disqualifying – then again so was Obama’s complete lack of accomplishment (I know, i know…President of Harvard Law Review blah blah blah…you need more at this point. New rule: Until Obama releases his college records the harvard law bullshit line is invalid. ) In REALITY Romney is far more “qualified” by conventional standards than Obama…even now. This is not to say I support Mittens, I don’t. It’s merely to point out that the comment above is not reality based. It’s concocted ala Alinsky. I suspect based on some evidence – but don’t know – that this mental illness is a reflection of Obama’s mental illness. Which appears to be textbook NPD.
To understand the Obot mental illness we, the reality based, must “get into the Obot head” and then we see Obama’s “qualifications” are mostly the perception/projection of his fans…still. His large pile of failures and lies since taking office have no bearing in this fantasia. In point of fact, the entirety of Obama’s life is a construction to Obots. An invention. There is still precious little real history on Obama that he did not write himself or that comes from those wildly biased against him. We just don’t know much with certainty.
It’s more likely than not – AT THIS MOMENT – that Obama will win a 2nd term. Though, being reality based, one must look at what we know – which is that 1. Romney is certainly more than “qualified” based on Obama standards. 2. Obama’s poll numbers are still relatively weak by early 4th year standards. If the pattern holds he’s on track to lose actually. 3. This is a supposition, but hard for anyone to refute: Many powerful interests want Obama defeated, this simply wasn’t true in 2008. Will they succeed? No idea. But it changes the dynamic considerably. 4. Opinion, but also hard to refute: Axelrod and Co. are running a good campaign so far. My guess right now it that it will outflank Romney in the end. But again, my opinion here is based on observations SO FAR.
One can glean “luck” or “focus” or a few other things from Obama’s standing in March of 2012…charm isn’t part of the equation. Should he win, a charmed life will have nothing to do with it.
The tragedy of the Obots is one they won’t understand until it’s too late..or ever. They have decided to that pretending to be souless is okay because they think it helps an imagined cause. But they aren’t soulless. And there is no cause. There is only a guy with a personality disorder that dovetails with their own character defects. These two facts will burst forth for some at the same horrifying moment. In a 2nd term? Maybe. Obama unleashed in a 2nd term – with all the power he’s grabbed – will do it. There will be a moment when his fraudulence with affect THEM. They’ll “get it” like some drunks do after a long bender. Or he’ll lose in which case they’ll spend the rest of their days mumbling about what a racist country this is…never questioning their Lordship’s greatness…which is a better outcome for most. Less trauma.
This comment is long and cocky. I know that. There’s much I do not know…but I’m 99% sure I’m right about Barry O. Who he is. Why he’s got the job. And, essentially, who he works for. His fans are easier to assess. And i’ve kinda missed them too. Insanity has some entertainment value…and knocking a few around is good exercise to boot.
A most excellent comment, John.
Once the GOP has a nominee and the GE race is on, I wonder if obots will start swarming blogs like they did in ’08.
John, did I say,…love, love, love you. Thanks for that. Biting, incisive, funny as hell.
Hard to pick a favorite passage, but this is up there:
“As for this doozy “It appears that the GOP are intent on a repeat of 2008 this year by nominating someone not qualified to be president.” Wow. An ongoing thesis of mine is that Obama fanatics are mentally ill. Not being glib about this statement at all. I’m quite serious about it. There is a personality disorder with Obots that creates a perception that is entirely delusional.”
Excellent post and comment John. Regarding the bots, I’m thinking it must be nice in a way to be that delusional and think that things are going to work out great, that their savior is going to fix everything. Its exhausting and depressing to see whats going on and how our future is getting dimmer by the day.
Socal, do you wish you’d taken the blue pill instead?
Hmmm, no, but I wish I didn’t have to worry about my kids future.
John, this response was great. I’m with you all the way. as for this:
I see my own friends and family right there. They cannot believe I’m still “not on board” with this fraud and his henchmen. Just wait until one of their friends – or kids is targeted because they have the same name or look like someone that Obama & Co don’t like.
Outrageous:
“Attorney General Eric Holder gave a speech to law students at Northwestern University today in which he defended the administration’s right to legally kill American citizens abroad “in full accordance with the Constitution.” Holder said strikes such as the one that targeted American-born Anwar Awlaki in Yemen last year are legal because, “‘Due process’ and ‘judicial process’ are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security.” According to Holder, “The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process.” The enemy, he said, must pose an “imminent threat of violent attack,” but that can be broadly interpreted. “In this hour of danger, we simply cannot afford to wait until deadly plans are carried out,” Holder said. “And we will not.”
