Most press accounts of Barack Obama's speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, Tuesday described it as delivered by the "president of the United States." And indeed the person delivering it analogized himself to Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Bill Clinton. In fact, the Osawatomie speech was not given by the President of the United States. It was given by the leader of the Democratic Party.
Most of the time, this distinction isn't a problem in the United States because historically people have tended to think that the office of the presidency represents "all the people." This doesn't mean everyone expects to benefit from a president's policies. What it means is that in some informal way no one has to worry that the presidential motorcade, so to speak, will drive off the road so that it can plow into you. That is no longer the case in the U.S.
The Osawatomie speech sounded like what you'd expect to hear in Caracas or Buenos Aires. As in: "The free market has never been a license to take whatever you can from whomever you can." (Applause.) And: "Their philosophy is simple. We are better off when everybody is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules."
Some will say hearing crude Chavista populism in the Obama speech is an overreaction. That once it's understood the Kansas speech was the work of the party leader, not the president of the United States, it becomes easier to think about it without overreacting to its intense and vivid rhetoric: "Millions of working families in this country . . . are now forced to take their children to food banks for a decent meal."
Mr. Obama, the bloodless political analysis of the speech runs, was just rallying his base. He needs to. Last month, in an election for state offices in Virginia, which Mr. Obama carried in 2008, Democrats turned out poorly, and Republicans won at every level of government, even in "independent" northern Virginia.
I have posted numerous times before about Obamas penchant for creating false choices in his speeches, invariably some non-existent supposedly conservative position versus his position. This enables Obama to knock down the conservative straw man and make his own position seem reasonable by contrast. Hes a classic shorter.
Its a cheap rhetorical trick, but he cant seem to shake the habit.
Obamas speech yesterday in Kansas presented yet another example, as Obama set up his call for more government regulation and redistribution of wealth against opponents who supposedly want everyone to fend for themselves and play by their own rules (emphasis mine):
Now, in the midst of this debate, there are some who seem to be suffering from a kind of collective amnesia. After all thats happened, after the worst economic crisis, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, they want to return to the same practices that got us into this mess. In fact, they want to go back to the same policies that stacked the deck against middle-class Americans for way too many years. And their philosophy is simple: We are better off when everybody is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules.
I am here to say they are wrong.
Yes, thats the only choice, the anarchy of everyone playing by their own rules or whatever plan Obama has for us. Let me see, which will I choose .
He just cant help himself. Its not in his nature to grow anything other than shorter.
#1
Air pollution, revolution, gun control,
Sound of soul
Shootin' rockets to the moon
Kids growin' up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will
Solve everything
And the band played on...
-- The Temptations
#2
"It's not in his nature to grow anything other than shorter."
He's been growing shorter for so long, he's into negative territory. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara ||
12/08/2011 13:11 Comments ||
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#3
Obama basically lays out that trickle-down does not work. However, his whole economic plan has been in essence trickle-down but operated by government instead of private sector. What was his arguement for bailing the auto industry? All the tire makers and bread bakers which support that industry also benefit. New roads and bridges - quick shops, restaraunts, hotels, plus easier travel for workers to go spend money at businesses. Every single pork list wish list ingredient put into the stankulous is a government trickle-down project.
Does anybody here think that the problem that led to our financial crisis was too much oversight of mortgage lenders or debt collectors?
Audience: No!
(raises hand)
Yes, perhaps by forcing larger banks to purchase toxic loans and fine-tooth combing small and medium banks. That does however lead to the small and medium banks, that is the ones who did not close on account of the new finance regulations, to be of more sound business structure, right before being bought out by the failed big banks getting a shitpot full of gov bucks and instead of fixing the problem, bought out their competition.
And this Teddy thing, what bowl of pudding thought that one up? Look, my history teacher called the intervention in Panama, Operation Just 'Cuz. She -railed- against Teddy for his Imperialistic Expansionism, gave credit to the Park system then railed about how the government had abused it, called him a mercenaric warmonger. Gave no credit for the bull-moose run, thought it looked weak to offer the golden cow so braisenly. Any liberals peeking through the spider webs you know exactly what I am talking about, how does that feel, hopey changy peacemaker voluntarily comparing himself to a shameless vote panhandler who coined gunboat diplomacy? you neo-hippies I know you don't know so wiki-up. Salt and hot sauce makes the rotten egg taste better, highly suggest it, and why you are in the fridge see if Obama has anything fresh in there. I mean, the damned fool should have gone to Lawrence, went out to Clinton Lake where dum dum Bill Clinton held a rally, and been carried about by the tons of liberal arts students who had already planned on taking the day off anyways...or would the cameras notice that the only buildings with Obama swag on them are the ones which have shuttered, that cracked me up.
[Emirates 24/7] President Barack The Cambridge police acted stupidly Obama delivered a sweeping indictment of economic inequality in the US on Tuesday, laying out a theme that will shape his re-election campaign next year. How about "Vote for me or things will change"?
While Republicans are looking to keep Obama on the defensive over the weak US economy, Obama has been attacking them for repeatedly refusing to allow tax increases on the wealthiest Americans as part of a plan to reduce the deficit.
Republicans, including presidential front-runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, argue that any tax increases would stifle job-creation and have accused Obama of pursuing class-warfare.
Obama's appearance in the small midwestern town of Osawatomie, Kansas, came exactly four weeks before the Republicans hold their first nominating contest, the Iowa caucuses.
Recent polls show Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, taking the lead. He is the latest in a series of candidates to challenge Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, who had been the presumed front-runner for most of the race.
The location of the speech had historic significance because it was where one of the most notable Republican presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, in 1910 called for a "square deal" for regular Americans.
Obama contrasted Roosevelt's efforts to break up monopolies and stop child labor, to the views of today's Republicans who believe the government is too powerful.
"Their philosophy is simple: we are better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules. Well, I'm here to say they are wrong."
Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said the president was desperately trying new slogans and messages to see what sticks "because he can't figure out how to sell his last three years of high unemployment and more debt."
Obama took aim at the Republicans, saying they would only return the same structures that led to America's economic downturn. "Their philosophy is simple: We are better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules," Obama said. "I'm here to say they are wrong."
The president conceded that the country is in the midst of a consuming re-examination on his watch, prompting national movements against both government spending and an economy that many feel disproportionately favors the elite. Obama went on the offensive about income inequality, saying it distorts democracy and derails the American dream.
Responding to those who want to cut taxes and regulation in the belief success will trickle down, Obama said: "Here's the problem: It doesn't work. It's never worked."
Obama noted that Theodore Roosevelt was called a "radical, a socialist, even a communist" for putting forth ideas in his last campaign such as an eight-hour work day, a minimum wage for women, unemployment insurance and a progressive income tax.
Left unsaid: Roosevelt's Bull Moose campaign in 1912 failed to return him to the White House.
Obama attempted to sum up the pain and peril for a society where the middle class is struggling. But he also called for individual responsibility.
"In the end," he said, "rebuilding this economy based on fair play, a fair shot and a fair share will require all of us to see the stake we have in each other's success."
Obama also challenged the big banks that took bailouts from American taxpayers, pointing to "a deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street." He said banks that were bailed out had an obligation to work to close that trust deficit and should be doing more to help remedy past mortgage abuses and assist middle-class taxpayers.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/08/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Shouldn't it be "a stake up middle class' ..."?
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
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[Emirates 24/7] President 
