-
The Democrats’ Walmart Obsession
June 4, 2013 | 112 comments
-
Real Immigration Reform Requires Free Markets
May 24, 2013 | 94 comments
-
McCain-Feingold Gave Us the IRS Scandal
May 21, 2013 | 122 comments
-
It’s.The.Law
May 20, 2013 | 20 comments
-
The Taxman Cometh (for Tea Partiers)
May 13, 2013 | 150 comments
The Obama Watch
Can You Dig It?
Mr. Obama has made sure the hole he finds himself in is deeper than any Mr. Clinton experienced.
One of my favorite bits of practical advice is “when you find yourself in a deep hole, stop digging.”
The hole that Barack Obama finds himself in, while largely due to his policy positions, is also a function of his seeming out of his league, a man-child who was elected to an office he was unprepared to hold, perhaps the only candidate for president who made Sarah Palin look like an experienced and worldly statesman in comparison (and who continues to perform that remarkable feat today).
Obama is not offering much new in the way of policy — fortunately for the nation, still suffering from a tremendous bout of indigestion over Obamacare, cap-and-trade (being implemented by the EPA regardless of lack of congressional action), Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and his failed effort to shutter Guantanamo Bay (because Muslim radicals in Yemen will hate us so much less if their Mohammedan brothers are kept in frigid northern Illinois instead of their current Caribbean resort).
Thus, his biggest ongoing issue is the reinforcement of the perception among Americans and foreigners alike that America has its most unpresidential president since at least Jimmy Carter, and perhaps in its history.
Early in his term, he seemed aloof, as if he felt above the governing process. Now we know it’s because he’s incompetent, if not an outright hindrance, in that process. He, perhaps the most leftist member of the U.S. Senate during his time there, can’t convince the most leftist House of Representatives since the FDR Administration to go along with his tax “deal,” the best deal he’s going to get given the upcoming change in majority in the House and lessening of the Democrat majority in the Senate.
So, in order to try to sway House Democrats who were in revolt to the extent of some yelling “f**k Obama” during a House Democratic Caucus meeting about the “deal,” Obama felt the need to meet with and then display the peacock president, i.e. the president most interested in displaying himself, Bill Clinton.
It was a sharp contrast to the recent book-promoting TV appearances by George W. Bush. Bush is routinely asked why he’s been all but invisible in public discussion of government policy and his answer is consistently (and I’m paraphrasing now) that he thinks ex-presidents should focus on the “ex” part and leave governing to the current office holder. Meddling by ex-presidents seems to be a tendency of Democrats (just another symptom of the Progressive holier-and-smarter-than-thou mindset), whether Clinton or Carter, whereas both Bushes and even Reagan and Ford led distinctly private post-presidency lives, or at least refrained from acting like some sort of public senior adviser to the president. George W. Bush has said repeatedly that he basically never asked his father for serious policy advice — and implied that his father wouldn’t have wanted to be asked.
So now we have Barack “Peter Principle” Obama walking up to a hastily-called press conference with Bill Clinton who is probably thinking that Hillary might have an opening to run in 2012 despite all her protestations and who is therefore glad to do anything that boosts the Clinton name while damaging Obama at Obama’s remarkably naive invitation.
It would have been bad enough for Obama’s stature to have a joint press conference with Bill Clinton — the same guy who urged the House to pass Obamacare because not passing it would mean Democrat losses in the election (doh!) — but Obama actually ceded the stage to Clinton, like a low-level flunkie introducing the boss, like an emcee introducing the keynote speaker. Clinton preened and displayed for the better part of half an hour, showing the press corps and all the world the communications skills that Obama, for all his early vaunted talents as an orator, is distinctly and damagingly missing, at least when he is sans-teleprompter.
And it would have been bad enough if Obama ceded the stage to Clinton but stayed in the room and answered questions at the end. But instead, he said “I’ve been keeping the First Lady waiting for about half an hour, so I’m going to take off…” to which Bill offered the helpful response “I don’t want to make her mad, please go.” We can all be our own screenwriters of the tragicomic lines representing what he was really thinking…
So, let’s get this straight, Mr. President: The fate of a tax measure that is of critical import for an economy with a near-10% unemployment rate, a measure that will impact directly or indirectly a 9-digit number of Americans, and a measure with political ramifications potentially as large as Obamacare’s is to be left in the hands of an ex-president (did I mention “ex”?) because your wife is waiting?
