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The Current Crisis
Singing the Blues with Barack Obama
He wanted to run a campaign of ideas, but the Republicans refused to cooperate.
WASHINGTON — This election is not turning out the way President Barack Obama had expected. Perhaps that is why he has looked so uncomfortable in his three debates with the suddenly debonair Governor Mitt Romney. Possibly President Obama had expected something more from the former governor of Massachusetts, the former CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the former head of Bain Capital — and, incidentally, is not Bain Capital assuming the same demonic role in this contest between Obama and Romney as Halliburton industries once played in the campaigns of Bush-Cheney? It is, I suppose, an asset that in all their years of adult life neither Obama nor Joe Biden have ever suffered any exposure to the dark doings of private-sector employment, none whatsoever. It is a dispensation that has kept them pure, almost virginal.
The President in his high-minded innocence aspired to something more in this presidential race, something higher. I think he wanted to experience the clash and bang of Great Ideas in these debates. First, he would propose his view of a healthy prosperous America with budgets balanced and deficits receding. Then the challenger would admit to his view of the world. Romney would manfully step forward and envision the endless breadlines that his economic policies would engender. There would be the Hoovervilles, the soup kitchens, the scenes of little children, their noses running, huddled waiting in Dickensian stupefaction for their parents to return from the pollution-belching factories, perhaps with a loaf of bread for their starving families, PERHAPS NOT. Meanwhile, zoom, zoom, the millionaires and billionaires motor by in their Bentleys and Rolls Royces, and Priuses.
Frankly the way that these debates have turned out has got to leave the President feeling a little low. Why could not Romney admit to his audience the other night that he has not a clue to running foreign policy? Why does he not admit to having no idea as to the name of the capital of Ghana or the Gross National Product of Burkina Faso? Why is Mr. Romney so dishonest? A good healthy debate is what President Obama was seeking and for all his high-minded efforts he has gotten deception and arrant lies. He should have known that the Republicans would come up with a candidate like Romney. After all, was it not the Republican Party that came up with Richard Nixon?
Now we are coming down to the wire. There are only a dozen or so days left before Election Day. Polls have Romney ahead and the trend is with him. One battleground state after another is falling. Over the past 150 weeks, since November 2009, when Americans were polled as to job approval or whether Obama should be reelected fewer than 50 percent have favored the President. The only weeks he polled above 50 percent were the week our troops shot Osama bin Laden and the week following the Democratic National Convention. No president with such a string of unfavorable ratings can expect to be reelected. I fear the White House is catching on. Obama is a goner, unless the Democrats can turn out the vote in select cemeteries around the country.
Now comes John Fund with a new book to tell us that voter fraud is a real possibility in 2012 and for years to come if Americans do not get serious about the problem of stuffing the ballot box. In Who’s Counting?: How Fraudsters and Bureaucrats Put Your Vote At Risk, written with Hans von Spakovsky, Fund outlines the problem. He talks about how voter fraud played an important role in recent history, for instance, in the passage of Obamacare. He talks about a salutary trend in the states favoring photo identification. Much as we demand photo identification before buying alcohol, cashing a check, or, in our larger cities, entering an office building, we ought to require it of voters. Yet some, in the main Democrats, complain that this is bigoted. It is nothing of the kind. It is an instance of taking democratic process seriously. It assures the value of every vote that is cast.
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (50) | Leave a comment
More Articles by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
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Jack in Wi| 10.25.12 @ 6:50AM
Obama has been a disaster. Romney should be way ahead instead of in a tight race that could still bounce back Obama's way. The fact that he seems to finally have some of his act together isn't exactly a good comment on his future performance. I am voting for Romney more on a hope and a prayer. 310 million people in this country and this is the best we can do for leadership?
SUBVET| 10.25.12 @ 11:37AM
Step up Jack.............you seem to have all the answers.
Dave Williams| 10.25.12 @ 12:31PM
....especially concerning all those Verdamnt Choooz. He's an anti-Semitic idiot, and the real reason the scroll-down feature was invented, along with vtwin and Purp the Twerp.
Jack in Wi| 10.25.12 @ 4:11PM
The vast majority of people could care less about Israel. Just because you live and die every Bibby time passes gas doesn't mean the rest of us want anything to do with that racist entity. Telling the truth about the Zionist entity is not antisemitic. It is just the truth.
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 4:26PM
Every Christian who believes The Word, loves Israel.
"Woe be it to any Nation that Stands against MY PEOPLE in Israel."
It's really no more complicated that that.
