Has the progressive wing's takeover of the Dem party been a feather in the cap of Obama? How much credit does he deserve for the current state of Democratic politics? More than most people may realize.
I thought he was a fabulous communicator, an icon as our first Black leader in the oval office, and a supremely ineffective president who didn't know his ass from his elbow. Why is that? For one, he was an Ivy-educated labor organizer when elected with zero real-world experience.
Contrast him to Dwight Eisenhower who had come off being the nation's theater commander in WW II and had a lifetime of street knowledge and a deep understanding of world politics. Obama was a babe in the woods who never grew up. His view of the world, sorry this is going to sound bad...is that of a college freshman enamored with Saul Alinsky. Naive, self-absorbed and condescending.
Not a fan.
Elections Have Consequences
By James Banakis
November 15th, 2024
He came onto the American political landscape at the Democratic Convention in 2004. His message was transitional. He said there were no red states or blue states, but only the Unites States. It remains one of the most memorable and impactful political speeches in American history. It propelled a lowly state senator in two years to the United States Senate, and in two more years to the presidency.
Those Americans like me who did not vote for him still thought that his election could be a good thing. Maybe we thought it could put an end to racial discord and political infighting. His oratorical skills were mystic, “This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow, and our planet began to heal …” His inauguration speech was full of hope and change, and quotes of scripture.
“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations, and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation. But in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”
The speech was delivered much like a sermon from a prophet. Just three days later, January 23, 2009, Barack Obama met with Congressional members and began the meeting arrogantly reminding republican members, “Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I WON. So, I think I trump you.” Despite the unfortunate, unintended, prophetic trump reference; our then new president made a declaration of war against the opposition party.
The man most Americans thought was going to bring us together as a nation. The man they thought whether they voted for him or not, would heal racial discord and class warfare, bitch slapped his opposition at the first opportunity, and has since never looked back or wavered. His political opposition was always the only enemy he recognized. So much for bringing us all together. So much for scripture quotes. So much for
“Hope and Change.”
He then went on an extended international apology tour bowing and scraping, asking foreign leaders to forgive America for its many sins. This is where he really lost me, but he did receive the Noble Peace Prize. Awarded for the first time for potential. It was like the Bears receiving the Superbowl trophy after drafting Michell Trubisky. When asked if America in his opinion was exceptional, His answer? “I believe in
American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” Get it? If everyone is exceptional, no one is. Obama’s hope and change was and always has been for a world without borders, without national identities.
His real, openly stated purpose was and always has been to fundamentally change America without telling us exactly how.
To truly understand Barack Obama, you need to understand Saul Alinsky. Alinsky was Obama’s socialist mentor whose Rules for Radicals was his guidebook.
Among Alinsky’s rules for gaining and keeping power
“Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
“Whenever possible go outside the expertise of the enemy. Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety, and uncertainty.”
“Keep the pressure on. Never let up.”
And the piece de resistance, “The ends justify almost any means.”
When most Presidents leave office, they return to their ranch and paint bad watercolors like George Bush or take 80+ trips to Epstein Island like Bill Clinton. Barack Obama decided to continue remaking America in his image behind the scenes. Journalist David Samuels pointed out recently:
As leader of the Democratic Party, Obama was hardly a pretender to power in Washington. Rather, between 2008 and 5 November 2024, he was usually the foremost power in the land. After serving two elected terms in the White House, Obama captained the so-called “Resistance” to Trump and became the shadow president to the advertised Biden Presidency.
Enter Donald Trump 2016 edition. At a Washington Press Corp Dinner in 2011 Obama openly and without mercy mocked Donald Trump for promoting the “birther” movement.
Rodger Stone said at the time, “I think that Trump is kind of motivated by it.” Recounting a conversation Stone had at the time with Trump, Stone shared, ‘Maybe I’ll just run. Maybe I’ll show them all.’ Ultimately of course he did run and became an antidote to Obama. He astonished the nation, and beat a condescending, election denying Hillary Clinton.