The political naïveté of Barack Obama is becoming, even more than his far-left agenda, his political Achilles’ heel. Given what Barack Obama believes in and hopes to achieve, perhaps America is Troy to Obama’s Achilles. He was the strongest warrior the “transformers” of America could send our way, but even he was vulnerable — even to the point of destruction — in an area that few would have considered the most likely to be attacked on their particular fields of battle.
Obama’s weakness is America’s gain, though perhaps not as much as it is Bill Clinton’s gain.
About the Author
Ross Kaminsky is a self-employed trader and investor and is a senior fellow of the Heartland Institute. He is the host of The Ross Kaminsky Show on Denver’s NewsRadio 850 KOA at 11 AM on most Sundays. You can reach Ross by e-mail at rossputin(at)rossputin(dot)com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (88) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Ross Kaminsky
More Articles From The Obama Watch
http://spectator.org/archives/2010/12/15/can-you-dig-it
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- Current Wisdom
- Gabby Giffords Poisons the Well
- Celebrating Our Lady of Paris
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Appleby| 12.15.10 @ 6:52AM
*I been tellin ya! Aint I been tellin ya?* [Randy Quaid, as himself, Independence Day]
Perhaps the next time a nekkid emperor shows up to mince his way down the aisle, the press will stop admiring his nekkidness long enough to admit that a nekkid emperor only works when everybody pretends he is clothed.
And by the way, why cant the Wikkileaks people find Obamas missing paperwork? Lord knows they seem to have found everything else.
Alan Brooks| 12.15.10 @ 1:47PM
Had McCain been elected he would have done the same as Obama is now doing.
Steve a| 12.15.10 @ 2:03PM
Hey Alan, Yeah, that's why he would have also, for lack of a better word, sucked...
Nins| 12.15.10 @ 2:26PM
@ Steve he just would have sucked less...alot less. Way lot - we wouldn't have Obamacare for starters and the economy might have gotten a little more love.
Steve A| 12.15.10 @ 3:13PM
Ninus, Agree, to a certain extent. McCain is nothing more than a Progressive impersonating a moderate to try to get votes. He would have done nothing to cut spending, he believes in the enviro wacko movement, he blows on border immigration issues until he reads a poll & figures it's safe to step out. I could go on but its boring.
Obama is, by far, the worst possible man for the worst possible moment this country has seen in my lifetime, but at least the guy is true to himself.
Sue| 12.17.10 @ 11:55AM
Hahahahaha...Nice try,get over it!!! Your boy is a no-starter,no-finisher !!!
What he has managed to push through was done by lies and as the Courts will prove...Illegal actions.
Darin| 12.15.10 @ 6:57AM
I almost feel sorry for Obama.
Almost.
nins| 12.15.10 @ 2:27PM
I don't - he certainly doesn't care about you or I. Let him eat cake for a change.
NJK| 12.15.10 @ 6:05PM
Read this, it will change your mind. If you're a sane person that is.
White House Is Outraged That GOP Wants to Read Nuke Bill in Senate Before Dems Ram It Through
http://gatewaypundit.rightnetw.....t-through/
And then there's this:
http://gatewaypundit.rightnetw.....er-cities/
Mike D.| 12.15.10 @ 7:25AM
This guy is so phony his media worshippers can't even cover for him anymore. The man couldn't tell his wife he's going to the men's room without setting up a teleprompter to do it with. Maybe he better reread the Alinsky chapter on "what do I do when I get there". Poor Little Mao, forgot to put his shoes before beginning his long march. Hillary has to be doing a lot of rethinking about how she lost to this fraud of a "leader", but he was the chosen one, she wasn't. The predators around the world must be licking their chops.
George True| 12.15.10 @ 7:43AM
Ross, you nailed another one. When I saw that clip, I slowly shook my head and said to myself: This guy really has no realization of how inconsequential he just made himself look.
And now he has joined moonbat Nazi Pelosi in claiming that unemployment benefits are the best thing for jump starting the economy. Who knew? We better get everybody on unemployment, and give em all $1000 a week. That ought to kick the economy into permanent high gear.
Obama -the gift that keeps on giving.
Mike D.| 12.15.10 @ 8:08AM
When a person who is self-dillusional as Little Mao is, he loses the ability to step outside himself(or his world he creates in his mind) and make critical assessments of what he his, how he is perceived, etc. He can't do that because he doesn't believe there IS a world outside of his self dillusion. This guy is the most unaccomplished and the most unequipped person for this job that ever entered the White House and that includes the daily tourists who sign up for the tours. He is what he is, a two bit Alinsky maoist agitator passed off as some kind of accomplished individual. So many were fooled.