Jack in Wi| 10.25.12 @ 6:55PM
The Israel you love has been gone for 2000 years. The present Israel was founded by Atheists, criminials, racists, and Communists. I as a Christian believe in the universal brotherhood of allman, before Almighty God. That is the Message of Jesus and Paul. There are no more Jews or Gentiles. There are more non Jews then Jews that live under Israeli control.The non Jews are treated second class if they happen to be Israeli citizens. For the rest they are treated like vermin and dogs. The United States was founded on the idea that all men are created equal. Israel was founded on the idea that some people belong to a super race. It is a disgrace that one American penny has ever been given to prop up this filthy regime
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 7:59PM
What God said is forever.
Woe be it to any Nation that would stand against MY PEOPLE in Israel.
What about that, don't you understand?
Occam's Tool| 10.26.12 @ 5:16PM
Uh, no.
Occam's Tool| 10.26.12 @ 5:18PM
Uh, no. Not correct, Jack.
But it's nice to see that you support beheading little girls.
Alan| 10.25.12 @ 5:29PM
No "us" @sshole, just you! Don't pluralize or patronize yourself.
Skippy| 10.26.12 @ 1:36PM
" the Zionist entity "
Spoken just like Yassar Arafat.
It must make Jack crazy that Israel has a bunch of nuclear weapons and he has none.
Jack in Wi| 10.25.12 @ 4:07PM
You bet I would make a better president then either of these guys. I am better read and more thoughful then either Obama or Romney. I also have far more executive experience then Obama when he took over the job. I have more years then Romney doing a tough executive job that I don't think Romney could ever handle. Maybe I couldn't do what he did at Bain, but I doubt he could do what I used to do. There are many people who could be better Presidents then these 2 guys. They just don't have the ego or want the hassle that the job involves.
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 4:27PM
And, they like JOOZ.
SUBVET| 10.25.12 @ 5:41PM
Like I said Jack..... step up it sounds like you got the experience. The only thing you can run is your mouth and a keyboard.
And for the record "what did you used to do".
Occam's Tool| 10.26.12 @ 5:17PM
Jack: you are semi-illiterate and an ignoramus.
Darin| 10.25.12 @ 6:58AM
In 2008, Obama was able to run on promises and personality. In 2012, he's still trying to run on promises and personality, but there's a 4-year record which must be faced.
Joellen| 10.25.12 @ 9:26AM
Darin, I must ask this? What personality? Just another lie the media perpetuated. He has no personality - in fact, he is the female Jane Fonda. Everything is about them - they care nothing about what consquences could occur by their actions; ever hear either of them try to crack a joke - embarrasing. The only thing Obama and his ilk are good at, and RUSH has been saying this for years, is hiding who they really are.
Steve_in_Fla| 10.25.12 @ 11:35AM
The only description of a personality I've seen is that BHO is antisocial, arrogant, and narcisistic.
John II| 10.25.12 @ 12:57PM
Right. And here's a particularly good take on the topic of the Professor-as-jerk:
http://freebeacon.com/the-jerk-store-called/
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 4:27PM
Contest, tomorrow.
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 8:00PM
Contest Joellen, ya big Winner.
Appleby| 10.25.12 @ 7:01AM
My vote is already in, and I am praying that my sister who informed me she registered especially to vote for Obama, decides as usual not to leave home on election day. She has no TV, so likely she will be glued to NPR. Georgia is pretty safe for Romney, save probably for Atlanta ("I'm not Black and I'm not Gay/But I'm From Atlanta Anyway!") If the weather turns bad, TheKids will stay home. Pray for snow.
benny havens| 10.25.12 @ 7:07AM
Mr. Tyrrell, I disagree with your sub-title. He was not interested in running a campaign of ideas. He was only interested in running a campaign of lies, distortions and disparaging his opponent. And of course, no mention of his abysmal record.
The Avenger| 10.25.12 @ 7:34AM
benny, sarcasm escapes you.
benny havens| 10.25.12 @ 9:31AM
Oops, I guess you’re right.
Election Day is so close; I’m getting apprehensive.
Von Mises Jr| 10.25.12 @ 7:49AM
Not only does Mitt have a cogent, logical understanding of economics and business, but he masterfully used his management skills to dismantle "The One."
Romney views the world as did Ayn Rand with her "Objectivism." Cognition and volition are like a light switch that is always on and ensuring that new data always fits the existing philosophy and never produces false conclusions.
Obama is a walking conundrum or fantasies and contradictions. Nothing works but he and his neophyte faculty lounge lizards just know they are correct. Hell, they are in charge of grading the papers.
Since Obama could not hold a candle to Mitt in logic and knowledge, Mitt dismantled him in the first debate. Obama and his ilk were flabbergasted and embarrassed.
Barry's only option was to bully Mitt with lies and distortions peppering him with four or five per 2 minute segment in later debates.