More: http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/obama-administration-justifies-targeted-killings.html
I don’t understand why all Americans are not freaked out by this and everything Holder is up to. (And J-Nap too)
(Which is why, despite his faults, I am currently supporting Issa as much as I can because he’s the only one who seems to be confronting Holder)
Republicans are just peachy about this and Democrats have been Obamatized.
is anyone surprised? Holder is as much a ratf*cker as TehOne. How could he not defend the targeting of Awlaki et al? He signed off on “Fast and Furious”, didn’t he? none of the illegal, contra-Constitutional actions taken by this adminstration can all be defended – just as Bush did – by hauling out the terrorism card. they play whatever card fits… first race, now terrorism.
The ACLU’s comment: http://www.aclu.org/national-security/aclu-comment-eric-holder-speech-targeted-killing-program
thanks, NES. I’m sending this to my Obot brother.
You could also send him a copy of the US Constitution, with all the parts obama & holder have trampled crossed out.
I’m sending him this as well: http://e2ma.net/go/7477727885/208849384/232303819/29145/goto:http://progressive.org/eric_holder_pathetic_rationale_for_assassinating_U.S_ctizens.html
It’s the response to Holder’s despicable defense of the killing program by editor of The Progressive.
One more thing about my comment above…I think true Obots – the kind of immature creature we saw in droves in 2008…will be far fewer in number this time. There is far less “he’s the messiah” claptrap now. and the line of horseshit about race is dead, dead ,dead, thank God. It’s all about how horrible the other team is. That’s the cloak now, not hope and change. This year’s version is better as one can make an argument for it. It’s not nonsense given that Obama is really a GOP in the important stuff anyway. No GOP would argue with Obama’s horrific destruction of civil liberties. Obama will sign laws then insist he won’t enforce them…which is absurd and worse in some ways. He’s announcing we are NOT a nation of laws. The tragedy now, as it has been for a while, is that Obama is securing the police state for whoever comes next. I’m truly scared about the NDAA stuff. Obama’s just the frontman but there are people who intend to use that law. We’ll not see a President again who reverses that law. That part of our history is over.
Anyway, a small mercy is the Obama Pod noise level will be much lower this time. The kids are bored with him. Many of the aging hippies and rich liberal stooges know better now though they’ll still vote fro him…they won’t be total pricks all the time. It will keep things a wee bit more tenable.
For some perspective:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203370604577263624201684582.html
The Obot-mania train crashed a while back. It is being left off of resumes. Unless they are going to work for a Obama related or very connected org or business, association with the Obama campaign in 2008 is being strategically left off of people’s resumes. How do I know this? My cousin is the chief flunky of the HR head of a very large multinational. They screen them out as it is viewed as a indicator of probable future problems with them. She said “They don’t like the way they do business. The way they comport themselves and their inability to listen to other people is not good for the work environment.” Obama followers like Obama himself have exposed themselves and more people than we may realize have taken notice.
John, The posts above are why so many of us land here, and keep coming back.Thank you.
As to the WSJ piece, the author’s points make sense, except for the fact that the world is a different place, and consequently, so are the voters.. They do not have much in common with the voters of 1980,imo. While some of those years were tough financially, people still had hope, and could find a job of some sort, until a better one came along.We could not even conceive of the events we witnessed on
9/11..Living in NY in those days, my biggest fear was getting mugged in the subway, my solution was to take the bus or even a taxi. At the market, if steak was a bit high priced, we made a pot roast, knowing steak would go on sale eventually.
In other words, we had alternatives, not always pleasant options, but at least options. Where are our options now ?
Spot on. But this sounds so familiar. Like what I wrote five days ago in your MI/AZ Primaries thread.
Well I disagree with the conventional pile-on upthread. What walthe310 wrote is pretty much right.
A year and a month ago the cover of Time Magazine (cheesy propaganda arm of ObamaCo) featured a photoshopped picture of Reagan with an arm around Obama and the two of them looking like BFFs, the caption could have read this is what fun looks like, c’mon, you know ya wanna be in our cool group. The cover text actually read, “Why Obama [hearts] Reagan and what he’s learned from him.” I wrote a piece about it at the time.