Nins| 12.15.10 @ 2:28PM
I agree implicitely - the problem is we let it happen.
Ross Kaminsky | 12.15.10 @ 10:42AM
Thanks for the compliment, George.
Harry Flashman| 12.15.10 @ 8:01AM
Any consideration of the current president should begin with an awareness of the fact that he continues to conceal virtually the entire paper trail of his existence from birth to the White House in a tight shroud of secrecy.
American voters of all political persuasions clearly remember the Obama 2008 campaign repeatedly promising that their administration would uphold the highest ethical standards with a particular emphasis on transparency.
A vast majority of these voters believe that the process of running for the office of President of the United States should be the toughest public job interview on the planet.
The sad fact remains that the current president could not be hired as a janitor in a federal building with the amount of verifiable background information that he has provided.
Barack Obama's original typewritten long form birth certificate, school records, SAT and LSAT scores, college and law school admission records and grade transcripts and thesis papers, medical records, passport history, Illinois state senate tenure records, presidential campaign foreign donor lists, complete White House visitor logs and other relevant records and documents have all never been released or allowed to be subjected to any sort of scrutiny, despite several years of repeated requests for disclosure by numerous individuals and non-traditional media organizations.
The Obama 2008 campaign and subsequent administration have to date spent a considerable sum on legal fees, estimated in the millions of dollars, to fight Freedom of Information Act filings and other requests to examine this material.
A computer generated laser printed short form version of a birth certificate that a child could have forged was posted on the Obama 2008 campaign website, but it only served to intensify the filings and requests to see the original typewritten long form document, which has never been released or allowed to be scrutinized.
They also produced a one page letter from a physician attesting that Barack Obama was in excellent health for a man of his age.
This constitutes the complete extent of any release or disclosure of any records or documents from Obama's past. Virtually the entire paper trail of his existence continues to remain deeply hidden away.
The mainstream media and various other Obamapologists are quick to selectively and purposefully focus on the so-called "birthers" whenever any mention is made of the current president's hidden paper trail.
By portraying the birthers as irrational or deranged individuals who are obsessed with the belief that Obama was born in Kenya or elsewhere outside of the United States, they seek to both ridicule that possibility, and more urgently, to avoid any emphasis on the astounding and unprecedented totality of secrecy that guards practically every original record and document from his past.
In fact, astute observers in corridors of power around the world and other quarters have always considered the infamous original typewritten long form birth certificate to be the least relevant item from the hidden paper trail.
They believe that Barack Obama's place of birth and parentage are of far less importance to the future of the United States than the truth about what makes him tick and who is pulling his strings, so to speak.
Whether the current president's biological father was the late Kenyan bigamist Barack Obama "Sr." or the late CPUSA member and radical activist Frank Marshall Davis or the late "grandfather" Stanley Dunham (arguably the likeliest candidate - see cashill.com among many other sources) or some other man is less critical than the truth about his past associations and ideological convictions and behavioral influences and ongoing relationships.
This is the sort of information about their presidential candidates that postwar modern era American voters had become accustomed to having the mainstream media provide for them, up until 2008 when Barack Obama was given a remarkable free pass from the traditional practice of releasing the substantive body of his personal records and credentials.
In their eagerness to "make history" by covering the campaign of the man whom they were clearly interested in helping to become the first black president, the mainstream media failed in their essential national responsibility, namely to report on significant events with thoroughness and impartial objectivity. They ignored their duty to search for the truth and should be regarded with disdain by all people who value information in a free society.
Barack Obama and his handlers were able to successfully hide his past and explain away and minimize his associations with controversial individuals and groups during their 2008 campaign.
Will they be able to effectively repeat this deception between now and 6 November 2012?
Only if you let them.
What is being hidden and why are they hiding it?
Please help spread the word about this critical situation.
The Badger| 12.15.10 @ 9:22AM
He is the epitome of affirmative action! What he may be hiding are some facts that may amount to prosecutable criminal behavior .............. think foreign aid for foreign students.
Ned| 12.15.10 @ 11:23AM
The simplest answer to a question is usually the correct one. While he is a US citizen due to his mother being an American (as are two of the three candidates for paternity mentioned above), regardless of where he was born, the simple answer to his hidden educational history is that he was admitted as a foreign student (that would be fraud) and/or affirmative action... which means he couldn't get into law school on his own credentials and transcripts... his performance over the past 2 years affirms that conclusion to me, and only the release of his records will change that opinion... but he will never be any better than the second worst president in history, although he still has a strong bid to unseat Carter for that honor.
