The Anchoress
Reading through this transcript, I was struck by two things. One was the aroma of self-intoxication. These bureaucrats and artists and activists are utterly besotted by the contemplation of their own virtue. They know what’s good for the country, and what’s good for you, and they’re willing to devote themselves ceaselessly to making it happen.
The second thing that strikes one about this transcript is the aura of menace that floats just behind the talk of passion, pushing the president’s agenda, connecting with “labor unions, progressive groups,” etc., etc. As Yosi Sergant’s pep talk suggests, these people regard legal obstacles not as boundaries to be observed but as impediments to be overcome by “tactics,” a word that frequently appears in the transcript.
There is a German word for what we are witnessing at the NEA and elsewhere in the Obama administration’s effort to push its agenda. It is Gleichschaltung. It means two things: first, bringing all aspects of life into conformity with a given political line. And second, as a prerequisite for realizing that goal, the obliteration or at least marginalization of all opposition. –Roger Kimball
Is it an abuse of power?
If Bush had done this, or if the Obama White House were Republican, we’d be watching a screamfest on all channels, calls for investigations, probably a call for a special prosecutor, and Olbermann’s head would be exploding.
But since this is Obama, and he has a D after his name, we’ll have to wait to see what develops, if and when the Obamamedia (who still control the narratives) deigns to cover it.
Okay – I have a ton of stuff to do today -still uncharacteristically behind on my deadlines and Sr. Mary Menace is yelling– so here are many, many links to many, many stories. Knock yerselves out, but none of it is going to make you feel like dancing:
Manuel Zelaya, who <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/21/is-the-us-hiding-zelaya-in-honduras/"tried to usurp the constitution in the Honduras, is back, hiding at the Brazilian Embassy? How did he get there? For that matter why did we just give 2 Billion Dollars to Brazil in order to -apparently- fund offshore drilling. You know, the stuff we won’t do in our own country. Seems odd, doesn’t it? We give Brazil 2 Billion for something we disapprove of, then Zelaya, who seems to have an incipient case of despot-wannabeeism (which Obama and Hillary seem to dig) suddenly pops up in the Brazilian Embassy?
It all just seems too strange to me. What the hell is going on? We’re broke but we give 2 Billion to Brazil, when we could certainly use that money to create jobs and tap into our own reserves?
Legal Insurrection says he hopes Obama fails in Honduras, with whatever he’s trying to do. I do too. Why don’t Obama and Hillary like our allies?
“Smart diplomacy”? How about Alice-in-Wonderland Diplomacy?:
“…the Obama team is insisting on the return of the man no institution in this democratic country supports–and that position only emboldened that same unpopular figure to return. Nice work. And now that he has returned, will the Obama administration give up its bizarrely stubborn position that no new election can be recognized because that same unpopular figure isn’t back in power? And he isn’t in power, you will recall, because the supreme court and legislature, with the backing of the military, acted in defense of their constitution.”
As to recent or growing terrorism threats (are we allowed to call it terrorism, anymore? I forget), did law enforcement blow the Denver terror investigation? Didn’t we learn in the 1990’s that law enforcement was not effective counter-terrorism?. That’s not a criticism of our hardworking law enforcement folks, but mindsets matter.
Andy McCarthy says we need an administrative detention law, and doublequick.
5 Healthcare Promises Obama won’t keep: Only five? Meanwhile look at this: tort reform works!
Obama’s EnergySec: Americans are Children and need the government to control them. Writes Ed:
This is nothing more than a slightly more honest look at the attitude of the Left when it comes to governance. It’s all about paternalism and condescension, and the belief that a group of elites should be appointed to rule over the unwashed and unschooled masses for their own good. That has never been consonant with the American experience, which allows the individual to make his own choices and live with the consequences. Chu gives us a good look at the liberal soul, and most Americans will not like what they see.
May be too late to do much about it, though. These unruly cool kids, they’re running amok. Instapundit says, Chu has no idea.
President Grown Up, who wants to rule us children: He’s having General problems. Jennifer Rubin writes:
There is something bizarre about the president’s disassociating himself from his generals and his own stated goals–within a span of just months. He gives the appearance of an errant teenager who one month ago simply had to do X and now can’t bring himself to even defend X.
…he hasn’t collapsed yet on Afghanistan. Maybe his spine will stiffen and he’ll realize that a confrontation with his military commanders is going to add to and not lessen his political problems. He may want to consider just how ludicrously flighty and weak he would appear if he reversed himself on not one but two major national-security positions. Even if he can’t stomach disappointing the left wing of his own party, someone in his administration must surely realize that a second reversal of this magnitude will only cement his image as a Jimmy Carter–esque figure–weak, irresolute, and easily manipulated–and invite endless challenges to the U.S. After all, if he’s going to back down whenever someone screams loudly, there will be a lot of very loud screaming.
Someday, when I have time, I’ll put some thought into the notion that presidents raised without fathers have difficulty with this stuff. I don’t know if it’s true, and I wouldn’t want to be unfair. But it’s something I’d like to look into. I must say, though, that he does certainly resemble Carter in one respect: He wants to manage everything, and that he should stick his nose where he ought not, which means he believes he’s smart enough to manage everything. Which means he listens to no one. Just like Carter, and accomplishes nothing but malaise.
Is Obama our ADHD President? He seems to have lost interest in the economy, or in the job creation we desperately need. Then, in the middle of his hyper-intensive push for healthcare reform, (and his odd fighting with his generals, aiding Manuel Zelaya, etc) he’s suddenly demanding that the world create a “new world order” economy, and oh, yeah, suddenly the climate, the climate, the climate! And empty words about Carbon!
You know, if Obama would just settle down and focus on our economic issues, and seriously follow the lead of Germany and Sweden and cut taxes to create jobs, etc, maybe he’d get listened to.
Obama is no Jack Kennedy: Don’t miss Don Surber’s eye-opening examinations of the questions put to President Obama last Sunday on the Sabbath Gasbag shows. He looks not at Obama’s answers, but the questions, and it is very interesting, indeed. All sham, no wow.
Katrina Vanden Heuvel: has a little carnival of hate. Isn’t she the woman who Chris Matthews, back when he was sane and watchable, caught being unable to name her own congressman?
This is evil stuff
A Collapse in World Trade? A collapse in car sales?
On the Breitbart front: ACORN and the White House sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g (don’t miss that). Justice Department Inspector General -not yet fired by Obama- begins an investigation. Because they don’t have tax issues after getting rich from dubious means? I think it’s good that an inspector general looks into this since it’s doubtful Holder will. More and more and more.
Troublesome sunspots and other stories that disrupt the climate-change narrative and are thus ignored by the US Press. Maybe CO2 wasn’t the way to go?
Not surprising in our noisy world: People with no religion gaining on believers. Can’t hear the small, still voice over the omnipresent televisions, the earbuds and our own material wealth.
You little people, stop driving!: His Highness doesn’t like it
Canada’s National Post: The Stimulus Weakened the US Economy. Yes, of course. All those jobs not being created, and such.
Miracles are real: As long as you’re not talking about the Christian kind. Also, recall that Buddhist celibates are enlightened, not repressed. Vanderleun on the left’s virulent fear of Christianity.
Going to Church: Do you wear your Sunday Best?
Michelle Malkin: human, after all
PJTV: Going to Berkeley
WELCOME: Instapundit readers, and thanks, Glenn, for the link. I am being held hostage by a mean nun today, but please look around.
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