Obama working behind the scenes, immediately labeled Trump’s ascendancy as illegitimate. We all know all the endless attacks on Trump, Alinsky style. Utilizing the deep state to “never let up.” They began as Trump descended on the escalator and announced his candidacy, reaching a crescendo just last week.
A former president heading up the resistance to his successor was contrary to all American norms. He succeeded because he controlled much of the intelligence agencies, and he was able to avoid inquiry from a malleable press.
Enter Joe Biden 2020 edition. Biden supposedly a moderate was merely a puppet with cognitive issues. Obama was free to advance his agenda once again.
Americans now had to recognize multiple genders and pronouns.
Millions of people entered the country illegally each year.
The 2020 election with 65 percent mail-in ballots.
Lawfare against political opponents.
No primary opponents allowed to run against Biden 2024.
Marxists appointed to the judiciary.
The culture of attacking and cancelling anyone who opposes party line.
Attacks on the first amendment and the Bill of Rights.
Defunding the police nationwide.
Soros funded DAs in all major cities.
I could continue, but you get the idea. Historian Victor Davis Hanson claims we find ourselves in the middle of a cultural revolution against traditional American norms and values. All our institutions are under siege by Marxist tactics.
Obama was now serving his third term as the shadow president. He held power, made policy, controlled the Justice Department, and issued talking points with no personal public responsibility.
Enter Kamala Harris 2024 edition. She was a candidate without policy. She offered only platitudes and word salads. I think purposely to deflect from the unpopular completion of Obama’s cultural revolution. She had the corporate media giving her 90 percent positive coverage and assistance. She had unlimited money. Kamala’s team was Obama’s team. Kamala was the perfect DEI candidate. Her campaign of “Joy” was a rerun of Obama’s “Hope and Change” campaign. Obama’s crew wrote the speeches, and she regurgitated them off the teleprompter. She offered no policy, no press conferences, or insight into who she really was. Most of the American public recognized the Obama DEI puppet and the puppet master. The Harris/Obama campaign then morphed into what author Scott McKay labeled:
“Radicalism and leftist cultural, economic, and political aggressions nobody really asked for while denouncing detractors as racists, sexists, and bigots. What they found though is that after 16 years people are sick of it.”
Yes, the economy is terrible with sky high prices due to inflation. Open borders are destroying our sacred citizenship. There are constant wars, but what America is most sick of is the Obama virtue signaling. His world view, lectures and smug oozing moral superiority have reached the tipping point.
American men of every race and creed are nauseous of the labels and reprimands. Personally, I knew Obama’s dream of his brave new world was toast when he scolded African American men for being misogynistic, and they slapped him back. Oprah was also unable to seal the deal. Most American women who once revered her, are sick of her retro 1980 dramatic hyperbole.
Most Americans feel like they’ve been living in a bizzarro world controlled by the person unseen behind the curtain. After the Obama inspired Marx Bros./Duck Soup like coup, they wondered, who was running the country?
All the talking points issued from Obama’s Washington lair told corporate media that Harris was going to win. I think talking heads felt betrayed and thrown under the bus, but they continue to accept his talking points.
It’s too bad Obama wasn’t the person he presented himself to be in that 2004 convention speech and first inaugural address. The promise of his message is one Americans are still searching for.
Many thought he was a prophet of enlightenment, but he was a charlatan, a false prophet. The public is exhausted with being censored, shamed, scolded, canceled, and Alinsky-ized.
One thing many now realize is that Obama inspired woke followers who cancel all the impure believers, at some point cannibalize themselves. Let’s hope the prophet of Martha’s Vineyard will at long last be cancelled. In his playbook, it’s time for The Resistance Part II. Let’s see how that plays out.
To those who are crafting Trump’s Inaugural Address, I have a suggestion on how to end it.
In closing to Barack Obama, elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I WON. You’ve been TRUMPED. The people have spoken. Our country has begun to heal. May God Always Continue to Bless the United States America!
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