Wayne | 12.15.10 @ 12:32PM
I would also say the docs say he is Muslim. But I would say he is worse than Carter, and maybe worse than Nixon and LBJ. We really went through a rough stretch in the '60s and '70s that brought us where we are today.
TomB| 12.15.10 @ 4:03PM
An alternative simple explanation for his hidden academic history is that he was as bad at being a student as he has proven to be as a president.
BackToBasics| 12.16.10 @ 12:18AM
It's probably "all of the above."
Anita M| 12.17.10 @ 2:53PM
The fact of the matter is if he wasn't born in Hawaii, his mother was not of age to confer his citizenship unless she was 18 and living for 5 years in the states prior to his birth. Second, his having a Kenyan born-British subject father and Indonesian adoptive father prevents him from being a "natural born" citizen because of his parentage, whether he was born in the states or not. Our founding fathers intended for both parents to be of American birth to prevent disloyalty of our country. Hence, his disloyalty since he has been elected (note his apology tours).
Darin| 12.15.10 @ 9:38AM
Sadly, Army Lt Col Terry Lakin is going to pay the price for the cover-up. Lt Col Lakin refused to deploy to Afghanistan for a second time because of Obama's birth/citizenship question. Lakin was refused the right to discovery and is being railroaded in a travesty of justice. If the country survives 2 more years of Obama, hopefully the next President will grant a pardon with full reinstatement to Lt Col Lakin.
Inconvenient Realist| 12.15.10 @ 10:06AM
There is something VERY VERY wrong with the man in the oval office. Whatever the information be, it is imperative to the future of this nation that it be revealed. LtCol Terence Lakin is testimony to the extent to which this cover up has exploded.
Julian Assange may yet be the American savior.
Kishego| 12.15.10 @ 10:15AM
I read a funny joke the other day, in regards to the wikileaks fiasco. If the government wants to keep stae secrets secure, just store them where obama's birht certificate and college transcripts are being kept. Don't know its origin but, I thoght it funny, after all, good comedy is rooted in truth.
keith| 12.15.10 @ 4:19PM
That little gem came from Mike Huckabee. Best line in a long time!!
Wayne | 12.15.10 @ 12:28PM
And coincidentally the one person who knew the whole story died just before the election. Then Obama does not even take his family to his grandmother's funeral. Instead he makes sure he is the one to rummage through all her papers.
Louis Jenkins| 12.15.10 @ 2:45PM
I agree Harry.
MikeD| 12.15.10 @ 5:04PM
Obama is either the stupidest organism to ever hold elective office, or he is a truly evil plant stuffed into the White House with the blatant connivance of the lamestream media. So, since the media totally abdicated their important role in 'vetting' a presidential candidate, they must be employees of the democratic party employed to obfuscate the facts and hide the truth for the single purpose of electing a fraud President of the United States of America.
Just reverse the roles and visualize what would have been going on if any Republican did any of the treasonous, secretive things that obama$$hole has done. Like if G.W. had refused to release ANY of his transcripts or military records. Wait! I know! The media would just make them up! Of course! (See Rather, Dan, cretin, fraud, lier)
Since the media is certainly not unbiased, they must be advocates and/or representatives of the democratic party. As such, and for concealing the fact, they should all be rounded up, arrested, and tried for fraud, theft of intellectual property, election racketeering, RICO infractions, and treason for helping install a foreign agent into the U.S. Government. But, that would never happen because the democrats are truly evil, lying, thugs who have no conscience and will do ANYTHING to snatch, and hold power; and Republicans are spineless slugs who will do ANYTHING to be loved and wanted, and invited to the really cool parties by the very people who hold them in complete distain and would instantly spit in their faces just because they know that nothing would be done about it. We are in such a mess and have to hope the Republicans might actually grow a spine and a brain at the same time. Don't hold your breath; as is being proved every day of the lame thug session. God help us all!
Alert1201| 12.15.10 @ 8:09AM
There is nothing more pathetic than a man who is led around the nose by his wife and does things out of fear of upsetting her. In a loving relationship a man should consider what his wife desires, but it seems Obama is constantly being badgered by her, so much so that in institutes national policies to placate her anger.
I know he makes a joke of it, but I think there is much more reality behind his statements then joke.
beebop| 12.15.10 @ 9:37AM
Michelle had nothing to do with his leaving the informal presser. He blamed his grandma for being a racist, and now he blames the missus for curtailing a rare, rare, rare unscripted q and a with the press? The man needs to remember that excuses only sound good to the individual making them ... he's the only one who believes his spin any more.
