Oh boy, has this administration become unhinged in its efforts to force through Obama’s “bet the farm” economic plans.
Rahm Emanuel runs anti-opposition campaigns from inside the White House against Rush Limbaugh to take down the leading opponent of Obama’s economic plans. The White House coordinates attacks on Rep. Eric Cantor, another leading opponent. Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs takes on CNBC’s Rick Santelli and Jim Cramer after they criticize Obama’s economic plans. The Clinton “war room” is back.
Liberal journalists get caught coordinating their pro-Obama “journalistic” stories. What little credibility the mainstream press had left is gone.
The legislature is no better. Chuck Schumer wants a 90%+ tax rate for AIG executive bonuses, in clear violation of the Constitution which prohibits laws directed at individuals. Chris “sweetheart mortgage loan” Dodd foams at the mouth that the AIG executives are taking the bonuses that Dodd helped implement so that the executives wouldn’t leave AIG. Even Republican Charles Grassley momentarily joined the administration in this effort, suggesting that the AIG executives commit suicide (of course, he later “clarified” his remarks).
This is what happens when you have a President who sets up the attack as a method of governing, who peddles hope but uses fear, whose natural inclination is to set up domestic enemies against whom to rally the nation. First it was the wealthiest 5%, then the wealthiest 2%, now a couple hundred AIG executives. It all sounds so familiar.
Here is a letter I previously posted prior to the election, when Obama’s tactics already were clear to me. The letter was sent by a famous historical figure. I have substituted names, but it rings as true today as it did in 1918:
[Poor and Middle Class of America]! The revolt by the [AIG Executives] must be suppressed without mercy. The interest of the entire revolution demands this, because we have now before us our final decisive battle “with the [AIG Executives].” We need to set an example.
1) You need to hang (hang without fail, so that the public sees) at
least 100 notorious [AIG Executives], the rich, and the bloodsuckers.2) Publish their names.
3) Take away all of their [bonuses].
4) Execute the [AIG Executives] – in accordance with yesterday’s telegram.
This needs to be accomplished in such a way, that people for hundreds of miles around will see, tremble, know and scream out: let’s choke and strangle those blood-sucking [AIG Executives]. Telegraph us acknowledging receipt and execution of this.
Yours, [Chuck and Chris and Barry]
P.S. Use your toughest people for this.
This administration treats legitimate opposition as traitorous revolt. The politics of personal destruction are back, big time. There is a deliberateness to the seemingly disconnected attacks, with the media and legislators taking cues from the White House war room.
But this chaos cannot endure. It may work for short periods of time, or to get a specific bill passed, but it reflects an administration that has lost its ability to motivate people through a positive message.
The wheels are falling off the Obama administration after barely two months. Like a car spinning out of control, the end result will not be pretty, unless Obama acknowledges what is happening and takes corrective action.
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Update: This post concerns the wheels falling off domestically. But the Obama administration’s antics have international repercussions. As pointed out at the American Power blog, the exhaustion the public is feeling is reflected in declining domestic support for the war in Afghanistan. Not good.
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