Obama has used Reagan as template (not Clinton, not FDR, not LBJ) from the start of his Presidential ride. One of the reasons, I believe, is that Reagan is the God Daddy President who reigned while this Obama generation was growing up and he makes them feel good; some of them heart Reagan forthrightly and some do it secretly, but none of them I’ve ever listened to see Reagan as the lying heartless psychopath he was. Even gay men of the Obama generation – tell them what it was like during the early AIDS years, point out what Reagan’s leadership wrought, and you’ll see a forgiving shrug for Reagan who came across as such a nice daddy. Only someone without an ounce of empathy would literally ignore something like AIDS as long as the most powerful man in the world did. Obama and Reagan share this horrific defect, psychopath, and also they both are lucky men. That, as I’ve written about often, is a hellacious combo. Reagan started this descent and Obama’s going to finish it. And the Obama generation is so fucked up they see this as a good thing.
But what walthe310 wrote is pretty much right. Call it lucky psychopaths, call it charmed, it’s the same thing. These are ruthless men who come across to a wide population as friendly good guys who only want the best for us and our country, when all they’re really after is their own aggrandizement.
Walter is cruising for hits – he’s a some-time contributor to daily kotz, and a “political poet.” Here’s a sample of his work:
Defender of the Nation
by walth310
In a time of endless troubles
When the nation is sunk in despair
Who will lend a steady hand
To the stalled ship of state?
Barack Obama has the confidence to try
Who will stand by his side?
Will it be you or I?
Some will respond, some not
When the troubles are history
When the economy is restored
When we enjoy freedom and democracy unfettered
Will you be able to proclaim?
I stood by Barack’s side
I met the challenge
I am proud of the part I played
I was a defender of the nation.
Very rousing. Very soviet.
Ew.
I second that Ew!
Oh that’s just fucking classic.
Trite, banal, shallow, derivative … oh I can’t go on, I’m just overcome with the Les Miz of it all.
Ugh. Just lost my lunch.
What’s astounding about Walt (well, one of many things) is that (on his website, if I recall) he claims to be a retired doctor and former Repub. Now while being a Repub. is certainly not inconsistent with stupidity, surely age is or should be. One of the few advantages of advanced age is that it confers better, more seasoned judgment. How then is it that Walt can write such silly, trite, childish nonsense or adopt such a infantile, worshipful view of Obama. Maybe he fell into a tanker full of kool-aid in ’08 and couldn’t be ‘dried out.’
It’s not what happens to us, it’s what we do with it.
Some older people haven’t the sense God gave to cabbage.
NES, the only doctor turned (far-more-than-) decent poet I can recall offhand is pediatrician William Carlos Williams. TL, this comradely research makes me grin.
I knew Walter’s poem sounded familiar — he totally ripped of THE PRODUCERS
Germany was having trouble
What a sad, sad story
Needed a new leader to restore
Its former glory
Where, oh, where was he?
Where could that man be?
We looked around and then we found
The man for you and me
And now it’s…
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
Deutschland is happy and gay!
We’re marching to a faster pace
Look out, here comes the master race!
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
Rhineland’s a fine land once more!
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
Watch out, Europe – we’re going on tour!
Springtime for Hitler and Germany
“TL, this comradely research makes me grin.”
So true!
“…— he totally ripped of THE PRODUCERS.”
Hilarious!
More, please….
don’t miss this:
http://foodforthethoughtless.com/2012/03/wacky-cake-recipe/
it’s hilarious.
You’re right. That’s hilarious!!
I love Food for the Thoughtless…His cake recipe, doubled, has been the requested birthday cake in our family for years, sans the nuts, but since macadamia nuts improve almost any dessert, I may add them next time.
Even if you think you can’t bake, I promise you can make this cake. It’s good if you’re hosting vegans.
Though votes are still happening today I do sense that the race is finally breaking down to Obama V Romney – and that makes things much more interesting for me at least…and more tenable. Saw a bit of the Obama presser and Romney on Kudlow – it feels like this race might be worth watching. Obama is engaged again. And did not seem overly condescending Romney was as good as he’s ever been on Kudlow which was pretty good in fact. He was better than McCain or Dole or Dukakis ever were in similar forums. These 2 guys are going to be above it while their superpacs go harsh. Really harsh, i bet. I certainly wish we had other choices. But my sense is that Romney might be viable and Obama understands he won’t be a pushover. If nothing else there will be a real conversation on a few issues unlike last time.
You spoke too soon, John. Santorum made a really strong showing today — more than enough to keep him in the race — with considerable momentum. Currently, he’s leading Romney by a small margin (1%) in OH with 75% of the vote counted. If the uncounted votes are not in hos strongholds, it looks like Romney will lose OH.