Alert1201| 12.15.10 @ 9:58AM
Whether Michelle had anything to do with it or not is irrelevant. I think she was. The point is even if she did not have something to do with it, such comments make him look like a weak pathetic pu$$y whipped imbecile. And he makes such comments often.
beebop| 12.15.10 @ 10:16AM
Sorry that I just didn't come right out and say this: We're all responsible for ourselves. His apparent weakness is HIS weakness. Michelle is just his excuse.
Truth to Power| 12.15.10 @ 2:19PM
I don't like Obama but I can see why he would make any excuse to get out of there. This is a sign of normalcy to want to get away from Clinton before you have to go take a shower. One could argue that going to spend time with Michelle is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. In both cases there is no oxygen for others.
winterhawk| 12.15.10 @ 8:42AM
An incompetent, irresposible con man who has really damged our country.
VBMax| 12.15.10 @ 8:51AM
I think he just felt uncomfortable being there answering questions and used his wife as an excuse.
Dano| 12.15.10 @ 8:56AM
Stop bashing Obama!
Fun - and easy - as it is, Obama trashing presents a weakness. The real foe here is the "progressive" (actually regressive) agenda. It is liberal statism that needs to meet the guillotine of public opinion; not just Obama. The far left is proving itself happy to write the Obama narrative alongside conservatives. If the left can tie the failures of progressivism to Obama's incompetence (i.e. lack of zeal, passivity, etc), they might yet save the liberal agenda.
Occam's Tool| 12.15.10 @ 7:46PM
Obama is such a narcissist, it's fun to bash him. Actually, the fun comes from ad hominem attacks that also bash his ideas. As a native Chicagoan, I'm ashamed every day that the two Democratic candidates for Prseident were such feeble examples of Chicago (Hilary was from Park Ridge).
russel| 12.15.10 @ 8:59AM
It's no wonder the Russians refused his hand - he's such a little metrosexual wimp . His bicycle helmet ( and a girls bike ) . Hanging curtains in the Whitehouse . Those are the photo's we've been allowed to see . If it was not for National Security and the fate of our country , this whole experiment in A Fools Oval Office would make a great comedy .
chris haynes| 12.15.10 @ 9:11AM
How about abortion? You can bash Sraha Palin, but she knows this. Abortion is murder.
At 55,000,000 its the greatest holocausest in history. Name anything worse than that. Then think of Guillianni, Lieberman, Scott Brown, Rove. Mitch Daniels, Condoleeza Rice, ALL the democrats.
Ned the Red| 12.15.10 @ 9:15AM
I am afraid the worst from this display of incompetence and weakness is yet to come. Others are watching, others who hate us, and would love to see us suffer real pain.
Everything a President does is watched and analyzed by the world. If other countries have been waiting to make a move, they are probably thinking it's now or never.
I have a great deal of faith in the ability of our country to survive most attacks, but this faith will be put to the test if we are struck because of one man’s false ego and another’s vanity.
Kishego| 12.15.10 @ 10:23AM
The picture tells a thousand words doesn't it? That pick axe is as foreign to him as an Imdonesian madrasa is to me. Juxtapose that photo of one with G.W. or Ronaldus Magnus working on their ranch, for relaxation no less, what a contrast.
beebop| 12.15.10 @ 10:48AM
Watch Bo the dog walk him. The guy is the total light weight!
Ned| 12.15.10 @ 11:30AM
not that it's relevant to anything at all, but that's not a pick ax... it's a mattock... spike on one side, flat "hoe" style cutting edge on the other...
Kishego| 12.15.10 @ 11:50AM
Good catch, I stand corrected.
Aquanomics| 12.15.10 @ 10:25AM
Obama is 50 pounds of self-importance in a 25 pound sack.
NVA Patriot| 12.15.10 @ 10:57AM
Ross - why the gratuitous slap at Palin? She is the most maligned woman in the history of politics and you take slaps at her? Who's side are you on? Since you are into quoting American folklore - try this one, if you have nothing nice to say - say nothing.
On Obama, the issue is progressivism and all it has brought. The action step is join your local Repub party - replace the rinos from the inside and force the Senate to have 1/2 the backbone of Sarah - she's the only candidate who seems to have unbridaled love for America first and everthing else second.
Prediction - Americans will seek and elect the 2012 candidate who demonstrates in word and deed unbridled love for America backed with a willingness to fight for freedom to to the death - be it reputation or physical - they will be a political warrior inspired with the spirtit of American Exceptionalism - the same exceptionalism that rejected elitism in the 18th century and rejects it again in teh 21st.