But like Ali, Romney didn't take the bait. He rope-a-doped Obama into ineffectiveness as he occasionally countered with the counter punch: the big vision.
Barry looked awfully small and got suckered. Barry was supposed to be the smartest President ever. You could fill the White House wall-to-wall with Obama clones and it would not match one Jefferson.
Bob Grant| 10.25.12 @ 8:18AM
Von,
(((IF))) Governor Romney goes on and wins the election his decision not to engage obama on his numerous foreign policy failings in the third debate will be studied in political science classes from coast to coast for decades.
He left so many hanging curve balls at the plate that one can only conclude he had a strategy not to get bogged down with 'back and forths' with obama. He wanted to appear above the fray, level-headed, and competent. This clearly was an attempt to appeal to one single demographic - suburban females.
And it appears to have worked. The latest AP poll has him tied with obama among likely women voters.
Pretty amazing considering the time and money obama has spent demagoging Governor Romney in an effort to appeal to female voters.
If he loses, however, this strategy will be reason...so will say the pundits.
Say what you will about Governor Romney but give him credit for having what appears to be a sound strategy, and having the discipline to stick to it.
Von Mises Jr| 10.25.12 @ 8:48AM
Except that by NOT going tit-for-tat with a serial liar, he has kept this issue alive. If he had got down in the weeds on details, people's eyes would glaze over and each camp would claim victory. Now it is being litigated day in and day out leading up to November 6th.
The other thing is that this is not the kind of thing a Presidential candidate should engage in. He has surrogates to do that. Do not be surprised if Ryan picks this up and drives it home on the stump.
The independents and moderates that still need permission to vote against the black guy will tune in and will get a much more complete understanding of the travesty than Mitt could deliver in a two minute sound bite.
We are talking about it now, and I was talking about it yesterday making phone calls to a Battleground state. It is not going away.
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 4:28PM
Navritil.
He said: Tit.
Houdini| 10.25.12 @ 10:40AM
As Ed McMahon would say "you are correct sir" when your opponent is preparing like mad on one or two punches...good idea to simply avoid them. Obama's hubris will be his undoing, Bengahzigate is beggining to get traction and the rats are leaking in a major CYA move not seen since 74.
Bob Grant| 10.25.12 @ 11:02AM
The problem is the Clock Factor. Eleven days and counting.
How does Romney/Ryan appear "above the fray" yet go hard after obama on this?
Because someone has to. The media certainly won't!!
The electorate HAS A RIGHT to know all the details so they can vote on it.
The media covering for him is scandalous. But, of course, I sound like a broken record.
SUBVET| 10.25.12 @ 5:44PM
Bob.....it's our job......pass it on.
John II| 10.25.12 @ 1:07PM
"Obama and his ilk were flabbergasted and embarrassed."
Slight emendation, Vonnie. What we saw unmistakably in the THIRD debate (which Mitt handled exactly right: "Attacking me is not a policy") is that the Professor is not capable of embarrassment. That's what it means to be a shameless narcissist. Flabbergasted, perhaps. But decently embarrassed, never.
Here's a pretty good explanation (which I already cited above, but hey--THIS is what untold millions of voters witnessed in the third debate):
http://freebeacon.com/the-jerk-store-called/
bison cookie| 10.25.12 @ 9:39AM
DO PEOPLE CARE ANYMORE? U.S. GOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN DEBT NOW $47,495 PER HOUSEHOLD. The debt that the U.S. government owes to foreign interests now equals approximately $47,495 for each household in the United States, according to the latest data released by the U.S. … READ MORE: http://bwcentral.org/2012/10/u.....household/
bison cookie| 10.25.12 @ 9:41AM
DO PEOPLE CARE ANYMORE? U.S. GOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN DEBT NOW $47,495 PER HOUSEHOLD. The debt that the U.S. government owes to foreign interests now equals approximately $47,495 for each household in the United States, according to the latest data released by the U.S. … READ MORE: http://bwcentral.org/2012/10/u.....household/
Who Knows?| 10.25.12 @ 9:56AM
Maybe the reason Intrade continues to favor Obama, at 59% today, has a lot to do with voter fraud.
As every hopeful Romney fan continues to be encouraged by all the recent polls, especially their trend, the sickening thought re-arises—
If the election is not close, they can’t win by cheating.
Well, everyone agrees---the election is CLOSE!
Ergo---they can, and WILL, cheat. Advantage Obama.
Given the building near ecstasy by Obama antagonists, led perhaps by Rush Limbaugh, if BHO does manage to “legally” win again, a lot of awake people are going to be near a nervous breakdown. Lots of OH MY GOD moments.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy an option contract on the stock market, betting it will crash if/when this happens, because it seems to me that’s about as sure of a thing as could be. Either way, like a thermostat that’s too sensitive, the next ten days or so will be more and more schizophrenic.