Can anyone name a contender who meets that criteria? It is THE distictive quality of Reagan that rarely mentioned, was determinative. There's the measure - love for America first, last and always because it is the only nation founded, one nation, under God.
edo| 12.15.10 @ 11:30AM
Agreed. Why the constant harassment of Sarah Palin? (Cheap shots, etc.) She was asked to serve as V.P. by McCain and she stepped-up to the plate. She gave John a fighting chance.
Dustoff| 12.15.10 @ 11:39AM
edo
*************************
Because their afarid.
Kishego| 12.15.10 @ 11:49AM
Chris Christie for 2012!! I watched the latest video from the kid (can't think of his name, mental block) that exposed acorn. He went into New Jresey schools and spoke to a bunch of teachers about Christie. Anyone that can piss those people off that bad is on the right track.
BackToBasics| 12.16.10 @ 12:27AM
Christie has some strengths but the establishment will still like him. That means no serious border protection at the least. We can do better.
Upsetting teachers is not a good litmus test to measure his conservatism. They'd be just as upset at Bush II or McCain.
Ross Kaminsky | 12.15.10 @ 3:26PM
NVA,
I certainly take your point about Palin but I don't concede mine.
Especially if you think back to the campaign, and even in light of the Saturday Night Live caricatures of Palin, Obama was and I say is the only presidential candidate (other than perhaps Dennis Kucinich) to make Palin look like presidential material.
As to why I take the "slap" at Palin, let me make this clear: I love Palin out doing what she's doing. I've seen her in person, shaken her hand, had a picture taken, and handed her a copy of "The Law" by Bastiat (whom she hadn't heard of, but then not enough people have so I don't hold it against her.)
I do not believe she should run for president and I'd have a very hard time supporting her if she did run.
Actually, I've bet a small amount of money (and getting better than 2:1 odds) that she won't run.
Not that my writing has any impact on Sarah Palin or anyone else running for office, but if I could have an impact, I would plead with her not to run. To the extent that she can see that it's not just liberals who don't want her to run, then maybe my "slap" has some value.
I don't yet see a contender who meets your criteria. Also, I'm not sure you're right. I think a quiet but solidly conservative technocrat (like Mitch Daniels even though he's needlessly annoyed quite a few people in recent months) might have a better chance than an inspirational leader during a time when economics are so central to politics.
Occam's Tool| 12.15.10 @ 7:33PM
Ross,
You said "joint" press conference with Clinton and Obama (snort). (I figure that's the degree of solemnity they bring to all discussions of policy.)
gp| 12.15.10 @ 11:53AM
"Mohammedan brothers are kept in frigid downstate Illinois" Actually, the Thomson prison, which was suggested as a new site for the GTMO prisoners, is in frigid UPstate, northern Illinois.
Ross Kaminsky | 12.15.10 @ 3:21PM
gp,
sorry for the error.
having lived in Illinois, I should have known better!
Anyway, you got the point.
Thanks for reading and writing.
RGK
Ross Kaminsky | 12.15.10 @ 5:19PM
gp,
my error has been corrected in the article!
my apologies to Carroll County, IL
RGK
Ghastlyone| 12.15.10 @ 12:13PM
Obama is the perfect example of why the legal voting age needs to be increased. And by a lot.
Voting at age 18? You shouldn't be able to vote until you're 25. And maybe even throw in a clause that requires the person the actually be living on their own paying taxes.
Wayne | 12.15.10 @ 12:22PM
Agree wholeheartedly. I was 24 when the 18 year-olds were first allowed to vote in the Presidential election. The argument was "if they are old enough to fight, then they are old enough to vote." Maybe now we can say "If they still must get health insurance through their parents, then they are not old enough to vote." That should move the age to 27.
Will Stevens| 12.15.10 @ 1:47PM
100 % correct; 25 would be a good age to allow people to vote. You have to be 25 to rent a car, why not 25 to vote.
One other thing I would like to see is a complete purge of all voter registration. Voters would then have to re-register with proper documentation (birth certificate) at a registrar's office...no more "motor voter" or registration via ACORN.