That is, the uncertainty will only heighten, for the most passionate, and intense interest should produce mucho volatility.
My take---Romney should win. The big question is, can the taking machine, aka the Democratic Party, steal enough votes, ONE MORE TIME, to thwart him.
gene| 10.25.12 @ 11:33AM
I need a Photo ID to buy alcohol, cigerettes; cash a check, go to the E.R., on and on and on.
But not to vote?
And the Democrats think this is fair? Mr. Holder and Co. also think it is okay for certain people to stand outside of Polling Stations and threaten people with sticks.
Joellen| 10.25.12 @ 4:56PM
Gene, that's why it is imperative we vote REPUBLICAN all the way down this year. In my state, we have no chance trying to get voter ID - democrat control - however - we keep trying. It is insane that the people continue to vote in the heavy taxing democrats and still dont get it!
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 8:01PM
Contest, tomorrow.
gene| 10.25.12 @ 11:35AM
BTW Romney and Co. have this Election. The key now is not having it stolen by Democrats with fraudulent voting.
JD| 10.25.12 @ 12:39PM
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012.....dog-group/
As always, the Democrats' motto is that theft is fine so long as you claim you're doing something noble with the money.
Stan Redmond| 10.25.12 @ 1:12PM
"Obama is a goner, unless the Democrats can turn out the vote in select cemeteries around the country."
That's the scary part. We all know the dead vote 100% democrat.
TLP| 10.25.12 @ 4:29PM
Contest, tomorrow.
SUBVET| 10.25.12 @ 5:46PM
Stand-by for the UN to monitor 43 polling places.
UN ???
WTF.........
Simon Templar| 10.25.12 @ 2:00PM
"Obama is a goner, unless the Democrats can turn out the vote in select cemeteries around the country."
No, he is not..you need to stop saying this..they are trying to pull the same crap they did in 2008 in the critical swing states with a better blitz ground game, fraud, and voter suppression through stacked polling. They have also been successful in suppressing one of the biggest scandals in history as the public is largely uniformed and apparently not interested as the polls should be swinging wildly towards Romney because of it.
I am a new conservative. Why is it that conservatives seem to ignore certain realities? Why do you accept obvious double standards, fraudulent practices, false polling, false liberal narratives, media corruption, and still think you can win?
You say you were a friend of Breitbart.
What made him extremely dangerous and unique was his unwilling to accept any of the above and his ability to think outside conventional wisdom and fight back with new tools, new ideas, and new approaches. He took nothing for granted and did not allow the lies to go unchallenged, particularly ineffectively challenged.
Simon Templar| 10.25.12 @ 2:03PM
Typo, I meant "his unwillingness to accept..."
StanAmSpec| 10.25.12 @ 3:09PM
"It assures the value of every vote that is cast." you assume that Democrats care about this, they just care about winning.
BackToBasics| 10.25.12 @ 3:20PM
Mr. Tyrells' article mentions about voter fraud with the implication that it is democrats who are guilty of it which is factual. Yet now, irony of ironies, MSNBC and now "The Washington Post" mention how Romney might be planning on vote fraud in Ohio.
I think the dems are setting up a scenario that if the election is very close and Romney is ahead and Ohio makes the difference, the dems plan to contest the election in court and in public opinion about Romney winning because of voter fraud by the Romney team.
If the election is close in several states and Romney is ahead I expect that all will be contested and it may be 2 months before a decision is made.
I hope the plurality of votes and states Romney wins is more than enough to make such recounts and vote fraud accusations unnecessary.
BackToBasics| 10.25.12 @ 3:23PM
http://www.breitbart.com/Insta.....-Challenge
tasine| 10.27.12 @ 11:00AM
Oh, I think Obama will be re-elected - if, that is, we allow it. I understand our vote counting will be done by a business in Spain, and I cannot believe Obama would give that very responsible job to a CONSERVATIVE business, so that leaves a PROGRESSIVE business to count our votes.
However prior to counting the votes, the election must be held. Thank God, we have the ACLU and the NAACP and other "interested parties" requesting help from the UN, requesting our polling places be monitored to make sure "conservatives" don't go overboard making sure every voter is in fact eligible to vote in an American election. The cause for this action is that the ACLU and the NAACP believe that preventing voter fraud is racist. And it seems the UN group that monitors Europe will also monitor our election. Don't you just love it when things come together so nicely and simply for the candidate of your choice - YOURSELF. I don't believe for a nanosecond Obama will leave office without we pick him up and place him outside the gates.