MikeD| 12.15.10 @ 5:24PM
Absolutely right on target, but let's go just a bit further: Voting age: 25 plus: employeed or self sufficient. Own property or rent and need receipt for rent or property taxes. ALL current voter rolls destroyed in every state, county, borough, town, village, etc... and start over using photo ID and one other form of ID. Must pass test in English, something simple like naming the prez, VP, 4 Supreme Court Justices, State Gov., Senators, Local Representative, and a dozen other, similar questions. Every voter gets indelible ink mark to prevent multiple votes. Eliminate absentee votes, but permit voting in sealed envelope up to 90 days before election with ballots locked away under bipartisan control. Hey, all you smart people out there! Yeah, YOU! Give me some more, and/or better ideas to eliminate all the vote fraud BY DEMOCRATS. You DO notice that it is ALWAYS the demoncraps who do this 'stuff'...
Make voter fraud a serious offense, punishable by 25 LASHES. That way we don't pay for the pieces of feces to sit in jail. Smack their butts and send the bloody butts home. Or come up with something better. We need help here, friends!
TomB| 12.15.10 @ 4:13PM
Since all tax and spending bills must originate in the House, wouldn't it make sense that only people who actually pay taxes vote for members of the House? It used to be that senators were appointed by the state legislatures; it was not intended as a representative body. The House of Representatives was intended as a representative body, hence the name, and was given primary responsibility for matters related to managing the purse strings.
Sixtnpenny| 12.15.10 @ 10:05PM
How about being able to pay your own dentist bills before you are eligible?
Wayne | 12.15.10 @ 12:18PM
Watching Kate Gosselin with the Palin's, I can't help that Michelle Obama is the same kind of person. Obama is the John Gosselin who is completely henpecked. This gives him a passive aggressive temperament and I am sure he set up the news conference just to blame her for needing to run.
What was stupid was it cast a comparison to Bill Clinton. It actually makes many of us wish he were still president. At least Bill could answer questions intelligently and balance a budget. In fact it also convinced me that Hillary can't hold a candle to Bill.
So I keep hounding Dems they need to run Bill Clinton in 2012 rather than Obama, as he is the only Dem who could win. We don't want a Jon Gosselin as President. At least Bill had interns.
Mr Bob | 12.15.10 @ 12:30PM
Well said Ross, nice piece.
..this is the best person the liberals could put up? I thought John Kerry was a joke, but this guy has no substance. The exchange when Clinton said "please go" is priceless and sad. His ineptitude could actually be good for America though because this could do in the Libs for a long time.
oh and Harry Flashman...no offense but get your own blog and provide a link to your opinion. It has always been considered rude to post a comment that long. just sayin
Marxfreesociety| 12.15.10 @ 12:52PM
Ross, thank you for the daily giggle as it relates to the chosen man-child. One of the commentors got it right - he is a p**sy - straight up! 767 days left until new president is sworn in - cannot come fast enough for this American!
Merry Christmas to All (except the liberal commies)
beebop| 12.15.10 @ 4:07PM
The liberal commies deny Christmas ... merry or otherwise.
Reagan Loyalist| 12.15.10 @ 1:44PM
...thought the same thing. Brevity is always appreciated, loquaciousness not.
Louis Jenkins| 12.15.10 @ 2:57PM
The problem is "two years of Bush Tax Cuts." It is not enough. Obama has set the Republican party to fail, just in time for the 2012 election. If approved we will only have two years. It is going to take more than just "cuts" to get this nation back. It will take pruning, weeding, and throwing out the non-productive. The budget presented by the Democrats, with all the pork, is a pile of garbage and antithetical to righting this country.
fekr7| 12.15.10 @ 3:21PM
www.en.net.sa
fekr7| 12.15.10 @ 3:22PM
www.en.net.sa
chris haynes| 12.15.10 @ 4:52PM
Mitch Daniels?
Abortion, at 55,000,000 is the biggest holocaust in history. Daniels says abortion should be accepted, so we can rescue the welfare state.
You call him a "solidly conservative technocrat" Tell us why this isnt more accurate: "holocaust enabler"
Ross Kaminsky | 12.15.10 @ 5:25PM
Chris,
1) I don't really care about abortion. I'm pro-choice but against Roe v Wade.
2) Daniels' record as a social issues conservative is very strong despite his recent rhetoric supporting a "truce".
3) Although I don't go along with your characterization of abortion as holocaust, it should be noted that it's still seems likely that Mao killed more people than abortion has, which is truly stunning when you think about it. And that's not to try to put a nice face on abortion but rather to emphasize what you should say to (or at least think of) people who wear t-shirts of a smiling Chairman Mao...but I digress.
BackToBasics| 12.16.10 @ 12:48AM
But the 55 million (55 million out of a base rate of that went from 204 million to 310 million) is a larger percentage of the population killed than Mao killed about 70- million out of 850 million.
Obama had a Czar who would willingly wear a Mao t-shirt. But for appearances sake she had to go after praising Mao in public.
Why do you go along with the Democrat line on abortion when you tacitly admit that what Mao did was terrible?
Redstateboy| 12.15.10 @ 5:01PM
Hussien's approval rating is... 40% ??? What I can NOT understand is... who are these 40% bananaheads?!!?
Occam's Tool| 12.15.10 @ 6:11PM
Dear Redstateboy:
There are people who believe "9/11" was an "inside" job. There are people who believe Nidal Hassan was not motivated by "jihad," (Representative Oberstar being one of those who deferred judgment) and that the Portland wannabe bomber was "framed."
There are people who like Obama. "Man is not a rational animal, but a rationalizing one." I quote, of course, R.A.H. His words are true. To finish with another quote from Dr. Zachary Smith: "the pain, the pain!" I'm sure you would agree.
NJK| 12.15.10 @ 6:07PM
Was it necessary to take a shot a Governor Palin? She'd never destroy America like Soetoro is doing. Give her some credit for that.
Ross Kaminsky | 12.15.10 @ 6:32PM
NJK,
I responded to a similar question above.
Best,
Ross Kaminsky
Billy D.| 12.15.10 @ 7:01PM
Nothing new to add. Just want to acknowledge Ross is a classy and straight-up guy for actually responding to criticism (even if very mild, as Palin surely is).
bluecollarbytes| 12.15.10 @ 8:15PM
Obama can't defend continuing the BUSH tax-rates because he doesn't believe in them.
by the way, I'm still waiting to be impressed by Bill Clinton's communications skills. I think the knowledge that he lies anytime it works as well as the truth (Limbaugh) interferes with him filling my empty vessel with lies, half-truths, deceptions and distortions.
Nite| 12.15.10 @ 9:47PM
A number of states (Republican controlled ones) are passing laws, which make it impossible to get a presidential candidate on the ballot unless considerable information is presented. A long form birth certificate proving they are a natural born citizen is only one of the items planned. Other criteria is also being identified. Obama will not likely run under those circumstances.
ROWDY BOOTS| 12.15.10 @ 10:31PM
Yes,
God forbid the President of the United States and an Ex-President of the United States, during two wars, an economic disaster in the making and a bunch of Power Grabbing Thugs who have been Kicked out of office (soon, we hope), should keep a civilian wife waiting--Afraid to get Michele mad?
ARE THESE GUYS SERIOUS? NO. THAT IS THE PROBLEM--EVERYTHING IS A GAME, INCLUDING THE MILLIONS SUFFERING FROM THEIR INCOMPETENCE.
Rowdy Boots
ROWDY BOOTS| 12.15.10 @ 10:35PM
And now we see the results of the Feminization of the American Male: A SITTING PRESIDENT AFRAID OF HIS WIFE GETTING MAD IF HE DOES THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS WHILE TWO WARS AND AN ECONOMIC DISASTER IS IN THE MAKING.
THIS IS PATHETIC AND THE REASON THIS INCOMPETENT PERSON MUST BE IMPEACHED FROM THIS PRESIDENCY.
ROWDY BOOTS
best selller books | 12.15.10 @ 11:53PM
I think too he just felt uncomfortable being there answering questions and used his wife as an excuse.
SGX | 12.16.10 @ 12:30AM
Many thanks for the great posting. I am glad I have taken the time to see this.
BackToBasics| 12.16.10 @ 12:38AM
And yet his Real Clear Politics poll average has actually improved slightly. The real problem is becoming more and more the stupidity of the left-leaning American voters.
A second big problem is the stupidity of the Republican Establishment. At the rate we are going they will allow Democrats to be the deciding factor in choosing the 2012 Republican Presidential candidate with crossover primary votes just like they did in 2008 when we got the weakest one in the bunch through McCain. That and all this get-along speech coming from the pretty good men who are not tough enough because they have ZERO STREET SMARTS as in Boehner and McConnell.
Yasin | 12.16.10 @ 1:05AM
Obama regime reminds me the old Soviet Socialist regime. I think Obama considers himself a king like that one in Saudi Arabia who never runs for an election. That's why Obama lies and retaliates against his political opponents. He lost the midterm election, yet he vows to continue his socialist agenda despite of the fact that America people have spoken against his reckless policies and his corrupt and oppressive regime. Consevatives must unite and defeat Obama and his Democrat machine for good in 2012.